SUPPORTING THE UNITED STATES LATINO AND LATINA WORLD WAR II ORAL HISTORY PROJECT AND ENCOURAGING NEW MEXICANS TO PARTICIPATE IN THE PROJECT.

WHEREAS, World War II was a major turning point for United States Latinos and Latinas, changing the worldviews of an entire generation; and

WHEREAS, World War II left few lives untouched, and even those young men and women who were unable to join the fighting forces would never be the same; and

WHEREAS, in the following years, these men and women made astounding civil rights advancements in school desegregation, in voting rights and in basic civil rights; and

WHEREAS, powerful organizations grew out of this era, including the American G.I. forum and the Mexican American legal defense and educational fund; and

WHEREAS, while there have been a few excellent books and articles that document these events, little attention has been paid to the average Latino and Latina of the World War II generation; and

WHEREAS, the United States Latino and Latina World War II oral history project, based at the university of Texas at Austin school of journalism, seeks to capture the stories of the average Latino and Latina of the World War II generation; and

WHEREAS, the project is videotaping interviews with these men and women throughout the country; and

WHEREAS, the project will create an oral history archive, a photographic archive, a web site, a general interest book and a documentary film; and

WHEREAS, the project is seeking support from volunteers and contributors and is seeking donations of World War II memorabilia; and

WHEREAS, New Mexico has a rich history of World War II experiences and much to contribute to the project;

NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that the United States Latino and Latina World War II oral history project be supported; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that all New Mexicans be encouraged to participate in the project; and

BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that a copy of this memorial be transmitted to the United States Latino and Latina World War II oral history project.