- American GI Forum
The American G.I. Forum (AGIF) is a Congressionally-chartered
Mexican American veteran s andcivil rights organization. Its motto is "Education is Our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody's Business". AGIF currently operates chapters throughout the United States, with a focus on veteran's issues, education, and civil rights. Its two largest national programs are the San Antonio-based Veterans Outreach Program, and the Dallas-based Service, Employment, Redevelopment-Jobs for Progress, Inc. (SER). The current president is Antonio Gil Morales. [Henry Ramos, "The American GI Forum: In Pursuit of the Dream, 1948-1983" (Houston, TX: Arte Publico Press, 1998). ISBN 978-1558852624]Origin
It was established in Corpus Christi, the seat of Nueces County,
Texas , in1948 by Dr. Hector P. Garcia to address the concerns of Mexican-American veterans, who were segregated from other veterans groups. Initially formed to request services forWorld War II veterans of Mexican descent who were denied medical services by theUnited States Department of Veterans Affairs , the AGIF soon spread into non-veteran's issues such as voting rights, jury selection, and educational desegregation, advocating for the civil rights of all Mexican Americans.The AGIF's first campaign was on the behalf of
Felix Longoria , a Mexican American private who was killed in thePhilippines in the line of duty. Upon the return of his body to Texas, he was denied funeral services by aWhite American -owned mortuary. Dr. Garcia requested the intercession of then-SenatorLyndon B. Johnson , who secured Longoria's burial inArlington National Cemetery . The case brought the AGIF to national attention, and chapters were opened throughout the country. A women's and youth auxiliary were also formed.The AGIF, along with the
League of United Latin American Citizens , was a plaintiff in the case of Pete Hernandez, a farm worker accused of murder, to theSupreme Court of the United States . In its decision, "Hernandez v. Texas " (1954), the court ruled that Mexican Americans and all other racial groups in the United States had equal protection under the 14th Amendment of the US Constitution.Organization
Each local chapter elects a "Commander" and a state chairperson. A yearly national convention is held to elect national hi officers.
Presidents
*Dr. Héctor Pérez García
*Tony Gallegos
*Antonio Gil Morales (2005 – present)Chapters
*
Arizona [http://www.agif.us/AZ.htm] , [http://www.agif.us/sherrera.htm Silvestre S. Herrera (Phoenix) Chapter]
*California [http://www.agif.org/]
*Colorado [http://www.agifmh.org/ Mile Hi Chapter]
*Idaho [http://www.agif.us/IO.htm]
*Illinois [http://www.agif.us/IL.htm]
*Kansas [http://www.agif.us/KA.htm]
*Michigan [http://www.agif.us/MI.htm]
*Nebraska [http://www.agif.us/NE.htm] , [http://www.giforum-omaha.org/ Omaha Chapter]
*New Mexico [http://www.agif.us/NM.htm]
*Oklahoma [http://www.agif.us/OK.htm]
*Puerto Rico [http://www.agif.us/PR.htm]
*Texas [http://www.agif.us/TX.htm]
*Utah [http://www.agif.us/UT.htm]
*Washington [http://www.agif.us/WA.htm]
*Washington, D.C. [http://www.agif.us/DC.htm]
*Wyoming [http://www.agif.us/WY.htm]ee also
External links
* [http://www.agif.us American G.I. Forum National site]
* [http://education.military.com/money-for-school/gi-bill/20-top-faqs-for-new-gi-bill Frequently Asked Questions about the 2008 G.I. Bill] ,Military.com
*Handbook of Texas|id=AA/voa1|name=American GI ForumReferences
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