About Us

Dr. Hector P. Garcia AGIF Founder

From the days of World War II arose stories of valor of America's returning military men and women and of hope and renewed idealism. Many looked to the GI Bill of Rights, new veterans benefits, which guaranteed educational, medical, housing and other basic benefits. However, disparate treatment denied those benefits to many Americans of Mexican descent and other Hispanics. This pattern troubled the young Army Major, Hector P. Garcia, MD, when he returned to his home, Corpus Christi, Texas. In 1948, Dr. Garcia learned that a neighboring city refused a burial permit in the public cemetery for a decorated Hispanic veteran. He rallied his former comrades-in-arms to form the American GI Forum (AGIF). The basic tenet was to fight against systemic discrimination and inequities that bureaucracies imposed on Hispanic veterans. Dr. Garcia was recognized for his work in service to America when President Ronald Reagan presented him the nation’s highest civilian award, the Medal of Freedom. The founder’s accomplishments earned numerous honors including:

• President John F. Kennedy appointed him as a deputy U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations;
• The United States Treasury issuance of a $75 Savings Bond bearing Dr. Garcia's portrait, in a new series, which also recognized other distinguished Americans; and
• In the 2007 reauthorization of the Voting Rights Act, the U.S. Senate added Dr. Garcia's name to the full name of the act.

The Forum's motto is: "Education is Our Freedom and Freedom should be Everybody's Business." This concept is the basis for two of the largest programs founded by the AGIF:

• The National Veterans Outreach Program (NVOP), a Texas based program offering military veterans affordable housing; transitional shelter, counseling, employment assistance for homeless veterans; and for all veterans, employment counseling, training and placement services; and
• SER-Jobs for Progress, Inc. (SER) was co-founded with the League of United Latin American Citizens in 1972. SER is a nation-wide employment and training program, presently operating over 50 autonomous centers. SER ranks in the top 10 national Hispanic nonprofit organizations in funding.
• Local chapters sponsor tutoring or mentoring programs, fund raisers for scholarships, financial literacy training, and other community services. The AGIF continues to serve the disadvantaged and represents an opportunity for civic involvement for the returning veteran with leadership, volunteer opportunities, and advocacy.

Recent milestones:

• In 2006, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in favor of a challenge to voting districts presented by the Texas AGIF, resulting in the state drawing different district boundaries.
• In 2007, early in May, the AGIF reached an amicable resolution to the lack of reference to the involvement and valor of Hispanic men and women in The War, a 14 hour documentary on the impact World War II had on ordinary Americans. The Public Broadcasting System planned to air in September and the omission was noted in late February.

The campaign included:

• Seeking the guidance and support of the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, eventually obtaining support from all Hispanic Senators and Members of Congress in a non-partisan manner;
• Rallying near unanimity from the largest national Hispanic organizations; and
• Using moral persuasion with support from the primary corporate sponsors of the film.

With a respectful but affirmative opposition, the omission was recognized and new material with the faces, voices and actions of Latino WWII veterans were added by the producer, Ken Burns.

"Unidos, Se Puede." United, We Can …