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[Congressional Bills 112th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 440 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

112th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 440

 Recognizing the historic significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco 
                                de Mayo.

_______________________________________________________________________

                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             April 26, 2012

   Mr. Udall of Colorado (for himself, Mr. Cornyn, Mr. Menendez, Mr. 
     Bingaman, Mr. Reid, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Akaka, Ms. Stabenow, Mrs. 
  Feinstein, and Mrs. Hutchison) submitted the following resolution; 
          which was referred to the Committee on the Judiciary

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION

 
 Recognizing the historic significance of the Mexican holiday of Cinco 
                                de Mayo.

Whereas May 5, or ``Cinco de Mayo'' in Spanish, is celebrated each year as a 
        date of great importance by the Mexican and Mexican-American 
        communities;
Whereas the Cinco de Mayo holiday commemorates May 5, 1862, the date on which 
        Mexicans who were struggling for independence and freedom fought the 
        Battle of Puebla;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo has become widely celebrated annually by nearly all 
        Mexicans and Mexican-Americans, north and south of the United States-
        Mexico border;
Whereas the Battle of Puebla was but one of the many battles that the courageous 
        Mexican people won in their long and brave struggle for independence and 
        freedom;
Whereas the French army, confident that its battle-seasoned troops were far 
        superior to the less-seasoned Mexican troops, expected little or no 
        opposition from the Mexican army;
Whereas the French army, which had not experienced defeat against any of the 
        finest troops of Europe in more than half a century, sustained a 
        disastrous loss at the hands of an outnumbered and ill-equipped, but 
        highly spirited and courageous, Mexican army;
Whereas, after 3 bloody assaults on Puebla in which more than 1,000 French 
        soldiers lost their lives, the French troops were finally defeated and 
        driven back by the outnumbered Mexican troops;
Whereas the courageous spirit that Mexican General Ignacio Zaragoza and his men 
        displayed during that historic battle can never be forgotten;
Whereas many brave Mexicans willingly gave their lives for the causes of justice 
        and freedom in the Battle of Puebla on Cinco de Mayo;
Whereas the sacrifice of the Mexican fighters was instrumental in keeping Mexico 
        from falling under European domination while, in the United States, the 
        Union Army battled Confederate forces in the Civil War;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo serves as a reminder that the foundation of the United 
        States was built by people from many countries and diverse cultures who 
        were willing to fight and die for freedom;
Whereas Cinco de Mayo also serves as a reminder of the close ties between the 
        people of Mexico and the people of the United States;
Whereas, in a larger sense, Cinco de Mayo symbolizes the right of a free people 
        to self-determination, just as Benito Juarez, the president of Mexico 
        during the Battle of Puebla, once said, ``El respeto al derecho ajeno es 
        la paz'' (``Respect for the rights of others is peace''); and
Whereas many people celebrate Cinco de Mayo during the entire week in which the 
        date falls: Now, therefore, be it
    Resolved, That the Senate--
            (1) recognizes the historic struggle of the people of 
        Mexico for independence and freedom, which Cinco de Mayo 
        commemorates; and
            (2) encourages the people of the United States to observe 
        Cinco de Mayo with appropriate ceremonies and activities.
                                 <all>
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