Recently the United States Postal Service - Mundo Latino: news events

Latino Leaders: The National Magazine of the Successful American Latino, June-July, 2003

Recently, the United States Postal Service unveiled a new postage stamp honoring the memory of the great labor Mexican American leader labor leader Cesar E. Chavez. The USPS made 100 million Chavez stamps available throughout the nation. Chavez would have been 76 on March 31, an official state holiday in California. There are efforts to make March 31st a national holiday.

During a ceremony held at San Antonio's Farmers Market, the new stamp was presented by the San Antonio Postmaster, Manny Arguello and the Vice President, for Southwest Area Operations Mr. George Lopez.

"We at the Post Office are proud to add Cesar Chavez into our gallery of important players in American history," said Mr. Lopez. "This stamp represents the celebration of people that shaped up the world we live in. And clearly shows that the postal service is more than delivering mail."

At the celebration, the Tejano Grammy Award winner, 'Little Joe' Hernandez sang in tribute of Cesar Chavez.

Cesar Chavez was recognized as a tireless advocate for non violent social change for farm workers. Chavez's legacy for America's future was also shared by Paul F. Chavez, one of Cesar's sons who said, "This event demonstrates that even after a decade of my father's passing, his example continues to have relevance just like he did for the years he marched, lasted and stood for the less fortunate."

Cesar said of the vision his son spoke about. "All my life. I have been driven by one dream, one goal, one vision: To overthrow a farm labor system in this nation which treats farm workers as if they were not important human beings. Farm workers are not agricultural implements. They are not beasts of burden--to be used and discarded. That dream was born in my youth. It was nurtured in my early days of organizing.

"Like the other immigrant groups, the day will come when we win the economic and political rewards which are in keeping with our numbers in society. The day will come when the politicians do the right thing by our people out of political necessity and not out of charity or idealism.

"That day may not come this year. That day may not come during this decade. But it will come, someday.'