Longoria, Felix [Newspaper Articles]

TEXAS PRESS CLIPPING BUREAU TEXAS DALLAS PRESS CLIPPING-] BUREAU DALLAS Fort Worth (Tex.) Star- Telegram (Morning) San Angelo (Tex.) Standard- JAN 14 1949 Times Return of a Soldier JAN 15 1949 Whatever the reasons for a Texas ohnson Rights A Wrong Senator Lyndon Johnson "went to bat' for a funeral home's reluctance to provide its fellow Texan this week and arranged for the re- chapel for the funeral of an American burial of a Latin Amaricah soldier, killed during the fighting on Luzon, in the Arlington National soldier killed. in action in the Philippines Cemetery with full military honors. whether it was discrimination because of Action on the reburial gained momentum and his Mexican ancestry or whether it was the final push after ai South Texas füneral home a misunderstanding, the harm has been 'discouraged' the use of its facilities. After considerable discussion between the fuher- done. al home director and a representàtive of the So many explanations have been Good Neighbor Commission; the funeral home di- bandied back and forth that the facts rector condescended to handle the reburial at the South Texas city "if the family insists". are obscured but the publicity given the No matter what the creed of a fallen soldier, affair will extend to parts of the world they all should be considered equally and the in which` this government is attempting fullest respect should be accorded to their re- painstakingly to build understanding and turn and reburial. good will and to erase some of the mis- Certainly, it shouldn't take the combined ef- forts of a United States Senator, a Veteran's or- takes of the past, The ill effect will not ganization, and the Good Neighbor Commission to be removed entirely even by this nation's arrange for the reburial of a Texan who died decision to accord the soldier full military fighting in defense of his country. honors and burial in the sacred soil of Senator. Johnson recognized these facts and acted, accordingly and without delay. His move Arlington National Cemetery. brought commendable results. People in other countries and in other "I deeply regret to learn that the prejudice- states will not stop to reflect that the of some individuals extends even beyond this life," Johnson said to soldier's widow. "This injustice bulk of the Texas people were as shocked and prejudice is deplorable. I'm happy to have at the affair as they themselves. They a part in seeing that this Texas hero is laid to will simply and bitterly observe that in rest with honor and dignity his service in the na- a supposed stronghold of human free- tion deserves. doms an American soldier who was killed Such an attitude as displayed by the fuheral home director is not in keeping with the princi- in war wasn't considered of the proper ples fought for by American youths during World caste to be buried among the people he War II. was defending, True or not, that will be By the same token; such actions will not lead the reaction to the acclaim that should be received by the country that is endeavoring to lead the entire The humiliation of the soldier's widow world toward peaceful living. can be imagined, but it is to the credit By an example of unity, tolerance, and con- of state and federal officials, led by Sen- sideration within our own boundaries the people of the United States can present an actual picture ator Lyndon Johnson, that they acted of the program which we have to offer for the promptly and feelingly to set matters world. in general.. right. The soldier himself is beyond Those with the-right spirit in cases of this type caring whether he lies among the nation's should be commended-those with the wrong spir- heroes in Arlington or in a lonely Pacific it should be educated. grave. It is vastly more important that the nation cares.