AGIF-US Elects New National Commander

Denver, Colorado: This past week the American GI Forum of the United States (AGIF-US), a Congressionally Chartered Hispanic Veterans Family Organization held its 63rd Annual National Conference at the Imperial Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Officer elections were held during the convention, the membership elected Albert Gonzales from Colorado Springs, Colorado as the new National Commander.

AGIF-US was established in 1948 in Corpus Christi, Texas by Dr. Hector P. Garcia to assist returning World War II Mexican-American Veterans with housing, education, and health benefits.

This same fight continues today as seen by the resolutions passed at the conference which included committed support of Hispanic Veterans who served honorably and whose citizenship status is in question including possible deportation; reaffirmation of the roles of Dr. Hector P. Garcia and AGIF-US in the Private Felix Longora incident; and committed support in opposition of Arizona’s Immigration Law.

Newly elected Commander Gonzales and Don Loudner, National Commander of the National American Indian Veterans, committed to establishing a memorandum of understanding to assist and support each other in addressing veterans’ issues.

During Commander Gonzales’ transition meeting, he appointed David Rodriguez from Idaho as the Director of the Vet-Hire Program.