SENATE MEMORIAL 85

52nd legislature - STATE OF NEW MEXICO - second session, 2016

INTRODUCED BY

Michael S. Sanchez

A MEMORIAL

DECLARING FEBRUARY 18, 2016 "DANIEL D. FERNANDEZ MEMORIAL DAY" IN THE SENATE.

     WHEREAS, New Mexicans recognize the sacrifices that New Mexico's military men and women gave of themselves during wartime to preserve the freedoms we have today; and

     WHEREAS, Daniel D. Fernandez was a native New Mexican from Valencia county who served in the United States army during the early years of the Vietnam conflict; and

     WHEREAS, on February 18, 1966, in Hau Nghia province, republic of Vietnam, Daniel showed great valor when he threw himself on an exploding grenade while shielding four soldiers attending to a wounded officer nearby, thereby saving their lives at the sacrifice of his own; and

     WHEREAS, Daniel was honored with the highest honor given a soldier for valor in wartime, the medal of honor, on April 6, 1967 by President Lyndon B. Johnson; and

     WHEREAS, it is important that all citizens, especially the young students of New Mexico just being introduced to Daniel's story, understand how his life, service and honorable sacrifice contributed to the rich and proud history of Valencia county and the state; and

     WHEREAS, February 18, 2016 is the fiftieth anniversary of Daniel's death in Vietnam;

     NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED BY THE SENATE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO that February 18, 2016 be declared "Daniel D. Fernandez Memorial Day" in the senate; and

     BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that copies of this memorial be transmitted to the national honor society at Valencia high school in Los Lunas and to Daniel's surviving brother, Peter Fernandez of Los Lunas.

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