From left, veteran and Laguna Vista Town Council Place 1 Councilman Frank Galvan, historian Dr. Manuel Medrano and veteran Don Haydon gather during Medrano’s July 17 presentation at the South Texas Ecotourism Center. Haydon introduced Medrano at the event. Photo courtesy of Jacqi Leyva-Hill.
By JACQI LEYVA-HILL
Special to the PRESS
Residents gathered at the South Texas Ecotourism Center July 17 to hear historian and professor Dr. Manuel Medrano share the story of World War II hero and Medal of Honor recipient Sgt. José M. López.
The presentation was held as part of the Laguna Vista Public Library’s summer reading programming and served as the lead-off presentation for Library Director Penny Perales’s idea of creating a speaker forum for local residents.
Don Haydon, who brought Medrano to the attention of the Laguna Vista Public Library and introduced him at the event, said he first met the professor when they became neighbors.
Haydon learned about Medrano’s affiliation with UTRGV as a history professor and became familiar with his work focusing on Mexican American history and the Rio Grande Valley.
“It did not take long to understand what high regard he was held by his university colleagues and by the academic community at large,” Haydon said. “He is noted nationally for his teaching and writing about Mexican American history and specifically the Rio Grande Valley, El Valle del Rio Grande.”
Haydon believed Medrano would be an ideal speaker for the community and brought him to Perales’s attention.
“It is not often that a community can claim a noted author, respected historian, and admired professor, but such is the case with Dr. Manuel Medrano,” Haydon said.
According to Haydon, Perales was immediately interested in having Medrano share his stories with local residents.
During the presentation, Medrano discussed López’s military service and recognition. Haydon said the story was important because Latinos were not often recognized for their dedication, sacrifice and valor in combat roles.
López, whom Haydon described as a “son of the Rio Grande Valley,” received the Medal of Honor and was welcomed home with a New York City ticker-tape parade.
“Not many of our local residents knew about Sgt. Lopez having been awarded the country’s highest award for valor in a combat role,” Haydon said. “Our residents deserved to know and understand the pride with which he was embraced on his return back to his country.”
Haydon said the meeting room at the South Texas Ecotourism Center was filled with South Texas residents who came to learn about López.
“It is not often that a speaker can bring the audience to laughter, tears, and pride in one 25-minute talk,” Haydon said. “Dr. Medrano did exactly that.”
Haydon credited Perales with the idea for the library-sponsored speaker forum and said South Texas’ Mexican American heritage offers many stories worthy of sharing.
“There are any number of local and area residents with stories worthy of sharing, and Penny will find them,” Haydon said.