Juan Valdez

Ofrezco mis condolencias. Cobren animo. Dios promete una resurrecion.

Juan, my friend, you left us way to soon.

Thank you for the honor and opportunity to help you write your family history. It will always be one of the high-lights of my life.

You were a courageous fighter for the land grants and served a very important role in standing up for the rights of your people against virtually impossible odds.

Every day I think of comments you have made over the past thirty years. Statements like, "I'm interested in the tomorrows not the yester-days," "no person should dislike someone because of their race, after all God made all people the way he wanted them to be, and it is not right for any of us to not like someone just because of the race God made them;" never talk bad about the sun, God put it there to keep us warm, to see where we are going and to help us grow food. He didn't put it there for us to complain about;" "all I want, for our people, for our children and grandchildren, and their children and grandchildren, is to have the same opportunities that other people have,for the government to return our land so that maybe some day our children will realize that there really is an American Dream: that with hard work and a good education our children will be able to live that dream;" and finally, "I will die in peace,Mike if while I'm alive I see the government start to correct all the wrong things it has done to our people."

Unfortunately, Juan, you did not live to see the changes you so wanted for your people but please rest in peace my friend, while we carry on your lifelong effort for fairness and equality.

Thanks to Juan for his contributions to the hispanic society.

To Rose, the children and grandchildren: You new him best. The Juan Valdez I knew was an extraordinary man capable of great sacrifice for others. May he and you find peace.