SAN ANTONIO – Veteran and civil rights activists held a press conference on Monday urging President Biden to give Pvt. Marcelino Serna a posthumous Medal of Honor for his service in World War I.
The group says Pvt. Serna never received the honor due to racist attitudes toward his Mexican heritage.
Pvt. Marcelino Serna volunteered to serve on behalf of the United States in World War I despite not having American citizenship. When he was sent to France, Pvt. Serna received two Croix de Guerre medals from France, the Croce al Merito di Guerra from Italy and several other honors.
Lawrence Romo, the League of United Latin American Citizens National Vice President for Veterans and former Selective Service System Director, says it still hurts to see a Hispanic war hero disrespected, but he believes the bipartisan effort can highlight the best things about the United States.
“We’re a melting pot here and it’s important that we recognize all our ethnicities. This is an opportunity to represent Pvt. Marcelino Serna, and that’s why we’re going to keep going and not stop,” Romo said.
The Medal of Honor nomination has already received approval from the Secretary of the Army and Secretary of Defense. Organizers say they will still work with President Trump if President Biden is unable to award the honor. However, a new administration stepping in would restart the nomination process.