The publication is reproduced in full below:
HONORING ASCENSION MATA, SR.
______
HON. FILEMON VELA
of texas
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, May 11, 2021
Mr. VELA. Madam Speaker, I rise today to extend my sincerest congratulations to Mr. Ascencion Mata, Sr., who celebrates his 100th birthday on Wednesday, May 12, 2021.
Ascencion Mata, Sr. was born in 1921, in San Benito, Texas, the eighth child of the late Manuel and Isidora Mata. Ascension's parents instilled in him the values of religious devotion, honesty, resilience, and hard work at a young age, and his resilience pushed him to travel four miles every day to attend Sebastian Elementary School. While the pursuit of knowledge has always been a priority for Ascencion and his family, he was only able to receive a second-grade education. Although his academic time was cut short, his hardworking mindset propelled him forward as he spent his childhood on the farm and in the fields with his father to help provide for his family.
In 1937, when Ascencion was just sixteen years old, his father passed away, leaving his mother a widow and sole provider for him and his seven siblings. Ascencion continued to work to ensure his family persevered.
Ascencion married the love of his life, Eloise De La Rosa, in 1942. They were faithfully married for 53 years until Eloise's passing in 2003. Over the years, they were blessed with six children: Ascencion Mata Jr., Vincente Mata, Guadalupe Mata, Celia Mata Delgado, Roberto Mata, and Janie Linda Mata Cantu; seven grandchildren; and eight great-
grandchildren. As doting parents, Ascencion and Eloise created a nurturing environment built on a solid faith in their love for God that would become the moral foundation for their children, grandchildren, and a host of other family members throughout their lives.
In addition to being a committed family man, Ascencion is also a proud Veteran who served his country during World War II. After he was drafted, he was assigned to an Army base in Salt Lake City, Utah where he spent one month in basic training. He was then assigned to an Army base in Lincoln, Nebraska, where he received an additional eight months of training. After completion of his training Ascencion was sent to New York, where he was preparing to sail overseas to join the Armed Forces in Germany. However, on November 9, 1943, Ascencion was honorably discharged from the United Stated Army because he did not meet the Army's education requirement, which at the time was a sixth-grade education level. After he was discharged, Ascencion returned to his home in Sebastian, TX where he worked various jobs including managing a field crew, working at Alberti's Seafood Packing shed in Harlingen, Texas for about 12 years, and at La Feria Water Irrigation District for many years until his retirement. During that time, he purchased 20 acres of land near Santa Rosa, TX, that he and his family used to cultivate cotton and sorghum crops.
Today, Ascencion lives near Sebastian, where he continues to uphold the same values of resilience, faith, honesty, and hard work that have allowed him to live a long and fulfilling life with his family.
I ask my colleagues to join me in congratulating Ascencion Mata, Sr., on 100 years of life, service, and dedication to his community and country, and wish him continued happiness surrounded by loved ones.
____________________
SOURCE: Congressional Record Vol. 167, No. 81
The Congressional Record is a unique source of public documentation. It started in 1873, documenting nearly all the major and minor policies being discussed and debated.
House Representatives' salaries are historically higher than the median US income.
Alerts Sign-up