At today’s ceremony to unveil the Tejano Monument on the grounds of the Texas Capitol, Trustees Torres, Moya and Guzman joined me in paying tribute to the contributions of Tejanos on present-day Texas culture. The impressive monument will serve as a permanent testimony of the Spanish-Mexican heritage that has influenced and shaped the history of Texas.Celebrated painter, sculptor and educator Armando Hinojosa of Laredo created the monument. It includes sculptures of vaqueros, longhorns, and Tejano pioneers. It stands at the Capitol’s front entrance, welcoming visitors from throughout the state.
Students from Brentwood, Dawson, Galindo and Wooten attended the ceremony as part of the Tejano Monument Education Program, a curriculum project with the University of Texas. The crowd heard about the importance of Tejanos on the culture of Texas from state leaders, including Governor Perry, Lieutenant Governor Dewhurst, Senator Judith Zaffirini, and Justice Eva Guzman, the first Latina Justice of the Supreme Court of Texas. 
Today, I learned so much about the history of Tejanos in Texas, dating back to as early as 1519. It is truly a rich and fascinating history, and we now have a monument to celebrate it!
