Tejanos In Action (TIA) is a veterans group located in Austin, Texas. The organization was formally organized in 1993 by Arturo Puentes, Ralph DeLa Fuente, Frank Cortez, Ramon Gonzales, Frank Adame, David R. Jaso, and Frank Mendez. The founders recognized that some women and men who served in the military were ineligible to join the Veterans of Foreign Wars or the American Legion so they created an organization that was open to everyone regardless of sex, race or time of service. While the membership of TIA is predominately Mexican-American the organization is welcoming to any veteran honorably discharged regardless of race.
The stated purpose of Tejanos In Action is to provide an array of supportive and educational services to veterans, citizens and childrens in the Austin and Travis County area. Among the services the organization has been involved is the clean-up of the Travis County International Cemetery which has more than fifty veterans interred on the grounds. They went on to erect a monument to honor these veterans as well as three flag poles that TIA uses during their annual Memorial Day Service to insure these veterans are not forgotten.
SOURCE: adapted from Tejanos In Action membership flyer.
From the guide to the Tejanos In Action Records AR. 2004. 001., 1993-2006, 1994-2002, (Austin History Center, Austin Public Library, )
