Chavez founded and led the first successful farm workers union in the United States and became the president of the United Farm Workers of America. AFLCIO. From its beginnings. the UFW adhered to the principles of nonviolent change. Mr. Chavez received the Presidential Medal of Freedom. the highest civilian honor in the United States. in 1994. Dr. Hector Garcia was a Mexican Revolution refugee and medical doctor. He. too. led peaceful protests to empower Mexican Americans to fight legal and political battles against discrimination through his founding of the American GI Forum. He was also awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President Ronald Reagan in 1984.