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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The many and diverse contributions made by |
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Tejanos--Texans of Spanish, Mexican, African, and indigenous |
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descent--have been fundamental to the history and heritage of Texas |
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for more than three centuries; and |
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WHEREAS, Tejano men and women were the founders of the |
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state's oldest permanent settlements, including the cities of San |
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Antonio, Nacogdoches, Victoria, Goliad, and El Paso, and they were |
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the first to name many of our state's waterways and natural |
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features; and |
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WHEREAS, Legendary Tejanos of the Navarro, Ruiz, Menchaca, |
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Arocha, and Seguin families played an integral part in the effort to |
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settle Texas and negotiated peace with the Comanches and other |
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indigenous peoples; on April 6, 1813, Tejanos were the first |
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residents to declare for an independent Texas, and at the Battle of |
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Medina that same year, they gave their lives in a bloody engagement |
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with a Spanish royalist army that remains the deadliest clash in the |
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history of Texas; moreover, in an act that was an important prelude |
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to the Texas Revolution, Tejanos were the first to rise in defense |
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of the Mexican Constitution of 1824, and such prominent figures as |
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José Antonio Navarro and José Francisco Ruiz were signers of the |
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Texas Declaration of Independence in 1836; and |
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WHEREAS, Many Tejanos risked their lives and livelihood |
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during the Texas Revolution, and its heroes include Gregorio |
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Esparza and José Toribio Losoya, both of whom died at the Alamo, as |
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well as members of their families, who were some of the few |
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survivors of the battle; among the others who stepped forward in the |
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fight for independence were the troops led by Plácido Benavides, |
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who fought bravely across South Texas, and the men of Juan Seguín's |
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company, who helped secure the decisive victory at the Battle of San |
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Jacinto; later, Adina Emilia De Zavala led the effort to preserve |
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historic structures at the Alamo so that the legacy of that battle |
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and the entire revolution could be better appreciated by future |
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generations; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to the concepts of liberty and equality, |
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numerous Tejanos were early and powerful advocates for free speech, |
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freedom of the press, and public education in Texas; in the 20th |
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century, that tradition was continued by such individuals as the |
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journalist Jovita Idár, who called for women's suffrage and |
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campaigned against lynching, the restaurateur and civic leader |
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Felix Tijerina, who pushed for bilingual education, and attorney |
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John J. Herrera, who won important legal cases related to school |
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segregation, workplace discrimination, and other civil rights |
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issues; and |
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WHEREAS, Countless Tejanos have served with great |
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distinction in our nation's military; the Medal of Honor, America's |
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highest military commendation for valor, was awarded to seven |
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Tejanos during World War II, two during the Korean War, and three |
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during the Vietnam War; physician, activist, and World War II |
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veteran Hector P. Garcia founded the American GI Forum of Texas to |
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champion the rights of former Hispanic service members; and |
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WHEREAS, The culture of the Lone Star State is inextricably |
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linked with the contributions of Tejanos; they were the first to |
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introduce rodeos, expert horsemanship, and the raising of longhorn |
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cattle, which became central to the state's western identity; in |
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regard to food, Tejanos combined the flavors and ingredients of |
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Mexico and the United States to create Tex-Mex, the state's most |
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iconic cuisine; Texas music is unimaginable without the |
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contributions of such great Tejano artists as Lydia Mendoza, Flaco |
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Jiménez, Rosita Fernández, and Selena, and the musical styles they |
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helped popularize range from romantic ballads to corridos that tell |
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stories of adventure and resistance; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout the state's history, Tejano men and women |
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have been champions of social and political progress while exerting |
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a tremendous influence on our way of life; deeply devoted to Texas, |
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they have overcome injustice and discrimination to play an |
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instrumental role in the epic saga of the Lone Star State, and it is |
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indeed fitting that their contributions be officially honored; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby designate April 6 as Tejano Day, an observance that |
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coincides with the date in 1813 when Tejano leaders issued the first |
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declaration of Texas independence; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That, in accordance with the provisions of Section |
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391.004(d), Government Code, this designation remain in effect |
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until the 10th anniversary of the date this resolution is finally |
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passed by the legislature. |
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