By:  West                                        S.R. No. 990
    1-1                           SENATE RESOLUTION
    1-2        WHEREAS, Cemeteries are important links to our past
    1-3  and their maintenance and preservation are a source of pride for
    1-4  families whose loved ones are buried there and for citizens who
    1-5  appreciate their historical significance; and
    1-6        WHEREAS, Pre-Civil War Freedman's Cemetery is located in Dallas
    1-7  approximately two miles north of downtown Dallas; and
    1-8        WHEREAS, The first recorded land sale took place on
    1-9  April 28, 1869, when one acre of land was purchased; and
   1-10        WHEREAS, On October 26, 1869, three more acres were purchased
   1-11  to be used as a "burying ground for the free people of Color" in the
   1-12  Dallas area; and
   1-13        WHEREAS, During an on-site archeology survey conducted prior to
   1-14  beginning work on the Central Expressway Project Freedman's Cemetery
   1-15  was discovered; and
   1-16        WHEREAS, Black Dallas Remembered, Incorporated, petitioned
   1-17  for the preservation of the cemetery; the association also requested
   1-18  historical designations for the cemetery by local and state
   1-19  organizations; and
   1-20        WHEREAS, On May 18, 1990, the Texas Antiquities Committee
   1-21  designated Freedman's Cemetery as a State Archeology Landmark under
   1-22  the Antiquities Code of Texas; and
   1-23        WHEREAS, In February, 1992, the Dallas City Council
    2-1  approved the Dallas Landmark Commission's nomination of Freedman's
    2-2  Cemetery as a Dallas Historic Landmark; in November, 1992, the Texas
    2-3  Historical Commission approved the nomination of Freedman's Cemetery
    2-4  as a Texas State Historic Landmark; and
    2-5        WHEREAS, On May 31, 1993, special ceremonies
    2-6  commemorating that day as Freedman's Cemetery Memorial Day
    2-7  will be observed in Dallas and there will be an appearance by the
    2-8  Honorable David A. Paterson, New York State Senator and renowned
    2-9  authority on preservation of human burial sites; now, therefore,
   2-10  be it
   2-11        RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
   2-12  73rd Legislature, hereby proclaim May 31, 1993, Freedman's Cemetery
   2-13  Memorial Day and congratulate the citizens of Dallas and Black Dallas
   2-14  Remembered, Incorporated, for their success in assuring that
   2-15  Freedman's Cemetery will be accorded its proper place in the
   2-16  history of Dallas; and, be it further
   2-17        RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
   2-18  City of Dallas and Black Dallas Remembered, Incorporated, as a
   2-19  memento of this special day.
   2-20                                 _____________________________________
   2-21                                        President of the Senate
   2-22                                      I hereby certify that the
   2-23                                 above Resolution was adopted by
   2-24                                 the Senate on May 20, 1993.
   2-25                                 _____________________________________
    3-1                                        Secretary of the Senate
    3-2                                 _____________________________________
    3-3                                         Member, Texas Senate