HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
1-1 WHEREAS, On January 29, 1997, participants in the Tarrant
1-2 County Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Program will be in Austin to
1-3 commemorate Children's Advocacy Day at the Capitol, and this
1-4 presents a welcome opportunity for the Texas Legislature to honor
1-5 this innovative and unique community program; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Currently operating in five Texas counties, the
1-7 Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Program offers at-risk minority males an
1-8 opportunity to broaden their horizons through education,
1-9 discipline, and community service; the program draws on the
1-10 remarkable history of late 19th century African-American soldiers,
1-11 whose courage and strength inspired native tribes to assign them
1-12 the name of their most sacred animal, the buffalo; and
1-13 WHEREAS, Through a series of field trips, tutorials, and
1-14 structured classes, participants build character and self-esteem
1-15 while learning critical life skills; special focus is put on
1-16 preserving the history and traditions of the original Buffalo
1-17 Soldiers, and to this end the program includes a week-long
1-18 encampment at one of the historic forts where the soldiers were
1-19 stationed; and
1-20 WHEREAS, Public service is also a key component, and the
1-21 young men participating in the Tarrant County program have already
1-22 had a tremendous positive impact on their community; they have
1-23 adopted a local park and a section of road, pledging to maintain
1-24 these areas and keep them free from litter, and their work with the
2-1 Heritage Estates Nursing Home and the Metroplex Food Bank has
2-2 brightened the lives of numerous Tarrant County residents; and
2-3 WHEREAS, Thanks to the hard work and dedication of its
2-4 participants, the program has already achieved great success, and
2-5 in its first year, it has been nominated as an Exemplary Program;
2-6 and
2-7 WHEREAS, The Buffalo Soldiers of the 19th century set a new
2-8 standard of honor, courage, and service for their fellow servicemen
2-9 to emulate, and today, the young men of the Tarrant County Buffalo
2-10 Soldiers Heritage Program are setting a similar example for their
2-11 peers; their commitment to excellence is a fitting tribute to their
2-12 predecessors, and they are indeed deserving of praise and
2-13 recognition at this time; now, therefore, be it
2-14 RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas
2-15 hereby honor the participants in the Tarrant County Buffalo
2-16 Soldiers Heritage Program and extend to them warmest best wishes
2-17 for continued success and happiness in the future; and, be it
2-18 further
2-19 RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-20 prepared for the Tarrant County Buffalo Soldiers Heritage Program
2-21 as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of
2-22 Representatives and Senate.
Lewis of Tarrant
Laney Gutierrez Oliveira
Alexander Haggerty Olivo
Allen Hamric Palmer
Alvarado Hartnett Patterson
Averitt Hawley Pickett
Bailey Heflin Pitts
Berlanga Hernandez Place
Bonnen Hightower Price
Bosse Hilbert Puente
Brimer Hilderbran Rabuck
Burnam Hill Ramsay
Carter Hinojosa Rangel
Chavez Hirschi Raymond
Chisum Hochberg Reyna of Bexar
Christian Hodge Reyna of Dallas
Clark Holzheauser Rhodes
Coleman Horn Rodriguez
Cook Howard Roman
Corte Hunter Sadler
Counts Hupp Seaman
Crabb Isett Serna
Craddick Jackson Shields
Cuellar Janek Siebert
Culberson Jones of Lubbock Smith
Danburg Jones of Dallas Smithee
Davila Junell Solis
Davis Kamel Solomons
Delisi Keel Staples
Denny Keffer Stiles
Driver King Swinford
Dukes Krusee Talton
Dunnam Kubiak Telford
Dutton Kuempel Thompson
Edwards Lewis of Tarrant Tillery
Ehrhardt Lewis of Orange Torres
Eiland Longoria Turner of Coleman
Elkins Luna Turner of Harris
Farrar McCall Uher
Finnell McClendon Van de Putte
Flores McReynolds Walker
Gallego Madden West
Galloway Marchant Williams
Garcia Maxey Williamson
Giddings Merritt Wilson
Glaze Moffat Wise
Goodman Moreno Wohlgemuth
Goolsby Mowery Wolens
Gray Naishtat Woolley
Greenberg Nixon Yarbrough
Grusendorf Oakley Zbranek
_______________________________ _______________________________
President of the Senate Speaker of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was adopted by the House on
January 29, 1997, by a non-record vote.
_______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House
I certify that H.C.R. No. 4 was adopted by the Senate on
March 25, 1997, by a viva-voce vote.
_______________________________
Secretary of the Senate
APPROVED: _____________________
Date
_____________________
Governor