By Lewis of Tarrant                              H.C.R. No. 4

      75R4560 BNL-D                           

                             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.