By Goodman                                     H.C.R. No. 142

      75R6967 BNL-D                           

                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION

 1-1           WHEREAS, Texans take great pride in the rich history and

 1-2     culture of their state, and the distinctive Lone Star flag is the

 1-3     most readily recognizable symbol of their shared heritage; and

 1-4           WHEREAS, The display of that flag over the seat of Texas

 1-5     government is an appropriate and vital expression of Texas

 1-6     patriotism, serving as a tangible representation of the abstract

 1-7     values and ideals that bind us together in a common sense of

 1-8     purpose; currently, however, the Texas state flag flies only over

 1-9     the north entrance of the Capitol, while the United States flag is

1-10     displayed over the south entrance; and

1-11           WHEREAS, Both the United States Flag Code (36 U.S.C. Section

1-12     175) and the Texas Flag Code (Article 6139c, Vernon's Texas Civil

1-13     Statutes) address the etiquette of displaying flags in the same

1-14     immediate viewing area, but do not address the issue of flags being

1-15     flown on opposite sides of a building; since neither the Texas Flag

1-16     Code nor the United States Flag Code dictates the presentation of

1-17     flags on opposite sides of a building, the location of these two

1-18     flags may be switched without contravening any legal stipulations;

1-19     and

1-20           WHEREAS, The north and south entrances to the Texas Capitol

1-21     are equally accessible to visitors, but because the south side of

1-22     the Capitol features a more formal, landscaped approach and is the

1-23     site of the state's most historic monuments, it is a favorite site

1-24     for visitors to photograph and is often the first view that they

 2-1     have of the building; for this reason, it would be a logical place

 2-2     to display the state flag, which would immediately identify the

 2-3     building as being the Capitol of Texas; and

 2-4           WHEREAS, Displaying the Texas flag above the south entrance

 2-5     to the Capitol and the United States flag above the north entrance

 2-6     would not in any way diminish the stature or sanctity of the

 2-7     national flag, but it would enable Capitol visitors to see, on

 2-8     first approach, the banner with which Texas and her people are most

 2-9     closely identified; now, therefore, be it

2-10           RESOLVED, That the 75th Legislature of the State of Texas

2-11     hereby request that the State Preservation Board display the flag

2-12     of the State of Texas above the south entrance of the Capitol and

2-13     the flag of the United States above the north entrance of the

2-14     Capitol; and, be it further

2-15           RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official

2-16     copy of this resolution to the executive director of the State

2-17     Preservation Board.