S.R. No. 59
1-1 SENATE RESOLUTION
1-2 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in
1-3 recognizing Washington's Birthday Celebration Association on the
1-4 grand occasion of the 100th celebration of Washington's Birthday
1-5 in Laredo; and
1-6 WHEREAS, Each year since 1898 the citizens of Laredo have
1-7 celebrated the birthday of the Father of Our Country; Washington's
1-8 Birthday Celebration Association sponsors the celebration in a
1-9 manner that encourages reverence of the memory of George Washington
1-10 and emulation of his virtues and his patriotism; and
1-11 WHEREAS, The first significant American influence in Laredo
1-12 arrived during the Mexican War when Captain Mirabeau B. Lamar
1-13 organized the city and county governments along American lines;
1-14 after 1847, Laredo had an American government, but a very limited
1-15 amount of American culture was present; most children grew up
1-16 speaking Spanish and the holidays were of Mexican tradition; and
1-17 WHEREAS, The city began to change in 1881 with the arrival
1-18 of two railroads, the Texas Mexican from Corpus Christi and the
1-19 International and Great Northern from San Antonio; the railroads
1-20 brought immigration from the north, and by the 1890s, Laredo's
1-21 population was approximately one-fourth Anglo-American; and
1-22 WHEREAS, In 1870, the mayor of Laredo had decided to add some
1-23 American celebrations to the traditional Mexican holidays and had
1-24 handbills printed up in honor of George Washington on February 22;
1-25 no tradition was established, however, until the first formal
1-26 Washington Birthday Celebration occurred as a two-day event in 1898;
1-27 and
1-28 WHEREAS, Since its inception, the holiday in Laredo has
1-29 gradually emerged into a grand celebration of 26 events over a
1-30 10-day period; the Centennial Celebration planned this year
1-31 exemplifies the spirit and enthusiasm of Laredoans and the pride
1-32 they take in their city and country; now, therefore, be it
1-33 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
1-34 75th Legislature, hereby commend the George Washington Birthday
1-35 Celebration Association on its patriotism and efforts to perpetuate
1-36 the memory of the Father of Our Country and extend best wishes for
1-37 a joyous Centennial Celebration; and, be it further
2-1 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the
2-2 association as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-3 Zaffirini
2-4 Armbrister Galloway Nixon
2-5 Barrientos Harris Patterson
2-6 Bivins Haywood Ratliff
2-7 Brown Lindsay Shapiro
2-8 Cain Lucio Shapleigh
2-9 Carona Luna Sibley
2-10 Duncan Madla Truan
2-11 Ellis Moncrief Wentworth
2-12 Fraser Nelson West
2-13 Gallegos Whitmire
2-14 Bullock, President of the Senate
2-15 ______________________________________
2-16 President of the Senate
2-17 I hereby certify that the above
2-18 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-19 on January 29, 1997.
2-20 ______________________________________
2-21 Secretary of the Senate
2-22 ______________________________________
2-23 Member, Texas Senate