By Haggerty H.C.R. No. 4 76R7676 JLZ-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, The history of Texas is the story of courageous men 1-2 and women of indomitable spirit overcoming tremendous hardship to 1-3 achieve their goals; many historic figures are well-known and 1-4 their exploits sometimes legendary, but history often is made also 1-5 by others whose achievements do not receive the recognition they 1-6 deserve; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Among those individuals whose contributions often 1-8 are overlooked in the histories of the American Southwest are the 1-9 Spanish explorers and colonists who braved adversity and danger to 1-10 open the frontier for subsequent generations of Texas settlers; and 1-11 WHEREAS, Although Native Americans had roamed the region long 1-12 before the first Europeans arrived, and Spanish adventurers such as 1-13 Alvar Nunez Cabeza de Vaca and Francisco Vazquez de Coronado had 1-14 led expeditions across Texas in the early 1500s, it was not until 1-15 1598 that the permanent settlement of Texas began when a colonizing 1-16 expedition under the command of Don Juan de Onate took possession 1-17 of the upper Rio Grande area in the name of the Spanish crown; and 1-18 WHEREAS, After an arduous four-month trek across the vast 1-19 Chihuahuan desert of northern Mexico, a weary company of more than 1-20 400 men, women, and children led by this Spanish nobleman arrived 1-21 on the banks of the Rio Grande near the site of present-day El 1-22 Paso; and 1-23 WHEREAS, Having survived a grueling journey across 1-24 inhospitable terrain, they paused to give thanks for their safe 2-1 passage, and on April 30, 1598, 23 years before the Pilgrims landed 2-2 at Plymouth Rock, Don Juan de Onate's band held the first 2-3 Thanksgiving feast in what is now the United States, offering a 2-4 thanksgiving mass and staging a play to celebrate the occasion; and 2-5 WHEREAS, Although their achievement in making this remarkable 2-6 journey across miles of nearly barren desert and their historic 2-7 first Thanksgiving are worthy of note, these original settlers also 2-8 made lasting contributions to the subsequent development not only 2-9 of Texas but of the entire Southwest, opening new routes through 2-10 the territory and introducing the livestock that became the 2-11 mainstays of economic life in the American West; and 2-12 WHEREAS, Justifiably proud of our heritage and Texas' unique 2-13 role in our nation's history, Texans have always paid tribute to 2-14 those men and women who have gone before us, and it is fitting that 2-15 we honor and restore to their rightful place those whose enduring 2-16 legacy has been overlooked; now, therefore, be it 2-17 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-18 hereby acknowledge the importance of the Spanish settlement of the 2-19 Southwest and recognize Don Juan de Onate and his historic 2-20 contributions to the region's development; and, be it further 2-21 RESOLVED, That the legislature hereby urge historians to 2-22 place greater emphasis on the prominent part played by Spain in 2-23 American history and on Juan de Onate's achievements, and that the 2-24 State Board of Education and the Texas Education Agency request 2-25 such recognition in history textbooks submitted for state adoption; 2-26 and, be it further 2-27 RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward official copies 3-1 of this resolution to the chair of the State Board of Education and 3-2 to the commissioner of education of the Texas Education Agency.