By Hunter H.C.R. No. 86 76R5594 BE-D HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, With the passage of House Concurrent Resolution 27, 1-2 the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas has called its members 1-3 to meet in Joint Session on this, the 16th day of February, 1999, 1-4 to be addressed by the Honorable George W. Bush, Governor of the 1-5 State of Texas, in honor of Military Appreciation Day; and 1-6 WHEREAS, It is fitting on this august occasion that we first 1-7 recognize those members of the military now present in the House 1-8 Chamber for they, and their fellow servicemen and -women, are the 1-9 bulwark of freedom throughout the world; and 1-10 WHEREAS, A top soldier, sailor, or airman has been selected 1-11 to be honored here today from the Texas National Guard and each of 1-12 the following military bases within the State of Texas: Brooks Air 1-13 Force Base, the Corpus Christi Army Depot, the Corpus Christi Naval 1-14 Air Station, Dyess Air Force Base, Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, Fort Sam 1-15 Houston, the Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base at Fort Worth, 1-16 Goodfellow Air Force Base, the Naval Station at Ingleside, Kelly 1-17 Air Force Base, the Kingsville Naval Air Station, Lackland Air 1-18 Force Base, Laughlin Air Force Base, Randolph Air Force Base, the 1-19 Red River Army Depot, and Sheppard Air Force Base; these 1-20 distinguished men and women are an example and an inspiration, both 1-21 for the military personnel they represent and for the civilian 1-22 public they protect; and 1-23 WHEREAS, These remarkable individuals have met exacting 1-24 demands with fortitude, courage, and success, and each of these 2-1 officers is testament to the best this nation and this state have 2-2 to offer; and 2-3 WHEREAS, It is incumbent on every member of this legislative 2-4 body to work closely with local communities to further the goals of 2-5 our armed forces in Texas; this is truly a significant initiative, 2-6 for our military forces protect what we hold most dear, our 2-7 freedom, and the peace and order they maintain allows all 2-8 communities across the state to enjoy prosperity; and 2-9 WHEREAS, The 75th Texas Legislature passed Senate Bill 932 2-10 establishing the Office of Defense Affairs and the Strategic 2-11 Military Planning Commission to develop a strategic military plan 2-12 for the state; that plan was completed on November 10, 1998, and 2-13 was then signed by the chairman of the commission and submitted to 2-14 the governor and this legislature; the establishment of these 2-15 entities will undoubtedly reinforce the ties that bind private 2-16 sector economies with the military and will do much to enhance the 2-17 power of small and large businesses alike to fuel this state's 2-18 engines of capital; and 2-19 WHEREAS, Members of the Strategic Military Planning 2-20 Commission, including Dr. Charles A. Hines, Chino Chapa, Fred Lee 2-21 Hughes, Charles de Wetter, H. G. "Pete" Taylor, Robert E. Tokerud, 2-22 Lewis E. Curtis III, Tom H. Gann, and the Honorable Loyd Neal, are 2-23 most deserving of special commendation for their hard work and 2-24 dedication in crafting this plan, which will have a lasting, 2-25 positive effect on the future of our state and its citizens; and 2-26 WHEREAS, The mayors, chambers of commerce, and other city 2-27 leaders, and especially the members of the military affairs 3-1 committees of the various chambers of commerce in Texas, are also 3-2 to be heralded, for they recognized early on the vital nature of 3-3 the relationship between the armed forces and private enterprise; 3-4 and 3-5 WHEREAS, The defense community is one of the largest 3-6 employers in Texas; more than 250,000 active duty personnel, 3-7 direct-hire civilians, and National Guard members are employed in 3-8 the state, with nearly 370,000 workers either directly or 3-9 indirectly associated with defense spending; in Fiscal Year 1997 3-10 alone, military services and U.S. Department of Defense spending 3-11 contributed $15.6 billion directly to the Texas economy, and this 3-12 is a monumental contribution that cannot be overlooked; and 3-13 WHEREAS, While the risk of global war has diminished, 3-14 thousands of Texas men and women are still serving overseas, having 3-15 left their family and friends to serve their country in places like 3-16 Bosnia, Korea, and the Persian Gulf; from the Battle of Gonzales to 3-17 the liberation of Kuwait, Texas military forces have soldiered 3-18 proudly in every major American conflict, and they will continue to 3-19 display Texas' renowned military heritage; now, therefore, be it 3-20 RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas 3-21 hereby recognize this day, February 16, 1999, as Military 3-22 Appreciation Day at the State Capitol and pay tribute to the many 3-23 brave men and women of our nation's armed forces; and, be it 3-24 further 3-25 RESOLVED, That this tribute be extended to all those who have 3-26 served or who are serving in defense of their country, for we owe 3-27 them a great debt of gratitude.