By Uresti                                            H.C.R. No. 232
         76R12062 BE-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, It is with deepest respect and prayerful hope that
 1-2     the members of the 76th Texas Legislature honor the three American
 1-3     soldiers currently being held in Yugoslavia:  U.S.  Army Specialist
 1-4     Steven M. Gonzales of Huntsville, Texas, and U.S. Army staff
 1-5     sergeants Andrew A. Ramirez, of Los Angeles, California, and
 1-6     Christopher James Stone, of Smiths Creek, Michigan; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, All three soldiers are assigned with B Troop, 1st
 1-8     Squadron, 4th Cavalry of the 1st Infantry Division, stationed in
 1-9     Schweinfurt, Germany; as part of a multinational force of NATO
1-10     members to resolve the conflict in Kosovo,  the troop was
1-11     reassigned to neighboring Macedonia to secure that country's border
1-12     with the Serbian province; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Originally listed as detainees, the soldiers' status
1-14     was changed to prisoners of war on April 1, 1999; and while
1-15     questions have arisen regarding the legitimacy of the soldiers'
1-16     capture and continued imprisonment, Yugoslavia and its republic of
1-17     Serbia are morally bound and have verbally committed themselves to
1-18     the terms of the Geneva Convention; and
1-19           WHEREAS, It is the most fervent hope of the Texas
1-20     Legislature, and indeed all Texans, that these United States
1-21     citizens will be released by the Yugoslavian government
1-22     immediately; until that happy event, council halls, homes, and
1-23     churches across the Lone Star State will continue to echo with
1-24     prayers and messages of support for our soldiers overseas; now,
 2-1     therefore, be it
 2-2           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-3     hereby pay tribute to Stephen M. Gonzales, Andrew A. Ramirez, and
 2-4     Christopher James Stone, United States soldiers currently being
 2-5     held by Yugoslavian forces, and extend to these brave Americans and
 2-6     their families profound wishes for freedom and reunion; and, be it
 2-7     further
 2-8           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
 2-9     prepared for each of these three patriots as an expression of
2-10     highest regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate.