By Staples                                           H.C.R. No. 269
         76R14904 BE-D                           
                             HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, The prayers and hopes of millions of Texans have
 1-2     been answered with the release from Yugoslav captivity of U.S. Army
 1-3     Specialist Steven M. Gonzales, and it is with profound joy that the
 1-4     76th Texas Legislature welcomes his freedom and reunion with family
 1-5     and friends; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The ordeal began at the end of March, when
 1-7     Specialist Gonzales and two other American soldiers were taken
 1-8     captive at the Macedonian border; and
 1-9           WHEREAS, The trio had been stationed in Schweinfurt, Germany,
1-10     and were reassigned as part of a multinational force of NATO
1-11     members to aid in the resolution of the conflict in Kosovo; held by
1-12     Yugoslavian forces, the soldiers were imprisoned for 32 days before
1-13     their release; and
1-14           WHEREAS, A Lone Star native and the son of Rosie and Gilbert
1-15     Gonzales of Huntsville, Specialist Gonzales graduated from
1-16     Palestine High School in 1995; an exceptional scholar-athlete, he
1-17     was 10th in his class of 217, served as an officer in the National
1-18     Honor Society, and was a member of both the soccer and
1-19     cross-country teams; and
1-20           WHEREAS, He was the faculty advisory choice for speaker at
1-21     the 1995 graduation ceremonies, and his selection of material, a
1-22     quote from the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., says a great
1-23     deal about the integrity and sense of purpose of this exceptional
1-24     young man: "And there comes a time when one must take a position
 2-1     that is neither safe, nor polite, nor popular--but one must take it
 2-2     because it's right"; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, Specialist Gonzales is now back among his family and
 2-4     fellow soldiers, and it is a great honor to join the multitude of
 2-5     Texans recognizing his bravery and patriotism and celebrating his
 2-6     release; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the 76th Legislature of the State of Texas
 2-8     hereby commemorate the regained freedom of U.S. Army Specialist
 2-9     Steven M. Gonzales and extend to him warmest and sincere best
2-10     wishes for all possible happiness and success in the years to come;
2-11     and, be it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
2-13     prepared for Specialist Gonzales as a reminder of this grand day
2-14     and as an expression of highest regard by the Texas House of
2-15     Representatives and Senate.