By Cuellar H.R. No. 44 76R4441 MDM-D R E S O L U T I O N 1-1 WHEREAS, This year Texans will join millions of fellow 1-2 Americans in celebrating the life of one of America's best known 1-3 and most respected patriots, George Washington, and the 1-4 Washington's Birthday Celebration being held in Laredo February 1-5 6-21, 1999, is indeed deserving of special recognition; and 1-6 WHEREAS, Since 1898, Laredo has been welcoming citizens from 1-7 throughout Texas as well as thousands of residents of northern 1-8 Mexico to the festivities, and the event has become so popular that 1-9 it now draws more than 250,000 people each year; and 1-10 WHEREAS, The Washington's Birthday Celebration is held to 1-11 honor our nation's first president by marking his birthday in a 1-12 manner that fosters understanding and goodwill among all the people 1-13 of the Americas and to patriotically and reverently perpetuate the 1-14 memory of "The Father of Our Country"; and 1-15 WHEREAS, What began as a two-day, two-event observance has 1-16 blossomed into a three-week festival featuring more than 30 1-17 entertaining and informative activities, including parades and 1-18 pageants; during this period each February, the city of Laredo 1-19 creates an atmosphere that recalls the bygone era of colonial 1-20 Virginia; and 1-21 WHEREAS, Rich in culture and tradition, Laredo celebrates 1-22 George Washington's birthday with considerable gallantry and 1-23 spectacle, and it gives the members of this chamber great pleasure 1-24 to join with our fellow citizens in saluting this fine Texas city; 2-1 now, therefore, be it 2-2 RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 76th Texas 2-3 Legislature hereby commemorate the Washington's Birthday 2-4 Celebration in Laredo and extend to its organizers and participants 2-5 warmest best wishes for another successful and memorable event.