76R12658 MXM-D
By Duncan S.B. No. 483
Substitute the following for S.B. No. 483:
By Hunter C.S.S.B. No. 483
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
1-1 AN ACT
1-2 relating to procedures for retirement of the Texas flag.
1-3 BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
1-4 SECTION 1. The Texas Flag Code (Article 6139c, Revised
1-5 Statutes) is amended by adding Section 6 to read as follows:
1-6 Sec. 6. (a) A state flag, when it is no longer used or
1-7 useful as an emblem for display, should be destroyed, preferably by
1-8 burning, in a ceremony or other dignified way that emphasizes its
1-9 honor as a fitting emblem for this state.
1-10 (b) A retirement ceremony for a state flag should be
1-11 conducted with the honor and respect inherent in the traditions of
1-12 this state. While the state flag may be retired in a private
1-13 ceremony, it is encouraged that a retirement be a public ceremony
1-14 under the direction of uniformed personnel representing a state or
1-15 national military service or a patriotic society.
1-16 (c) During a retirement ceremony, a person in uniform should
1-17 render the military salute at the appropriate time as designated by
1-18 the ceremony. A nonuniformed individual present should stand at
1-19 attention with the right hand over the heart. When not in uniform,
1-20 an individual who is wearing a headdress that is easily removable
1-21 should remove the headdress with the right hand and hold the
1-22 headdress at the left shoulder, with the right hand over the heart.
1-23 An individual who is not a citizen of this state should stand at
1-24 attention.
2-1 (d) In a retirement ceremony in which the flag is to be
2-2 either burned or buried, the flag may be retired as a whole or the
2-3 colors of the flag may be separated for individual dedication, with
2-4 the separation taking place immediately before the retirement and
2-5 dedication ceremony.
2-6 (e) The official retirement ceremony for the state flag
2-7 encouraged for public use is:
2-8 I am your Texas flag!
2-9 I was born January 25, 1839.
2-10 I am one of only two flags of an American state that
2-11 has also served as the symbol of an independent
2-12 nation--The Republic of Texas.
2-13 While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I
2-14 represent will never retire!
2-15 I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and
2-16 Tomorrow!
2-17 I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at
2-18 San Jacinto.
2-19 My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers over the Forts
2-20 Trail of the Big Country, and herded cattle through the
2-21 Fort Worth stockyards. I have sailed up Galveston Bay
2-22 and kept a watchful eye over our El Paso del Norte.
2-23 My colors are in the waters of the Red River and in the
2-24 Bluebonnets of the Texas Hill Country.
2-25 You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro
2-26 and in the sands of Padre Island;
2-27 I am in the space station at Houston and atop the oil
3-1 wells of West Texas.
3-2 From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of
3-3 San Antonio--all of Texas is my home!
3-4 I wave over the cotton and grain fields of the High
3-5 Plains, and I am deep in the rich soil of the Rio
3-6 Grande Valley.
3-7 I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I
3-8 fly high above the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas.
3-9 You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and
3-10 along the Grandeur of the Rio Grande.
3-11 I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man!
3-12 The blue field in me stands for the valor of our
3-13 ancestors in the battles for our country.
3-14 Let us retire the blue--Salute!
3-15 My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas
3-16 hearts! It represents the honor that each of us should
3-17 pay to our state each day.
3-18 Let us retire the white--Salute!
3-19 The red is for all of the men and women who have died
3-20 in service of our state--whether as members of the
3-21 armed services or as citizen Samaritans.
3-22 Let us retire the red--Salute!
3-23 My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide
3-24 because it represents ALL of Texas and stands for our
3-25 unity as one for God, State, and Country.
3-26 Let us retire the lone star--Salute!
3-27 Join in the pledge to the Texas Flag:
4-1 "Honor the Texas Flag; I Pledge Allegiance to thee,
4-2 Texas, One and Indivisible."
4-3 SECTION 2. Subsections (ff) and (gg), Section 3, Texas Flag
4-4 Code (Article 6139c, Revised Statutes), are amended to read as
4-5 follows:
4-6 (ff) [The state flag, when it is in such a condition that it
4-7 is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a
4-8 dignified way, preferably by burning.]
4-9 [(gg)] During the ceremony of hoisting or lowering the state
4-10 flag or when the state flag is passing in a parade or in review,
4-11 all individuals present except those in uniform should face the
4-12 state flag and stand at attention with the right hand over the
4-13 heart. Those present in uniform should render the military salute.
4-14 When not in uniform, individuals who are wearing a headdress that
4-15 is easily removeable should remove their headdress with their right
4-16 hand and hold it at the left shoulder, with the hand over the
4-17 heart. Individuals who are not citizens of this state should stand
4-18 at attention. The salute to the state flag in a moving column
4-19 should be rendered at the moment the state flag passes.
4-20 SECTION 3. The importance of this legislation and the
4-21 crowded condition of the calendars in both houses create an
4-22 emergency and an imperative public necessity that the
4-23 constitutional rule requiring bills to be read on three several
4-24 days in each house be suspended, and this rule is hereby suspended,
4-25 and that this Act take effect and be in force from and after its
4-26 passage, and it is so enacted.