1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 57
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride in
 1-4     recognizing the members of Washington's Birthday Celebration
 1-5     Association and the association's president, Saba Zapata III,
 1-6     on their successful annual planning of the celebration of
 1-7     Washington's Birthday in Laredo; and
 1-8           WHEREAS, Every year, the citizens of Laredo have celebrated
 1-9     the birthday of the Father of Our Country; Washington's Birthday
1-10     Celebration Association sponsors the celebration to pay tribute
1-11     to the memory of George Washington and to his virtues and his
1-12     patriotism; this year is the 102nd birthday celebration; and
1-13           WHEREAS, The first meaningful American influence on Laredo
1-14     occurred during the Mexican War when Captain Mirabeau B. Lamar
1-15     organized the city and county governments along American lines;
1-16     after 1847, Laredo had an American government, but a very limited
1-17     amount of American culture was present; most children grew up
1-18     speaking Spanish and the holidays were of Mexican tradition; and
1-19           WHEREAS, In 1881, the city began to change with the arrival
1-20     of two railroads, the Texas Mexican from Corpus Christi and the
1-21     International and Great Northern from San Antonio; the railroads
1-22     brought immigration from the north, and by the 1890s, Laredo's
1-23     population was approximately one-fourth Anglo-American; and
1-24           WHEREAS, In 1870, the mayor of Laredo decided to add some
 2-1     American celebrations to the traditional Mexican holidays and
 2-2     printed up handbills in honor of George Washington on February 22;
 2-3     no tradition was established, however, until the first formal
 2-4     Washington Birthday Celebration occurred as a two-day event in
 2-5     1898; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Over the years, the holiday in Laredo has gradually
 2-7     emerged into a grand celebration entailing numerous events that
 2-8     cover a two-week period; the yearly celebrations exemplify the
 2-9     spirit and enthusiasm of Laredoans and the pride they take in
2-10     their city and country; now, therefore, be it
2-11           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-12     76th Legislature, hereby commend the members of the George
2-13     Washington Birthday Celebration Association on their patriotism
2-14     and their dedication and extend best wishes to them for a joyous
2-15     102nd birthday celebration; and, be it further
2-16           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for
2-17     the association as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
2-18                                                               Zaffirini
2-19                                  ______________________________________
2-20                                          President of the Senate
2-21                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-22                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-23                                  on January 25, 1999.
2-24                                  ______________________________________
2-25                                          Secretary of the Senate
2-26                                  ______________________________________
2-27                                           Member, Texas Senate