1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 303 1-3 WHEREAS, On Wednesday, January 27, 1999, the 17-year 1-4 quest of James Briones of Austin came to an end with the burial 1-5 of his great-great-grandfather, Antonio Briones, Private in the 1-6 United States Army, in the Texas State Cemetery; and 1-7 WHEREAS, Antonio Briones joined the First Texas Cavalry, 1-8 the only Texas unit to fight for the Union in the Civil War, in 1-9 the 1860s; the unit fought in Louisiana, Mississippi, and the 1-10 Rio Grande Valley; and 1-11 WHEREAS, The funeral was a military burial with all attendant 1-12 honors; the flag of the United States of America draped the casket, 1-13 a military honor guard fired a salute, and "Taps" was played; and 1-14 WHEREAS, For years, James Briones had remembered his father 1-15 talking about an ancestor who served in the Civil War; when 1-16 James began his search for his forefather's grave, he found it in 1-17 East Austin's Oakwood Cemetery; the great-great-grandson felt that 1-18 Antonio Briones deserved to be buried in the Texas State Cemetery; 1-19 and 1-20 WHEREAS, During the 75th Legislature, the rules for burial 1-21 in the state cemetery were changed, and a three-person State 1-22 Cemetery Committee was appointed; it can approve for burial people 1-23 who are recommended by Texas legislators; Antonio Briones's name was 1-24 submitted for burial there, and it was approved; and 2-1 WHEREAS, The Briones family has had 14 people in their family 2-2 receive honorable discharges; James Briones felt that his ancestor 2-3 should be included among those eligible to be buried in the state 2-4 cemetery and the committee agreed that it would be the right thing 2-5 to do; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The re-interment of Antonio Briones was evidence that 2-7 the recently renovated state cemetery represents all Texans and the 2-8 diversity that is Texas today; and 2-9 WHEREAS, For James Briones and his family, the achievement of 2-10 his dream for his great-great-grandfather satisfies a long-held 2-11 desire and gives them a feeling of completion; now, therefore, be it 2-12 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-13 76th Legislature, hereby congratulate and commend James Briones 2-14 and his family for their tenacity in their endeavor; and, be it 2-15 further 2-16 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for the 2-17 family as an expression of the highest regard and esteem of the 2-18 Texas Senate. 2-19 Barrientos 2-20 ______________________________________ 2-21 President of the Senate 2-22 I hereby certify that the above 2-23 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 2-24 on March 1, 1999. 2-25 ______________________________________ 2-26 Secretary of the Senate 2-27 ______________________________________ 2-28 Member, Texas Senate