By:  Jackson                                           S.R. No. 637
                                  SENATE RESOLUTION
 1-1           WHEREAS, In answering our country's call to duty, members of
 1-2     the United States armed forces are each making supreme personal
 1-3     sacrifices, and it is rightful that American citizens express our
 1-4     appreciation for and pay tribute to their extraordinary valor and
 1-5     loyalty; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration
 1-7     in the world that is still in present use; the award originated
 1-8     during the Revolutionary War in 1782 when General George Washington
 1-9     issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction,
1-10     otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit or the Decoration of
1-11     the Purple Heart; and
1-12           WHEREAS, While the use of the award ceased after the
1-13     Revolutionary War, its usage was revived in 1932, the year of the
1-14     200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington; and
1-15           WHEREAS, Today, the Order of the Purple Heart is awarded to
1-16     members of the United States armed forces who are wounded in war by
1-17     the enemy; the award is also given posthumously to the next of kin
1-18     to honor those who were killed in action or died of wounds received
1-19     in battle; and
1-20           WHEREAS, There is now an effort underway by members of the
1-21     United States Congress to create a United States postage stamp in
1-22     honor of our Purple Heart recipients; a Congressional resolution
1-23     has been written asking that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
1-24     recommend to the Postmaster General that an Order of the Purple
 2-1     Heart stamp be issued in 1999, the year of the 200th anniversary of
 2-2     the death of George Washington; and
 2-3           WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the Texas Senate show support
 2-4     for this endeavor as a means of demonstrating our gratitude to
 2-5     those who are wounded in loyal service to our country and to those
 2-6     who die in defense of its ideals; now, therefore, be it
 2-7           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 76th
 2-8     Legislature, hereby express support for a United States postage
 2-9     stamp that will honor those brave men and women who are wounded
2-10     while fighting on behalf of our country and its citizens; and, be
2-11     it further
2-12           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
2-13     endorsement of that endeavor by the Texas Senate.
2-14                                  ______________________________________
2-15                                          President of the Senate
2-16                                       I hereby certify that the above
2-17                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
2-18                                  on April 30, 1999.
2-19                                  ______________________________________
2-20                                          Secretary of the Senate