By: Jackson S.R. No. 637 99S1151/1 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 2-1 recommend to the Postmaster General that an Order of the Purple 2-2 Heart stamp be issued in 1999, the year of the 200th anniversary of 2-3 the death of George Washington; and 2-4 WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the Texas Senate show support 2-5 for this endeavor as a means of demonstrating our gratitude to 2-6 those who are wounded in loyal service to our country and to those 2-7 who die in defense of its ideals; now, therefore, be it 2-8 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 76th 2-9 Legislature, hereby express support for a United States postage 2-10 stamp that will honor those brave men and women who are wounded 2-11 while fighting on behalf of our country and its citizens; and, be 2-12 it further 2-13 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an 2-14 endorsement of that endeavor by the Texas Senate.