1-1     By:  Jackson                                           S.R. No. 637
 1-2           (In the Senate - Filed April 13, 1999; April 14, 1999, read
 1-3     first time and referred to Committee on Veteran Affairs and
 1-4     Military Installations; April 27, 1999, reported favorably by the
 1-5     following vote:  Yeas 4, Nays 0; April 27, 1999, sent to printer.)
 1-6                              SENATE RESOLUTION
 1-7           WHEREAS, In answering our country's call to duty, members of
 1-8     the United States armed forces are each making supreme personal
 1-9     sacrifices, and it is rightful that American citizens express our
1-10     appreciation for and pay tribute to their extraordinary valor and
1-11     loyalty; and
1-12           WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is the oldest military decoration
1-13     in the world that is still in present use; the award originated
1-14     during the Revolutionary War in 1782 when General George Washington
1-15     issued an order establishing the Honorary Badge of Distinction,
1-16     otherwise known as the Badge of Military Merit or the Decoration of
1-17     the Purple Heart; and
1-18           WHEREAS, While the use of the award ceased after the
1-19     Revolutionary War, its usage was revived in 1932, the year of the
1-20     200th anniversary of the birth of George Washington; and
1-21           WHEREAS, Today, the Order of the Purple Heart is awarded to
1-22     members of the United States armed forces who are wounded in war by
1-23     the enemy; the award is also given posthumously to the next of kin
1-24     to honor those who were killed in action or died of wounds received
1-25     in battle; and
1-26           WHEREAS, There is now an effort underway by members of the
1-27     United States Congress to create a United States postage stamp in
1-28     honor of our Purple Heart recipients; a Congressional resolution
1-29     has been written asking that the Citizens' Stamp Advisory Committee
1-30     recommend to the Postmaster General that an Order of the Purple
1-31     Heart stamp be issued in 1999, the year of the 200th anniversary of
1-32     the death of George Washington; and
1-33           WHEREAS, It is appropriate that the Texas Senate show support
1-34     for this endeavor as a means of demonstrating our gratitude to
1-35     those who are wounded in loyal service to our country and to those
1-36     who die in defense of its ideals; now, therefore, be it
1-37           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 76th
1-38     Legislature, hereby express support for a United States postage
1-39     stamp that will honor those brave men and women who are wounded
1-40     while fighting on behalf of our country and its citizens; and, be
1-41     it further
1-42           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
1-43     endorsement of that endeavor by the Texas Senate.
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