HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION 1-1 WHEREAS, On Christmas Eve 1944, while carrying American 1-2 soldiers of the 66th Infantry Division to reinforce Allied troops 1-3 fighting the Battle of the Bulge, the SS Leopoldville was sunk in 1-4 the English Channel by a U-boat torpedo, resulting in the loss of 1-5 763 members of the 262nd and 264th regiments, including 35 Texans; 1-6 and 1-7 WHEREAS, The underwater grave, located five and a half miles 1-8 off the coast of Cherbourg, France, cradles to this day the remains 1-9 of 493 unrecovered and entombed American servicemen who have been 1-10 honored by monuments erected across the United States in their 1-11 memory; and 1-12 WHEREAS, World War II combat and wreckage locations, 1-13 including many at sea, have fallen prey to plunderers and looters 1-14 who, in seeking souvenirs and commercial reward, have desecrated 1-15 the memory of our valorous combatants and their final resting 1-16 places; and 1-17 WHEREAS, The wreckage of the SS Leopoldville is threatened by 1-18 the practice of divers who descend to remove such artifacts as 1-19 brass, portholes, and other parts of the ship and who, if 1-20 unchecked, may begin to extract the personal effects and military 1-21 equipment of the deceased and in so doing disturb the sanctity of 1-22 their burial site; and 1-23 WHEREAS, The State of New York has issued a proclamation in 1-24 memory of the victims of the SS Leopoldville, and at least a dozen 2-1 like measures have been passed by other states to commemorate the 2-2 men who lost their lives in this tragedy and to ensure that they 2-3 continue their silent rest in dignity; now, therefore, be it 2-4 RESOLVED, That the 77th Legislature of the State of Texas 2-5 hereby honor the American servicemen who were lost when the 2-6 troopship SS Leopoldville was sunk by an enemy torpedo on December 2-7 24, 1944; and, be it further 2-8 RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature respectfully memorialize 2-9 the Congress of the United States to take appropriate action to 2-10 prevent further desecration of the SS Leopoldville or any of its 2-11 contents; and, be it further 2-12 RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official 2-13 copies of this resolution to the president of the United States, to 2-14 the speaker of the house of representatives and the president of 2-15 the senate of the United States Congress, and to all the members of 2-16 the Texas delegation to the congress with the request that this 2-17 resolution be officially entered in the Congressional Record as a 2-18 memorial to the Congress of the United States of America. Hunter _______________________________ _______________________________ President of the Senate Speaker of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 201 was adopted by the House on April 5, 2001, by a non-record vote. _______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House I certify that H.C.R. No. 201 was adopted by the Senate on May 2, 2001, by a viva-voce vote. _______________________________ Secretary of the Senate APPROVED: __________________________ Date __________________________ Governor