1-1 1 1-2 SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 1270 1-3 WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas takes pride 1-4 in recognizing the official Veterans Band of Corpus Christi on 1-5 the momentous occasion of its 15th Commemorative Anniversary; and 1-6 WHEREAS, The band originated when Ram Chavez was the Parade 1-7 Marshal and keynote speaker for an Armed Forces Day Ceremony on 1-8 May 19, 1984; when it was time for the National Anthem, the 1-9 ceremonial music was provided with the help of a United States Navy 1-10 sound truck; at that point, Mr. Chavez determined that live music 1-11 was a necessity to enhance future patriotic events and, at the same 1-12 time, convey a sense of respect; and 1-13 WHEREAS, The Veterans Band of Corpus Christi, under the 1-14 direction of Ram Chavez, a music educator and a highly decorated 1-15 veteran who served with the United States Army in Vietnam as a 1-16 combat medic, was created on June 3, 1986, with 23 members; 1-17 14 original members are still with the band; and 1-18 WHEREAS, The Veterans Band of Corpus Christi has performed in 1-19 Washington, D.C., at the Vietnam Veterans Memorial on Veterans Day, 1-20 November 11, 1994; it was the only nonmilitary unit to participate 1-21 in the official Texas Welcome the Troops on June 29, 1991, in 1-22 Austin; the band has performed also in San Antonio, Brownsville, 2-1 McAllen, Houston, Dallas, Praha, Victoria, and the Coastal Bend; 2-2 and 2-3 WHEREAS, The phenomenal popularity and success of this 2-4 outstanding band is due to its superb musical talent and artistic 2-5 showmanship; and 2-6 WHEREAS, The Veterans Band has performed for President Bush 2-7 in 1989, in Washington, D.C.; for Vice President Quayle when he 2-8 visited Corpus Christi in 1990; during President Clinton's visit 2-9 to Brownsville in 1998; and at other events throughout the Coastal 2-10 Bend, state, and nation; and 2-11 WHEREAS, The Veterans Band participates as a military band 2-12 at many of the military change of command ceremonies and military 2-13 events for the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, 2-14 United States Army, United States Marine Corps, Reserve, and 2-15 National Guard units; and 2-16 WHEREAS, The band will celebrate its 15th Anniversary 2-17 on June 3, 2001, with the presentation of the Buddy Lawrence 2-18 Historical House at Heritage Park by the City of Corpus Christi 2-19 on June 3, 2001, at 2:00 p.m.; certainly this patriotic group of 2-20 veterans is worthy of legislative recognition; now, therefore, 2-21 be it 2-22 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 2-23 77th Legislature, hereby commend and congratulate the Veterans 3-1 Band of Corpus Christi, Texas, as it observes its 15th Anniversary; 3-2 and, be it further 3-3 RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 3-4 the Veterans Band and all its members as a memento of this 3-5 august occasion and as an expression of high esteem from the 3-6 Texas Senate: Ram Chavez, Founder and Musical Director; the 3-7 charter members still active in the Veterans Band, John Earhart, 3-8 Louis Bazaldua, Eddie Garza, Albert Arzuaga, Ed Heskett, 3-9 Fred Trejo, Robert Callejo, Frank De Los Santos, Tom Dreyer, 3-10 Crispin Garcia, Martin Garcia, Juan Lugo, Victor Martinez, 3-11 Greg Mendoza, and Larry Villareal; Emeritus Senior Members 3-12 Joel Cortez, Don Haynes, and Eliseo Sanchez; and active members 3-13 Bob Allen, Daniel Aguilar, Gabriel Escobar, Tony Cirilo, 3-14 Santos Rodriguez, Manuel Alvarez, Juan Sanchez, Alex Muro, 3-15 Jesse Escobedo, Alfonso Rivera, Robert Solis, L. E. Jacobs, 3-16 Charles McEntire, Arturo Cortez, Rene Marroquin, E. J. Cortez, 3-17 Enrique Rodriguez, Stephen Earhart, George Torres, Ralph Cuellar, 3-18 Mike Gonzales, O. V. Martinez, Victor Weickum, and Eddie Rodriguez. 3-19 Truan 3-20 Armbrister Gallegos Ogden 3-21 Barrientos Harris Shapiro 3-22 Bernsen Haywood Shapleigh 3-23 Bivins Jackson Sibley 3-24 Brown Lindsay Staples 3-25 Cain Lucio Van de Putte 3-26 Carona Madla Wentworth 3-27 Duncan Moncrief West 3-28 Ellis Nelson Whitmire 3-29 Fraser Zaffirini 3-30 Ratliff, President of the Senate 4-1 ______________________________________ 4-2 President of the Senate 4-3 I hereby certify that the above 4-4 Resolution was adopted by the Senate 4-5 on May 28, 2001. 4-6 ______________________________________ 4-7 Secretary of the Senate 4-8 ______________________________________ 4-9 Dean of the Senate