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