78S20306 MMS-D

By:  Chavez                                                       H.R. No. 128



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, A replica of the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, one of 
the most-visited sites in Washington, D.C., is being displayed in 
El Paso on September 5-7, 2003; and
	WHEREAS, The Vietnam Veterans Memorial, often known simply as 
"the Wall," lists the names of more than 58,000 American men and 
women killed or missing in action in the Southeast Asian conflict; 
sponsored by the Vietnam Veterans Memorial Fund, Inc., and designed 
by Maya Ying Lin, a Yale University architecture student, the 
memorial was dedicated on November 13, 1982; since then the Wall has 
drawn millions of Americans to contemplate the enormous sacrifice 
that is hauntingly reflected on its 500-foot-long, polished black 
granite surface; and
	WHEREAS, For many Americans who might never be able to visit 
the Wall in the nation's capital, Dignity Memorial, a network of 
funeral, cremation, and cemetery providers, has sponsored the 
creation of a three-quarter-scale replica titled The Vietnam Wall 
Experience; 240 feet long and 8 feet high, the replica is displayed 
in a number of cities across the country every year; each exhibition 
enjoys the support and assistance of veterans groups and civic 
organizations and is free to the public; and
	WHEREAS, Nearly 3,500 Texans died in the Vietnam War, and the 
names of 126 native El Pasoans are inscribed on the Vietnam Veterans 
Memorial; and
	WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt to those men and 
women, and to all the nation's military personnel, for their brave 
efforts in times of great uncertainty and danger, and for the 
immeasurable burdens assumed and sacrifice made in behalf of all 
their fellow citizens; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature, 2nd Called Session, hereby recognize the exhibition of 
The Vietnam Wall Experience replica in El Paso and commend its 
sponsors for this memorable contribution to the community.