SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 43

	WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to 
recognize Armando de Armas for his successful endeavor to forge
a new life in our great state; and

	WHEREAS, Armando is originally from Puerto Padre, province 
of Las Tunas, Cuba; he learned the art of cigar making and worked 
in his father's "tabacalera" until Fidel Castro nationalized the 
factory in 1963; he made cigars for Casadori, Cerema, Nacional, 
Breva, and other companies until he was drafted into the 
military; and

	WHEREAS, After serving three years in the Cuban military, 
he endured many struggles in his homeland under the Communist 
Castro regime; in 1973, he made an unsuccessful attempt to leave 
Cuba for the United States, traveling the precarious waters in

a small boat with six other fellow Cubans; the boat filled with 
water, and he and his companions made it only to the Bahamas;
from there, they were sent back to Cuba and to prison; and

	WHEREAS, Finally, to his great joy, Armando and his wife 
were granted visas and political asylum in the United States in 
2001; and

	WHEREAS, After spending time with his sister in Orlando, 
Florida, Armando moved to Austin under the auspices of Caritas
of Austin, one of Travis County's largest nongovernmental 
sources of assistance to those in great need; and

	WHEREAS, Through help from the Caritas community 
integration program for refugees, Armando has been able to put
to use his exceptional skills as a cigar roller by serving as an 
employee with the Bobalu Cigar Company; the business, located at 
509 East 6th Street in Austin, produces hand-rolled cigars, and 
for the past two years, Armando has worked as a master roller;
and

	WHEREAS, Armando de Armas has created a new life for 
himself in the capital city of our state and his is truly an 
inspirational story of struggle and success; now, therefore,
be it

	RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
78th Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby welcome Armando de Armas
to our state and country and extend best wishes to him for the 
future; and, be it further

	RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for 
him as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate.
                                                                          Deuell




________________________________ 
    President of the Senate
 
    I hereby certify that the 
above Resolution was adopted by 
the Senate on September 23, 2003.



________________________________ 
    Secretary of the Senate



________________________________ 
     Member, Texas Senate