78R14109 JH-D

By:  Alonzo                                                       H.R. No. 1014



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Texans and many other Americans will join with our 
neighbors south of the Rio Grande on May 5, 2003, in celebrating 
Cinco de Mayo, a holiday commemorating the legendary Mexican 
victory over the French at the Battle of Puebla, for the spirit and 
sentiment of this holiday echo many time-honored principles that 
Americans hold dear; and
	WHEREAS, After chafing under Spanish colonization for 
several centuries, Mexico threw off the chains of colonial 
oppression and declared herself a free and independent nation in 
1821, but the transition to democracy was a painstaking process, 
and the mid-19th century saw the young nation saddled with debt and 
struggling to maintain a stable representative government; and
	WHEREAS, Meanwhile, the imperial powers of Europe sought to 
recover some of the rich territory they had lost during 
independence movements of the late 18th and early 19th centuries; 
when President Benito Juarez declared a two-year moratorium on 
Mexico's European debts in 1861, Spain, France, and England joined 
forces to invade Mexico and force repayment of the debt; and
	WHEREAS, By 1862, England and Spain had withdrawn their 
forces, but the remaining French army had begun the march inland 
toward Mexico City; Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza, a native of Presidio 
La Bahia near present-day Goliad, Texas, strategically deployed his 
men in the hills above Puebla, a town southeast of the capital, 
while he in turn led a vanguard of troops to harass the advancing 
French forces; and
	WHEREAS, Once they reached Puebla, the invaders encountered 
fierce and expertly coordinated resistance from Zaragoza's 
soldiers; during long hours of pitched battle, the French lost 
hundreds of men and finally fell back in retreat; and
	WHEREAS, The victory at Puebla on May 5, 1862, was a defining 
moment for the Republic of Mexico, for by conquering one of the 
world's finest armies, the courageous Mexican forces struck a 
valiant blow against imperialism and made a lasting contribution to 
the struggle for democracy; and
	WHEREAS, Today, the anniversary of that famous battle is 
celebrated in many U.S. cities as well as Mexico, but Cinco de Mayo 
celebrations in Texas are unique because they pay tribute to our 
shared heritage with Mexico; Ignacio Zaragoza, born in Texas while 
it was still part of the Mexican state of Coahuila, holds a 
distinctive place in history as a true Tejano, a son of both Texas 
and Mexico, and his determination to honor and defend "la patria," 
the homeland, is as inspiring today as it was more than a century 
ago; and
	WHEREAS, Traditionally observed with festive music, dancing, 
games, festivals, school assemblies, colorful arts and crafts, and 
a wide array of culinary treats, Cinco de Mayo celebrations have 
truly become part of the rich cultural fabric of the Lone Star State 
and thus are deserving of special legislative recognition; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commemorate the observance of 2003 Cinco de Mayo 
festivities around the state.