78R17789 MMS-D

By:  Quintanilla                                                  H.R. No. 1493



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society is 
making an immeasurable contribution to our understanding and 
appreciation of one of the most historic areas of the Lone Star 
State; and
	WHEREAS, Located a short distance southeast of downtown El 
Paso and originally known as the Hacienda de los Tiburcios, San 
Elizario was founded sometime before 1760; the community acquired 
its present name from the San Elizario Presidio, which was 
relocated to the community in 1789; one of the most important towns 
in the area for much of the 19th century, San Elizario served as the 
first county seat of El Paso County; and
	WHEREAS, The San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society 
was organized as the result of a 1991 family reunion, when 
reminiscences flowed freely about days gone by; chartered in 1997, 
the society today is composed of more than 100 members from across 
the country, including many descendants of the community's founding 
families; and
	WHEREAS, Society volunteers maintain a genealogy/historical 
museum, housed in the building that served as the county's first 
public school; they also operate a tourist information center and 
provide tour guides for the many tourists, students, and educators 
from around the world who visit El Paso and the Mission Valley 
Historic District, a nine-mile-long zone embracing the 
centuries-old communities of San Elizario, Ysleta, and Socorro; and
	WHEREAS, In addition, the society hosts an annual conference 
during the last week of April, a date that honors the thanksgiving 
celebration that was held in the vicinity of San Elizario on April 
30, 1598, 23 years before the Pilgrims landed at Plymouth Rock; 
other activities and programs include the Mission Valley Youth Arts 
Festival, the Las Posadas pageant, the placing of luminarias 
throughout the Mission Valley Historic District, veterans exhibits 
and an annual Veterans Day program, an annual luncheon paying 
tribute to senior citizens, and fund-raising events honoring 
public-spirited local residents; and
	WHEREAS, This outstanding community group is working 
energetically to fulfill its mission of fostering local pride, 
encouraging the preservation of historical sites, and supporting 
heritage tourism in San Elizario and the Mission Valley; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 78th Texas 
Legislature hereby commend the San Elizario Genealogy and 
Historical Society for its dynamic leadership in preserving and 
promoting the rich heritage of San Elizario and the Mission Valley 
and extend to its members sincere best wishes for continued success 
in their vital endeavors.