This website will be unavailable from Thursday, May 30, 2024 at 6:00 p.m. through Monday, June 3, 2024 at 7:00 a.m. due to data center maintenance.
H.R. No. 1782
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, 2004, 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WHEREAS, By 1862, England and Spain had withdrawn their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 now 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 2004 Cinco de Mayo
festivities around the state.
Alonzo
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 1782 was adopted by the House on May
31, 2003, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House