H.R. No. 585



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, Those Texans who dedicate themselves to the greater 
good are truly deserving of our sincere admiration and gratitude, 
and Vietnam veteran Jose Maria Vasquez of Edinburg is indeed one 
such individual; and
	WHEREAS, The commander of the Rio Grande Valley veterans 
group "America's Last Patrol" and a cofounder of the Rio Grande 
Valley Alliance, Mr. Vasquez bravely served this nation as a U.S. 
Army medic in Vietnam in 1967 and 1968; and
	WHEREAS, In November 2005, Mr. Vasquez and a group of his 
fellow servicemen marched from their community in the Rio Grande 
Valley to the nearest veterans hospital; this veterans march 
commenced in Edinburg, traversing some 250 miles to the historic 
site of the Alamo in San Antonio; the march drew attention to the 
plight of Valley veterans and the distance they are currently 
forced to travel to seek medical treatment at a veterans hospital in 
San Antonio; and
	WHEREAS, In championing the construction of new medical 
facilities to serve their community, Mr. Vasquez and his 
compatriots seek to exercise the rights for which they fought and to 
receive due recognition for their service to the country they love; 
and
	WHEREAS, Representative Aaron Pena has justly recognized 
Jose Maria Vasquez by authoring this resolution in his behalf 
during the 3rd Called Session of the 79th Texas Legislature; now, 
therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature, 3rd Called Session, hereby honor Jose Maria Vasquez 
for his distinguished military service and for his efforts to 
secure better access to medical care for his fellow veterans; and, 
be it further
	RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be 
prepared for Mr. Vasquez as an expression of high regard by the 
Texas House of Representatives.

                                                                            Pena

                                                  ______________________________
                                                       Speaker of the House     

	I certify that H.R. No. 585 was adopted by the House on May 
10, 2006, by a non-record vote.

                                                  ______________________________
                                                     Chief Clerk of the House