79R10011 MMS-D

By:  Callegari                                                    H.R. No. 1074



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, From 1945 to 1991, the world witnessed a military, 
economic, and ideological confrontation known as the Cold War; 
waged most prominently by the United States and the Soviet Union, 
the struggle involved almost every nation on earth to some degree 
and had a profound impact on the course of world history over the 
latter half of the 20th century; and
	WHEREAS, Although the Cold War never erupted into a 
full-scale armed conflict between the world's superpowers, it gave 
impetus to a number of localized hot wars, as well as to a massive, 
long-term arms race; and
	WHEREAS, Throughout the Cold War, the State of Texas played a 
significant role in this country's military preparedness, 
contributing personnel to the armed forces, serving as the site of 
important military facilities, and providing material support by 
way of private industry; and
	WHEREAS, Tens of thousands of Texans served in the military 
during the course of the Cold War, and many made the ultimate 
sacrifice; Texan losses in Korea, from 1950 to 1957, numbered 
1,719, and in Vietnam, 3,415; and
	WHEREAS, The state currently has 16 military installations 
that figured notably in the country's defense system during the 
period of the Cold War; moreover, Texas was home to Nike and Atlas 
Ballistic Missile silos, as well as to Strategic Air Command units 
at Biggs, Carswell, Sheppard, Dyess, Amarillo, and Bergstrom Air 
Force Bases; other air force bases located in the state during that 
time included Brooks, Goodfellow, Kelly, Lackland, Laredo, 
Laughlin, Randolph, Reese, and Webb; and
	WHEREAS, All 15 of those air force facilities constituted 
first-strike targets for the Soviet military; secondary targets in 
Texas included Beeville, Corpus Christi, Kingsville, 
Sherman-Denison, Texarkana, Fort Bliss, Fort Hood, and the Houston 
petrochemical complex; and
	WHEREAS, Many industrial enterprises in Texas made vital 
contributions during the Cold War years; the state's oil industry 
had a major role in supplying the Strategic Petroleum Reserve, 
while a number of key defense contractors were either based in Texas 
or had large Texas operations; among such companies were Texas 
Instruments, Lockheed, EDS, Bell Helicopter, and Textron; and
	WHEREAS, One dimension of the Cold War involved a race for 
leadership in space exploration; crucial to American efforts in 
this arena was the Johnson Space Center in Houston, the NASA 
headquarters for manned spaceflight; and
	WHEREAS, Eight successive American presidents grappled with 
the challenges of the Cold War; two of these--Dwight D. Eisenhower 
and Lyndon B. Johnson--were born in Texas and led the nation during 
the Korean War and Vietnam War, respectively; and
	WHEREAS, Military veterans of the Cold War have continued to 
contribute to this country as private citizens and as public 
servants; a number of them have been elected to leadership posts at 
both the state and national levels; and
	WHEREAS, It is essential that the history of the Cold War 
decades be preserved, for the events of that time touched the lives 
of millions of people and helped to set the stage for the 21st 
century; in reflecting on that long and difficult confrontation, it 
is also fitting that tribute be paid to the men and women of the 
United States armed forces, who served selflessly and heroically in 
that epic struggle; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby recognize May 1, 2005, as Cold War Victory Day 
and extend to all Cold War veterans of the American military sincere 
appreciation for their exemplary service.