79R13419 KO-D

By:  Uresti                                                       H.R. No. 1388



R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the nation's highest 
decoration for valor in combat that is awarded to members of the 
armed forces; generally presented to its recipient by the President 
of the United States on behalf of Congress, it is often called the 
Congressional Medal of Honor; and
	WHEREAS, The medal was first authorized in 1861 for members 
of the U.S. Navy and Marine Corps, and the following year for 
soldiers in the Army as well; since then, more than 3,400 Medals of 
Honor have been awarded to members of all branches of the armed 
forces; Medals of Honor are awarded sparingly and are bestowed only 
on those individuals performing a documented heroic action against 
an enemy force; so few Medals of Honor are awarded that the only 
ones given since the Vietnam War have been bestowed posthumously; 
and
	WHEREAS, In order to honor those brave Americans who have 
garnered this award, nearly 70 descendants of living and deceased 
Medal of Honor recipients gathered in Pueblo, Colorado, in 2004 for 
the inaugural meeting of a new organization, the Family and Friends 
of the Congressional Medal of Honor; the mission of this nonprofit 
group is to perpetuate the history and heritage of the 
Congressional Medal of Honor and to educate future generations 
about the recipients' values of courage, commitment, and sacrifice; 
and
	WHEREAS, Today, there are fewer than 150 living recipients of 
the Medal of the Honor; approximately half of these earned their 
medals during World War II or the Korean War and the other half 
during the Vietnam War; of those living recipients, 12 reside in 
Texas; and
	WHEREAS, Through the years, 70 Medals of Honor have been 
accredited to the State of Texas; during the Civil War, two medals 
were bestowed for action in Texas, and 64 were awarded for heroism 
"on the ground" during the Indian Wars; moreover, 14 soldiers of the 
Texas National Guard received Medals of Honor for their service in 
World War II; and
	WHEREAS, Americans owe an incalculable debt to the nation's 
military personnel, who have served valiantly throughout this 
country's history and whose efforts and sacrifice have ensured both 
our safety and our freedom, and it is particularly important to 
remember those brave individuals who have merited the Congressional 
Medal of Honor; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 79th Texas 
Legislature hereby pay tribute to the Texas recipients of the Medal 
of Honor for their extraordinary heroism and commend the Family and 
Friends of the Congressional Medal of Honor for their efforts to 
honor those who have received this distinguished award.