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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, From the outset of this nation's history, its |
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security has been dependent on individuals who have demonstrated |
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their responsibilities as citizens through service, leadership, |
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and valor in the Armed Forces of the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, Since the fall of Saigon in April 1975, and the |
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discharge of the last Selective Service draftee five months later, |
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our military has relied on an all-volunteer force, requiring |
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numbers of courageous young men and women to step forward to serve |
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their country; and |
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WHEREAS, In various engagements subsequent to our departure |
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from Vietnam, over 4,000 brave Americans have been killed in |
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action, or otherwise have lost their lives, in combat zones and |
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areas of conflict around the world; and |
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WHEREAS, Presently, the grounds of the state Capitol in |
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Austin are home to memorials to those who fought in World War I and |
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the Korean War; placement of monuments or memorials to those who |
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fought and served in World War II and the Vietnam War have been |
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approved by the Texas Legislature and await project completion; and |
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WHEREAS, Under Chapter 443, Government Code, and rules of the |
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State Preservation Board, a portion of the north Capitol grounds is |
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available for new monuments, subject to legislative approval, |
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specified procedural requirements, the provision of funding from |
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private donors, conformity to certain size and design limitations |
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and parameters, and completion on a timely basis; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the Texas Legislature find that a |
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commemorative monument in honor of Texans who have participated in |
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more recent military actions would be a worthy addition to the |
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Capitol grounds; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 80th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby authorize the State Preservation Board, subject to state law |
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and rules of the board, to approve and permit the construction of a |
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new monument on the Capitol grounds recognizing Texans who have |
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fought or otherwise served, and in many cases have given their |
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lives, in specified military operations since the end of the |
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Vietnam War; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the monument honor Texans who have |
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participated in: the rescue of the S.S. Mayaguez in Cambodia; |
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Operation Eagle Claw-Iran; the Beirut deployment of the early |
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1980s; Operation Urgent Fury-Grenada; Operation El Dorado |
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Canyon-Libya; Operation Earnest Will-Kuwait; Operation Just |
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Cause-Panama; the Persian Gulf War of 1990-1991, Operation Restore |
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Hope-Somalia; Operation Uphold Democracy-Haiti; international |
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peacekeeping and other operations and missions in Kosovo and the |
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Balkans generally; the attack on the U.S.S. Cole; military |
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defensive actions during and in the immediate aftermath of 9/11; |
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Operation Enduring Freedom-Afghanistan; and Operation Iraqi |
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Freedom; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That also eligible would be those who fight or |
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otherwise serve in any specific operation, mission, or other |
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engagement that is added, between the approval of this resolution |
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and the approval of the monument or memorial design, to: the |
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conflicts listed in Section 54.203, Education Code; the conflicts |
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identified by presidential executive order under 8 U.S.C. Section |
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1440; or the conflicts in combat zones identified by presidential |
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executive order under 26 U.S.C. Section 112; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward an |
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official copy of this resolution to the executive director of the |
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State Preservation Board. |