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HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Terrell Boyd of Paris, Texas, who took part in the |
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Normandy invasion, has been named a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor |
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by the French Republic, in recognition of his meritorious service |
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in France during World War II; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Boyd received this illustrious award, the |
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highest distinction accorded by the French government, from |
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President Nicolas Sarkozy at Les Invalides in Paris on June 5, 2009; |
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the induction ceremony, which honored several dozen American, |
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British, and Canadian veterans, was held in conjunction with the |
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65th anniversary of the Allied landing on June 6, 1944; proudly |
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accompanying Mr. Boyd at the awards presentation were his wife, |
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Dorothy, and their sons and daughters-in-law, Gary Boyd, Craig and |
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Maudie Boyd, and Alan and Sherrie Boyd; and |
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WHEREAS, Assigned to the 359th Infantry Regiment, 90th |
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Infantry Division, Terrell Boyd was one of the first American |
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troops to go ashore at Utah Beach on D-Day; from then until the end |
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of the war in Europe, he and his unit were involved in continual |
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fighting; in addition to the assault in Normandy, Mr. Boyd served in |
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the Northern France, Ardennes-Alsace, Rhineland, and Central |
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Europe campaigns; of the 200 original members of his company, 15 |
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returned home; and |
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WHEREAS, This courageous Texan is the recipient of numerous |
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other military decorations, including two Bronze Stars, the Purple |
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Heart, a bronze Arrowhead for the D-Day landing, and the Combat |
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Infantryman Badge; he has also been honored by the French |
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government on two previous occasions, once with the Croix de Guerre |
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and again with the Jubilee of Liberty Medal; and |
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WHEREAS, The day following the Legion of Honor ceremony, Mr. |
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Boyd and his family traveled to the Normandy American Cemetery and |
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Memorial, at Colleville-sur-mer, for a commemorative observance |
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attended by Presidents Sarkozy and Barack Obama; situated on a |
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cliff above Omaha Beach, the cemetery serves as the resting place of |
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more than 9,000 American military personnel, most of whom lost |
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their lives during the D-Day landings and in ensuing operations, |
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and memorializes 1,557 military personnel who were counted as |
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missing in action; and |
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WHEREAS, After his discharge from the army, Mr. Boyd joined |
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the faculty at Paris Junior College and taught for 27 years in what |
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became the Texas Institute of Jewelry Technology, where he trained |
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many disabled veterans in the jewelry craft; he was cited for his |
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work by the President's Committee on Employment of the Physically |
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Handicapped in 1961 and inducted into the PJC Hall of Honor in 1996; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, A soldier who saw battle during the most |
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far-reaching conflict in world history, Terrell Boyd endured the |
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immeasurable hardships of war with bravery and tenacity, and |
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through his service and sacrifice he helped to preserve the flame of |
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liberty for millions of people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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1st Called Session, hereby warmly congratulate Terrell Boyd on his |
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designation as a Chevalier of the Legion of Honor and extend to him |
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sincere appreciation for his selfless and heroic efforts in that |
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time of peril; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Boyd as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives and Senate. |
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Homer |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the House on July |
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2, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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I certify that H.C.R. No. 6 was adopted by the Senate on July |
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2, 2009, by a viva-voce vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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APPROVED: __________________ |
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Date |
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__________________ |
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Governor |