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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Commemorative Air Force is dedicated to |
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acquiring, restoring, and preserving in operating condition a |
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complete collection of the combat aircraft flown by every military |
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service of the United States, as well as selected aircraft of other |
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nations; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1957 by former American service pilots in |
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the Rio Grande Valley, the CAF is now based in Midland and has been |
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recognized since 1972 as the official Air Force of the State of |
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Texas; today the CAF has 75 units around the world, and its more |
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than 9,000 members fly and maintain a CAF fleet of over 170 vintage |
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warplanes; and |
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WHEREAS, One of these rare crafts is the oldest and only |
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flight-worthy B-24A Liberator in existence; known as "Ol' 927" and |
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based at the Cavanaugh Flight Museum in Addison, this plane will |
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soon be embarking on its Land of Liberty Tour, a statewide tour of |
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Texas for the purpose of encouraging a renewed appreciation for |
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patriotism and freedom among students and adults alike; informative |
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programming for this occasion is to be provided by the American |
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Airpower Heritage Museum, the educational complement to the CAF; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Located at the Midland International Airport and |
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consistently voted the top local tourist attraction by the |
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surrounding community, the CAF Airpower Museum is nationally |
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accredited by the American Association of Museums and has recently |
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been named an affiliate of the Smithsonian Institution; its mission |
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is to preserve the complete history of World War II military |
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aviation and the memory of the men and women who built, serviced, |
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and flew U.S. military aircraft in that conflict; and |
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WHEREAS, Each year, in tribute to their personal sacrifice, |
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courage under fire, and faith in American values, several |
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individuals and a combat unit are inducted into the museum's |
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American Combat Airman Hall of Fame; following the recognition of |
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the honorees at an annual banquet, their induction panels and |
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videos are added as permanent exhibits in the Hall of Fame gallery; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The CAF has also instituted the Texas Medal of Honor |
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Memorial at CAF International Headquarters; an eight-foot bronze |
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figure of Medal of Honor recipient and Midland resident George H. |
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O'Brien, Jr., stands at the entrance of the gallery, next to a black |
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granite plinth that lists all Texas Medal of Honor winners, from the |
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Civil War to the present day, while display cases upstairs |
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elaborate on the heroism of the memorial's namesake; exhibit panels |
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recounting the valor of other recipients are unveiled annually at a |
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CAF banquet; and |
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WHEREAS, In meeting the complex challenges of the world |
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today, it is vital that our citizenry remember the lessons of the |
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past, and the Commemorative Air Force is making a crucial |
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contribution to that end through its outstanding work in preserving |
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the military aviation history of this country; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby honor the Commemorative Air Force for its inspiring |
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educational programs and for its crucial efforts to preserve the |
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history of American military aviation; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Commemorative Air Force as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives and Senate. |