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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The year 2009 marks the 20th anniversary of the |
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founding of the Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University |
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in Lubbock, and this milestone offers a welcome opportunity to |
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honor this respected institution; and |
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WHEREAS, Established by the university's board of regents in |
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1989, the Vietnam Center and Archive is dedicated to promoting |
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research and education on all aspects of the American Vietnam |
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experience and to promoting greater understanding of the peoples |
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and cultures of Southeast Asia; and |
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WHEREAS, To carry out this mission, the center collects and |
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preserves pertinent source material and educates the public through |
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exhibits, classroom instruction, and educational programs; |
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moreover, scholarly research on the Vietnam War and related events |
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is encouraged through the presentation of the center's highly |
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regarded symposia and conferences, the sponsorship of exchange |
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programs, and the publication of material to further knowledge of |
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the subject; and |
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WHEREAS, The effort to establish the Vietnam Center and |
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Archive began when local Vietnam veterans discussed creating an |
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archive to be used by Texas Tech students; through the years, the |
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contributions of numerous other individuals have allowed this |
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institution to develop into a renowned resource for scholarship and |
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education; and |
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WHEREAS, Key to the success of the center have been valuable |
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donations of materials from individuals such as Ambassador William |
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Colby and Professor Douglas Pike, who served as the center's senior |
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research fellow from 1997 until his death in 2002; in addition, the |
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Vietnam Center has received assured guidance from its directors, |
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Dr. James Reckner and Dr. Stephen Maxner, as well as Dr. Dennis |
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Patterson, who succeeded Dr. Reckner as executive director of the |
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Institute for Modern Conflict, Diplomacy, and Reconciliation in |
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2009; and |
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WHEREAS, The involvement of the United States in Southeast |
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Asia from the 1950s through the 1970s stands as a defining episode |
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in our nation's history and one with great implications for the |
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future, and for two decades the Texas Tech Vietnam Center and |
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Archive has played a central role in the ongoing study of the war |
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and its legacy; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 81st Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate the 20th anniversary of the founding of the |
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Vietnam Center and Archive at Texas Tech University and extend all |
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those associated with the institution sincere best wishes for |
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continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the center as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives and Senate. |