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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Residents of Gonzales are traveling to Austin on |
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March 17, 2009, to celebrate Gonzales Day at the State Capitol, and |
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in special observance of the event, students in the second, third, |
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and fourth grade choir will be performing in the Capitol Rotunda; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Settled in 1825, the town was named for Rafael |
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Gonzales, the governor of Coahuila and Texas; the first battle of |
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the Texas Revolution was fought in Gonzales in October 1835, when |
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Mexican dragoons demanded that the Texan garrison surrender their |
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cannon, and the Texans responded, "Come and take it!"; the battle of |
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Gonzales was fought and the war for Texas independence was begun; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, About a week after the battle, Stephen F. Austin |
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took command of the volunteer army that had concentrated at |
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Gonzales, and in February of the following year, the Gonzales |
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Ranging Company of Mounted Volunteers rode to the aid of William |
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Barret Travis and his men at the Alamo, where 32 of the Gonzales |
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contingent gave their lives; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1837, the Republic of Texas incorporated Gonzales |
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and established Gonzales County; the post office opened in January |
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1839 and the city council held its first meeting in March, and in |
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1853 the Gonzales Inquirer was established; still operating, the |
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newspaper comes out twice a week and is one of the oldest |
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continuously publishing community newspapers in the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Gonzales is a leader in Texas agribusiness as |
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a processing and shipping center for local beef, poultry, and pecan |
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producers and is actively planning for its future growth and |
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prosperity through the Gonzales Economic Development Corporation; |
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preserving the town's legacy as the "Lexington of Texas," the |
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Gonzales Memorial Museum honors the men who died at the Alamo and |
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contains the "Come and take it" cannon, and the lives of early |
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settlers are evoked at Gonzales Pioneer Village Living History |
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Center; and |
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WHEREAS, Visitors and residents alike enjoy the many annual |
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events in the area, including Courthouse Trade Days, the First Shot |
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Cook Off, and the Come and Take It Festival every October, and J. B. |
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Wells Park is the site of several rodeos throughout the year; and |
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WHEREAS, Celebrating their rich history as they work to build |
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a bright future, the citizens of Gonzales may take great pride in |
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their unique place in Texas history and in the contributions they |
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continue to make to the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize March 17, 2009, as Gonzales Day at the |
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State Capitol and extend to the delegation sincere best wishes for a |
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productive and enjoyable visit to Austin. |