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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Texas is home to seven hubs of Honor Flight Network, |
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which pays tribute in a most remarkable way to veterans who have |
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served in this nation's wars; and |
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WHEREAS, This exceptional program had its origins in 2004, |
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when Earl Morse, a physician assistant with the U.S. Department of |
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Veterans Affairs, observed the conversations among his World War II |
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veteran patients regarding the new World War II Memorial in |
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Washington, D.C.; in the months after its dedication, Mr. Morse |
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came to realize how many veterans of that conflict wanted to see the |
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monument but would be unable to do so, for physical or financial |
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reasons; and |
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WHEREAS, A retired air force captain and a private pilot, Mr. |
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Morse approached his aero club with a proposal for volunteer pilots |
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to fly World War II veterans to Washington to see their memorial; |
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the response was so favorable that a board was soon formed and funds |
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raised; in May 2005, six planes flew 12 veterans to the nation's |
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capital, where they visited the memorial and were escorted on a tour |
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around the city; and |
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WHEREAS, That flight made a profound impression on both the |
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veterans who participated and on their pilots, and other trips were |
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soon arranged; by the end of the year, the program began using |
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commercial airliners to accommodate more veterans; word of the |
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project spread, and similar programs were instituted in various |
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parts of the country; in 2006, Honor Flight Network was organized in |
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Washington, D.C., at a meeting attended by more than 100 people; |
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today, HFN has 71 hubs in 30 states; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas hubs of HFN are located in Amarillo, |
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Dallas, Ennis, Houston, Midland, San Antonio, and Waxahachie; like |
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all HFN groups, these hubs arrange for veterans to visit the World |
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War II Memorial and Washington, D.C., free of charge; countless |
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hours go into planning the trips, raising funds, and coordinating |
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logistics; and |
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WHEREAS, In the future, HFN plans to extend its service to |
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veterans of subsequent conflicts; already, terminally ill veterans |
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of any war are given priority on its flights; by the end of 2009, HFN |
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hubs collectively will have transported more than 42,000 World War |
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II and Korean and Vietnam War veterans to see the memorials erected |
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in their honor; and |
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WHEREAS, This country owes an immeasurable debt of gratitude |
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to the veterans of all of its wars, and the men and women of Honor |
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Flight Network are performing a deeply meaningful service in |
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recognition of their sacrifice; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the Texas hubs of Honor Flight Network |
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for their exceptional efforts in behalf of this country's veterans |
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and extend to them sincere best wishes for continued success in |
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their endeavors; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That official copies of this resolution be prepared |
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for the Texas hubs of Honor Flight Network as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Pitts |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 878 was adopted by the House on March |
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26, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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