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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Citizens of Irving are joining together on May 17, |
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2009, to dedicate the newly completed Irving Veterans Memorial |
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Park, which honors those Irving residents who gave their lives in |
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the service of their country; and |
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WHEREAS, The park was first conceived in 1997 by the Irving |
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Veterans Memorial Park Committee, led by former city councilman Bob |
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Romano; the committee and the Irving City Council authorized the |
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MESA Design Group to design the park, which is situated on two acres |
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of land in the city's Civic Center complex; and |
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WHEREAS, The first phase of the project was dedicated in 2004 |
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and included the Wall of Commemoration, which features the names of |
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80 Irving veterans who died fighting for their country, and the |
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Plaza of Flags, where nine flags fly, representing the United |
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States, the State of Texas, the City of Irving, MIAs and POWs, and |
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the five branches of the military; and |
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WHEREAS, Under the leadership of John Danish, who has served |
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as chair of the Veterans Memorial Park Committee since 2004, the |
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newly completed second phase of the park includes the Pool of Hope, |
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the Perpetual River of Freedom, and the Plaza of the World, which is |
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paved with a granite map of the world with bronze medallions showing |
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the areas of conflict where U.S. military personnel have served |
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since Irving was founded in 1903; and |
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WHEREAS, The plaza also features five granite story panels, |
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one for each major conflict since World War I, telling how members |
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of the military from Irving contributed to each war effort; in front |
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of each panel a sculpture depicts a soldier in the uniform of that |
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conflict; the completed memorial park will also house a time |
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capsule, which will be sealed in the wall until Memorial Day 2109; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Texans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those men |
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and women who made the ultimate sacrifice in the service of their |
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country, and this serene and respectful memorial will pay fitting |
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tribute to their bravery and heroism for years to come; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate the people and the City of Irving |
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on the completion of the Irving Veterans Memorial Park and |
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commemorate the continuing service and sacrifice of Irving's |
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military personnel through the years. |