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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, September 8, 2009, marks the 160th anniversary of |
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the arrival of Major Jefferson Van Horne and his expedition in El |
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Paso, and this occasion provides a fitting opportunity to pay |
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tribute to the founder and first commander of Fort Bliss; and |
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WHEREAS, A native of Bucks County, Pennsylvania, Major Van |
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Horne was born to Dorothy Johns Marple Van Horne and General Isaac |
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Van Horne, a veteran of the American Revolution; following the |
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family tradition of military service, he graduated from the U.S. |
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Military Academy at West Point in 1827, and upheld its motto of |
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"Duty, Honor, Country" throughout his life; and |
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WHEREAS, His early assignments included frontier duty at |
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Jefferson Barracks in Missouri and a tour at Fort Smith, Arkansas; |
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from 1846 to 1848, he served his country in the Mexican War, and his |
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distinguished efforts earned him promotion to the rank of major; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, In May 1849, Major Van Horne was instructed to |
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establish a military post in what is now the El Paso County area; he |
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departed Camp Salado on June 1, commanding six companies of the |
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Third Infantry and supporting civilians, a total of nearly 400 men; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, With 275 wagons, the expedition represented the |
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longest wagon train to embark westward across Texas; after 100 days |
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and a 643-mile overland march, Major Van Horne and his men reached |
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their destination on September 8, 1849; and |
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WHEREAS, He served at the post until 1851 and went on to hold |
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positions in San Elizario, and Fort Filmore and Fort Stanton, New |
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Mexico; while on leave in his hometown of Zanesville, Ohio, he met |
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Mary Gilbert, and after exchanging romantic letters for two years, |
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the couple were married on November 28, 1850; together they had one |
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son, Lewis Cass Van Horne; and |
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WHEREAS, Major Van Horne's final duty was at the Post of |
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Albuquerque, where he passed away on September 28, 1857; in 1854, |
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the El Paso post he founded was named after Lieutenant Colonel |
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William Bliss, the private secretary, son-in-law, and chief of |
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staff to President Zachary Taylor; and |
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WHEREAS, The establishment of this important military |
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facility was accomplished by virtue of Major Van Horne's |
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leadership, hard work, and steadfast dedication to duty; these |
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values reflected the spirit of a dynamic and burgeoning nation, |
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pushing westward to establish new settlements and discover new |
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opportunities for growth and prosperity; 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 September 8, 2009, as Major Jefferson |
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Van Horne Remembrance Day in the State of Texas and commemorate the |
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160th anniversary of the arrival of Major Van Horne and his |
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expedition in El Paso; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Major General Howard B. Bromberg, commander of Fort |
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Bliss and the Army Air Defense Artillery Center and School as an |
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expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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Pickett |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1733 was adopted by the House on May |
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14, 2009, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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