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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 927
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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 |
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Isaac Van Horne, a veteran of the American Revolution; following |
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the family tradition of military service, he graduated from the |
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United States Military Academy at West Point in 1827, and upheld |
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its motto of "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, |
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Arkansas; from 1846 to 1848, he served his country in the Mexican |
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War, and his distinguished efforts earned him promotion to the |
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rank of major; 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; |
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he departed Camp Salado on June 1, commanding six companies of |
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the Third Infantry and supporting civilians, a total of nearly |
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400 men; 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 |
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days and a 643-mile overland march, Major Van Horne and his men |
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reached their destination on September 8, 1849; and |
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WHEREAS, He served at the post until 1851 and went on to |
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hold positions in San Elizario, and Fort Filmore and Fort |
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Stanton, New Mexico; while on leave in his hometown of |
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Zanesville, Ohio, he met Mary Gilbert, and after exchanging |
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romantic letters for two years, the couple were married on |
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November 28, 1850; together they had one son, Lewis Cass Van |
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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 Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby recognize September 8, 2009, as Major |
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Jefferson Van Horne Remembrance Day in the State of Texas and |
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commemorate the 160th anniversary of the arrival of Major Van |
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Horne and his 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 from the Texas Senate. |
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Shapleigh |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 15, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |