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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 929
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WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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recognize Mercy Ships, which for more than 30 years has delivered |
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free, world-class health care services to those without access in |
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more than 70 developing nations with its fleet of hospital ships; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mercy Ships was founded in 1978 by Don and Deyon |
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Stephens of Garden Valley, Texas, who were recently presented |
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with the Variety Club Humanitarian Award in London by His Royal |
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Highness Prince Michael of Kent; and |
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WHEREAS, The Variety Club Humanitarian Award is given to |
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those who have shown unusual understanding, empathy, and |
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devotion to mankind, and it is acknowledged as one of the |
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foremost honors an individual can receive; and |
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WHEREAS, Since its inception, Mercy Ships has made |
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significant strides toward fulfilling its goal of bringing hope |
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and healing to the forgotten poor; through the years, it has |
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served more than 2.16 million people, delivered services valued |
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at more than $748 million, and completed more than 900 |
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construction and agriculture projects, including schools, |
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clinics, and orphanages; and |
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WHEREAS, Mercy Ships operates the Africa Mercy, the world's |
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largest nongovernmental hospital ship, which is equipped with |
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six operating rooms and berth capacity for some 484 people; the |
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ship and crew provide up to 7,000 surgical interventions onboard |
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every year, including cataract and tumor removal, cleft lip and |
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palate reconstruction, orthopedic repair, and obstetric fistula |
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repair; and |
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WHEREAS, The crew of the Africa Mercy includes members from |
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more than 35 nations; volunteers from the ship go ashore to |
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provide dental and oral health care education, immunizations, |
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and lessons on a variety of community health issues; they also |
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offer palliative home care for terminally ill patients and |
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support for their families; and |
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WHEREAS, The founders, staff, and volunteers of Mercy |
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Ships have had a deep and lasting effect on the struggle for |
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global health, and their compassion, their dedication, and their |
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indefatigable efforts in behalf of those in need are truly an |
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inspiration to us all; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 81st |
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Legislature, hereby pay tribute to Mercy Ships on its exemplary |
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contributions to global health and extend to all those associated |
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with this extraordinary organization best wishes for continued |
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success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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Mercy Ships as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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Eltife |
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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 21, 2009. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |