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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Torres family of Dallas has made a significant |
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contribution to the defense of our nation by sending six brothers to |
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serve in the United States armed forces, with their combined tenure |
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in uniform totaling 56 years; and |
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WHEREAS, These patriotic Texans were born to Vincent and |
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Manuela Torres, who had met in Texas after immigrating to the United |
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States from Mexico during their youth; after initially living in |
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Malakoff, the couple and their children moved to Oak Cliff in 1940, |
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and the children were students at Crozier Technical High School and |
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other local schools; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1944, Rodolfo Torres, the eldest son, turned 18 |
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and began the family's tradition of military service when he became |
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a member of the U.S. Army; he fought in the Philippines during the |
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closing years of World War II and was a member of the Texas National |
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Guard from 1947 to 1981; and |
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WHEREAS, Marcos Ruelas Torres followed his older brother into |
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the army in 1948; he was among the U.S. forces to take part in the |
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Korean War, suffering both a bullet wound to his hand and frostbite |
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during desperate winter fighting against Chinese and North Korean |
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troops, but he survived his combat experiences and returned home in |
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1951; and |
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WHEREAS, The next family member to take up arms was Alejandro |
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Torres, who was a member of the U.S. Navy from 1951 to 1955 and was |
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assigned to a submarine base in Hawaii for much of his tenure; even |
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before Alejandro concluded his service, Vicente Torres, Jr., |
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entered the army and was stationed at Fort Lewis in Washington |
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during a two-year term of duty that began in 1953; and |
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WHEREAS, Jose Torres chose to fulfill his military commitment |
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in the U.S. Air Force from 1958 to 1963 and spent part of that time |
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at Webb Air Force Base in Big Spring; the last of the brothers to |
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enter the armed forces was Arturo Torres; while in the army from |
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1963 to 1969, he fought in Vietnam, marking the third war that a |
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family member had participated in; and |
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WHEREAS, These courageous individuals ably carried out their |
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military duties, and three of the brothers received medals for |
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their actions; moreover, several of the family members became |
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active in the American G.I. Forum, which helped to champion the |
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rights of Hispanic American servicemen; though Rodolfo Torres |
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passed away in 2009, the rest of the brothers continue to live in |
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Texas and are staunch advocates of military service, often |
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encouraging young Latinos to consider enlisting; and |
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WHEREAS, The members of this remarkable family have |
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established a notable record of service in behalf of their fellow |
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citizens, and their sacrifices and contributions are indeed |
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deserving of recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby pay tribute to Rodolfo, |
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Marcos, Alejandro, Vicente, Jose, and Arturo Torres for their |
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valiant service in the armed forces of the United States of America; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the family as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Alonzo |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 101 was adopted by the House on June |
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28, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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