| |
| |
|
|
R E S O L U T I O N
|
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Texans and many other Americans are joining with our |
|
|
|
|
|
neighbors south of the Rio Grande on May 5, 2012, to celebrate Cinco |
|
|
|
|
|
de Mayo, a holiday honoring the legendary Mexican victory over the |
|
|
|
|
|
French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862; and |
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, After chafing under Spanish colonization for |
|
|
|
|
|
several centuries, Mexico declared itself a free and independent |
|
|
|
|
|
nation in 1821, but the transition from colonialism was a difficult |
|
|
|
|
|
one, and the mid-19th century saw the young nation struggling to |
|
|
|
|
|
maintain a stable government; imperial powers in Europe seeking to |
|
|
|
|
|
take advantage of Mexico's troubles and recover some of the rich |
|
|
|
|
|
territory they had lost during recent independence movements joined |
|
|
|
|
|
forces to invade the country in 1861; and |
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Although England and Spain eventually withdrew, the |
|
|
|
|
|
French army continued its invasion and by 1862 had begun the march |
|
|
|
|
|
inland toward Mexico City; led by the young general Ignacio Seguin |
|
|
|
|
|
Zaragoza, a small, poorly armed Mexican militia countered the |
|
|
|
|
|
well-outfitted French soldiers at Puebla, a town southeast of the |
|
|
|
|
|
capital, and, despite being vastly outnumbered, prevailed and |
|
|
|
|
|
soundly defeated the French army; and |
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, That victory at Puebla on May 5, 1862, was an |
|
|
|
|
|
important event in the history of the Republic of Mexico, for by |
|
|
|
|
|
conquering one of the world's finest military forces the courageous |
|
|
|
|
|
Mexican soldiers struck a blow against imperialism and foreign |
|
|
|
|
|
domination and marked an extraordinary triumph for Mexican |
|
|
|
|
|
independence and pride; and |
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Today, the anniversary of that famous battle is |
|
|
|
|
|
observed in many U.S. cities as well as in Mexico, but Cinco de Mayo |
|
|
|
|
|
celebrations in Texas are unique because they pay tribute to our |
|
|
|
|
|
shared heritage with Mexico; General Zaragoza, born in Presidio La |
|
|
|
|
|
Bahia near present-day Goliad, Texas, holds a distinctive place in |
|
|
|
|
|
history as a true Tejano, a son of both Texas and Mexico, and his |
|
|
|
|
|
determination to honor and defend "la patria," the homeland, is as |
|
|
|
|
|
inspiring now as it was more than a century ago; and |
|
|
|
|
|
WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo pays homage to one of the notable |
|
|
|
|
|
events in Mexico's past while celebrating its music, food, art, and |
|
|
|
|
|
cherished traditions, and the annual event has truly become a |
|
|
|
|
|
special part of the rich cultural fabric of the Lone Star State; |
|
|
|
|
|
now, therefore, be it |
|
|
|
|
|
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
|
|
|
|
|
Legislature hereby commemorate Cinco de Mayo, 2012, and encourage |
|
|
|
|
|
its observance around the state. |
| |
|
|
Alonzo |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Speaker of the House |
| |
|
|
I certify that H.R. No. 81 was adopted by the House on |
|
|
February 24, 2011, by a non-record vote. |
|
|
|
|
|
______________________________ |
|
|
Chief Clerk of the House |
| |