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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Emilio De Los Santos III has been chosen as the 2010 |
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recipient of the Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award presented by |
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the Veterans County Service Officers Association of Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, This prestigious annual honor recognizes the |
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accomplishments of a county veterans service officer or assistant |
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officer who has performed above and beyond the call of duty, who has |
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been involved in all aspects of veterans' affairs, and who has been |
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active in the community the officer serves; honorees must also |
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display a record of continuing education and a patriotic spirit; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. De Los Santos earned the commendation as a |
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result of his notable work to assist veterans in South Texas in |
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achieving improved access to medical care and other services; he |
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has been a leader in the movement to establish a U.S. Department of |
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Veterans Affairs hospital in the Rio Grande Valley so that veterans |
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who live in the area do not need to make a five-hour trip to San |
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Antonio for appointments; moreover, he helped galvanize local |
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support for Proposition 8, a Texas constitutional amendment passed |
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in 2009 to authorize funding for the construction and operation of |
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VA hospitals; with the Veterans Alliance of the Rio Grande Valley, |
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he has contributed to the creation of a VA health care center in |
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Harlingen, and he continues to press for a full-service facility in |
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the region; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. De Los Santos has been the director of the |
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Hidalgo County Veterans Service Office since 2002; in that role, he |
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helps veterans and their family members in preparing claims for |
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compensation, insurance, pensions, educational benefits, and |
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medical care, and he helps them with appearances at Board of |
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Veterans' Appeals hearings; he also raises awareness about programs |
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and benefits available for former service members through public |
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speaking engagements and organizes outreach initiatives such as |
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veteran enrollment fairs and welcome-home celebrations for |
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returning military personnel; and |
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WHEREAS, Committed to keeping elected officials in Austin and |
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Washington informed of the needs of those he serves, Mr. De Los |
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Santos has testified before the Texas Legislature and the United |
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States Congress and promoted state legislation related to a |
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homestead exemption for disabled veterans; he is a member of the |
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regional board of directors of the Veterans County Service Officers |
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Association of Texas and received the Outstanding Service Officer |
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of the Year award in 2007; in addition, he was recently appointed by |
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President Obama to the Selective Service System Local Board, and in |
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2010 he was chosen to be part of the VISN 17: VA Heart of Texas |
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Health Care Network Veterans Advisory Board; and |
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WHEREAS, A U.S. Army veteran who served during the Vietnam |
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War era, Mr. De Los Santos was employed for three decades by the |
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Weslaco Independent School District; he holds a master's degree in |
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education and has also worked as Region One Adult Basic Education |
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Service Center director; he has further distinguished himself as |
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president of the Weslaco Mid Valley Lions Club, as commander of VFW |
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Post 10464 in Weslaco, and through his involvement in Weslaco youth |
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sports leagues; and |
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WHEREAS, The dedication and enthusiasm Emilio De Los Santos |
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has brought to his pursuits have made a positive difference in the |
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lives of numerous Rio Grande Valley residents who valiantly served |
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their nation in the armed forces, and his efforts in their behalf |
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are truly 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 hereby honor Emilio De Los Santos III on being chosen as |
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the recipient of the 2010 Dan Garcia Memorial Achievement Award |
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presented by the Veterans County Service Officers Association of |
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Texas and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued success; |
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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 Mr. De Los Santos as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |