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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Texas State Guard is celebrating the 70th |
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anniversary of its founding in 2011; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally called the Texas Defense Guard, this |
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branch of the Texas military forces was authorized by the Defense |
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Act (House Bill 45), which was signed into law by Governor Pappy |
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O'Daniel on February 10, 1941; created to take the place of the |
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National Guard units being mobilized for the war effort, the Texas |
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State Guard has since evolved into a rapidly deployable emergency |
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action force that is ready to respond at a moment's notice to |
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natural and man-made disasters; this capability is in keeping with |
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its mandate to provide a mission-ready volunteer force for service |
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to the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, The individual units of the Texas State Guard are |
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the 4th and 5th Air Wings, the Maritime Regiment, the Texas Medical |
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Brigade, and six regional regiments: The 1st, nicknamed the Alamo |
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Guards, the 2nd, called the Austin Greys, the 4th, known as the |
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Panther City Fencibles, the 8th, Terry's Texas Rangers, the 19th, |
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Parson's Brigade, and the 39th, the Roughnecks; and |
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WHEREAS, The volunteer nature of the Texas State Guard makes |
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it a highly cost-effective and efficient force; members serve in an |
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unpaid capacity, unless called to active duty, and because they are |
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locally based throughout the state they can respond to emergencies |
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within two hours of notification; the valiant men and women who |
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belong to the state guard together provide an estimated 40,000 days |
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per year of uncompensated community service and disaster training; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, For seven decades, the Texas State Guard has helped |
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ensure the safety and well-being of the residents of the Lone Star |
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State, and its long history of service, often rendered in demanding |
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and dangerous conditions, is indeed deserving of recognition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 70th anniversary of the Texas |
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State Guard and extend sincere gratitude to its members; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Texas State Guard as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |