H.R. No. 1266

	R E S O L U T I O N
	WHEREAS, April 2011 marks the eighth anniversary of the fall
	of Baghdad to coalition troops, and this milestone provides a
	fitting occasion to recognize the hundreds of thousands of U.S.
	military personnel who helped to liberate Iraq from the tyranny of
	Saddam Hussein and who have fought to help stabilize that country in
	the difficult years that have followed; and
	WHEREAS, Texans have long been supportive of all who serve in
	the United States armed forces, and many of its own sons and
	daughters have answered their country's call; as of January 2011,
	more than 29,000 Texans in the active duty branches were serving in
	Operation New Dawn, centered on Iraq, and Operation Enduring
	Freedom, centered on Afghanistan; among these troops were more than
	18,000 soldiers, over 4,000 airmen and airwomen, more than 3,500
	sailors, and over 2,500 marines, in addition to approximately 3,000
	members of the reserves; and
	WHEREAS, Texas currently boasts the second-largest
	population of veterans in the nation, with more than 1.7 million
	vets residing in the Lone Star State; it is estimated that this
	number includes over 111,000 veterans of Operations Iraqi Freedom
	and Enduring Freedom; and
	WHEREAS, To date, 19 Texans who have served in Iraq have been
	accorded the Silver Star, the third-highest award for gallantry in
	action, and one soldier has been awarded the Distinguished Service
	Cross, the army's second-highest decoration for valor; and
	WHEREAS, More than 4,000 servicemen and servicewomen have
	given their lives in Operation Iraqi Freedom and its successor,
	Operation New Dawn, and approximately 32,000 U.S. troops have been
	wounded; the number of Texans who have died in the Iraq and
	Afghanistan operations together currently stands at more than 520;
	and
	WHEREAS, America's mission overseas has demanded fortitude,
	skill, and determination on the part of its military personnel, and
	they have performed with exemplary dedication and professionalism;
	their service stands as a testament to the indomitable spirit of
	this nation's armed forces; now, therefore, be it
	RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 82nd Texas
	Legislature hereby pay tribute to all Texans who have served in
	Operations Iraqi Freedom and New Dawn and extend to them profound
	appreciation for their selfless endeavors in this country's behalf.
	Taylor of Collin
	Straus Gonzales of Williamson Morrison
	Aliseda Gonzalez Munoz, Jr.
	Allen Gooden Murphy
	Alonzo Guillen Naishtat
	Alvarado Gutierrez Nash
	Anchia Hamilton Oliveira
	Anderson of Dallas Hancock Orr
	Anderson of McLennan Hardcastle Otto
	Aycock Harless Parker
	Beck Harper-Brown Patrick
	Berman Hartnett Paxton
	Bohac Hernandez Luna Pena
	Bonnen Hilderbran Perry
	Branch Hochberg Phillips
	Brown Hopson Pickett
	Burkett Howard of Fort Bend Pitts
	Burnam Howard of Travis Price
	Button Huberty Quintanilla
	Cain Hughes Raymond
	Callegari Hunter Reynolds
	Carter Isaac Riddle
	Castro Jackson Ritter
	Chisum Johnson Rodriguez
	Christian Keffer Schwertner
	Coleman King of Parker Scott
	Cook King of Taylor Sheets
	Craddick King of Zavala Sheffield
	Creighton Kleinschmidt Shelton
	Crownover Kolkhorst Simpson
	Darby Kuempel Smith of Harris
	Davis of Dallas Landtroop Smith of Tarrant
	J. Davis of Harris Larson Smithee
	S. Davis of Harris Laubenberg Solomons
	Deshotel Lavender Strama
	Driver Legler Taylor of Collin
	Dukes Lewis Taylor of Galveston
	Dutton Lozano Thompson
	Eiland Lucio III Torres
	Eissler Lyne Truitt
	Elkins Madden Turner
	Farias Mallory Caraway Veasey
	Farrar Margo Villarreal
	Fletcher Marquez Vo
	Flynn Martinez Walle
	Frullo Martinez Fischer Weber
	Gallego McClendon White
	Garza Menendez Woolley
	Geren Miles Workman
	Giddings Miller of Comal Zedler
	Gonzales of Hidalgo Miller of Erath Zerwas
	______________________________
	Speaker of the House
	I certify that H.R. No. 1266 was adopted by the House on April
	11, 2011, by a non-record vote.
	______________________________
	Chief Clerk of the House