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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, In October 2010, the Galveston Company of the |
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Houston Medical Response Group of the Texas State Guard was |
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officially activated as the Galveston Medical Response Group, |
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becoming the first and only company in the Texas State Guard to earn |
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such a designation; the unit is commemorating that achievement with |
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an activation ceremony on April 30, 2011, and this occasion |
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provides a welcome opportunity to recognize the outstanding service |
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it has rendered to the citizens of the Lone Star State; and |
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WHEREAS, An all-volunteer military organization, the |
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Galveston Company provides licensed public health support |
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personnel and technical support expertise and serves as a medical |
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response team for large-scale natural and man-made disasters; |
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formed in 2005 under the command of Lieutenant Colonel Brian |
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Zachariah, the unit has been led by Lieutenant Colonel Roger |
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Vertrees since 2009, and as of September 2010 included 50 soldiers; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The members of the company have been especially |
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effective in responding to the hurricanes that have made landfall |
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in Texas in the past five years; for its actions during Hurricanes |
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Katrina and Rita, the group was awarded the Texas Governor's Unit |
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Citation for Meritorious Conduct in Performance of Outstanding |
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Service as well as the State Guard Association of the United States |
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Superior Unit Citation; in addition, its members' efforts during |
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Katrina earned the company the Meritorious Unit Award; and |
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WHEREAS, Since 2006, the Galveston Company has taken part in |
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Operation Lone Star, an annual joint civilian and military |
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humanitarian medical mission that takes place along the |
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Texas-Mexico border; this worthwhile initiative allows the unit to |
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conduct medical-innovative readiness training exercises while |
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simultaneously providing free medical services to residents |
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throughout the Rio Grande Valley; and |
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WHEREAS, The exemplary work of the Galveston Company, often |
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rendered in demanding and dangerous conditions, is in keeping with |
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the proud tradition of service that has distinguished the Texas |
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State Guard throughout its 70-year history, and the company's |
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soldiers are richly deserving of the response group status that has |
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been bestowed on their unit; 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 the Galveston Company of the Houston |
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Medical Response Group of the Texas State Guard on its activation as |
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the Galveston Medical Response Group and extend sincere gratitude |
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to its members for their remarkable service and heroism; 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 unit as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |