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A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
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AN ACT
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relating to the pledge of allegiance to the state flag during a |
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state flag retirement ceremony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Section 3100.152(d), Government Code, is amended |
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to read as follows: |
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(d) The official retirement ceremony for the state flag |
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encouraged for public use is: |
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I am your Texas flag! |
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I was born January 25, 1839. |
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I am one of only two flags of an American state that has also served |
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as the symbol of an independent nation--The Republic of Texas. |
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While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I represent will |
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never retire! |
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I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and Tomorrow! |
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I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at San Jacinto. |
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My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers over the Forts Trail of the |
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Big Country and herded cattle through the Fort Worth stockyards. I |
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have sailed up Galveston Bay and kept a watchful eye over our El |
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Paso del Norte. |
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My colors are in the waters of the Red River and in the Bluebonnets |
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of the Texas Hill Country. |
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You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro and in the |
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sands of Padre Island; |
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I am in the space station at Houston and atop the oil wells of West |
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Texas. |
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From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of San Antone--all |
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of Texas is my home! |
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I wave over the cotton and grain fields of the High Plains, and I am |
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deep in the rich soil of the Rio Grande Valley. |
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I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I fly high above |
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the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas. |
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You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and along the |
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Grandeur of the Rio Grande. |
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I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man! |
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The blue field in me stands for the valor of our ancestors in the |
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battles for our country. |
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Let us retire the blue--Salute! |
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My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas hearts! It |
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represents the honor that each of us should pay to our state each |
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day. |
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Let us retire the white--Salute! |
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The red is for all of the men and women who have died in service of |
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our state--whether as members of the armed services or as citizen |
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Samaritans. |
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Let us retire the red--Salute! |
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My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide because it |
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represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as one for God, |
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State, and Country. |
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Let us retire the lone star--Salute! |
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Join in the pledge to the Texas flag: |
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"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, one |
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state under God, one and indivisible." |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |