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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, July 31, 2013, marks the 60th wedding anniversary of |
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Saoroth and Yani Keo of Houston, and this joyous event provides a |
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fitting opportunity to reflect on their remarkable journey together |
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as husband and wife; and |
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WHEREAS, Natives of Cambodia, Saoroth Keo and the former Yani |
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Rose Yos were brought together by their families; their fathers, |
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both judges, had agreed to a union between their children before |
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Mrs. Keo was even born, and Mr. Keo eventually chose the bold and |
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strong-willed Yani over her more serene older sister; they were |
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joined in matrimony in Phnom Penh in 1953, when Mrs. Keo was just |
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15, but contrary to tradition, she continued her education even |
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after the birth of their first child; and |
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WHEREAS, Having studied engineering in Paris, Mr. Keo became |
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director of Cambodia's railroads; Mrs. Keo honed her linguistic |
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skills through extensive travel abroad and became an interpreter |
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for the wife of the president, but political turmoil began to |
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overwhelm the country; when refugees streamed into Phnom Penh, Mrs. |
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Keo helped organize a volunteer aid group; her humanitarian efforts |
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and international connections made her a target of Khmer Rouge |
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rebels, and in April 1975, the couple was forced to flee; still |
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hoping to serve his country, Mr. Keo subsequently tried to return, |
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but the situation had grown even more desperate; for five terrible |
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months, the whirlwind of political events kept the couple apart, |
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and Mr. Keo was believed to have been killed until Mrs. Keo learned |
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with relief that he had been sent to Houston under the sponsorship |
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of Catholic Charities; and |
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WHEREAS, The Keos began a new life together in Texas, where |
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Mr. Keo learned English while working as a clerk at AE Services; his |
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employers discovered he was a skilled draftsman and engineer, and |
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he ultimately retired as a partner in the company; Mrs. Keo |
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continued her philanthropy as a cofounder of the Refugee Services |
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Alliance, which expanded its mission to provide aid to all |
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immigrants; today, it is known as the Alliance for Multicultural |
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Community Services; Mrs. Keo also helped establish the Texas |
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Cambodian Temple of Houston and served as president of the |
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Cambodian Farm Project and Khmer Village; moreover, she has served |
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on the City of Houston Advisory Council of International |
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Communities and chaired the Information Group for Asian American |
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Rights; the Keos have personally sponsored many Cambodian refugees |
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through the years; and |
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WHEREAS, Devoted to their family, Mr. and Mrs. Keo take great |
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pride in their four children, Rothmoni, Soudeth, Nanda, and Sorith |
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Keo, as well as their 10 cherished grandchildren, Michael, Toni, |
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Patrick, Mitchell, and Matthew Keo, Christopher and Tiffani Kou, |
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Jason and Nancy Chamroeun, and Anand Pok; and |
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WHEREAS, The 60 years of marriage that Mr. and Mrs. Keo have |
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shared is eloquent affirmation of the meaning of love and |
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commitment, and their enduring union is an inspiration to all who |
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know them; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature, 1st Called Session, hereby congratulate Saoroth and |
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Yani Rose Keo on their 60th wedding anniversary and extend sincere |
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best wishes for continued happiness; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. and Mrs. Keo as an expression of high regard by the |
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Texas House of Representatives. |
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Vo |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 248 was adopted by the House on June |
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25, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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