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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, Mexican Independence Day, "Diez y Seis de |
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Septiembre," is an important event in the history of Texas, and a |
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commemoration of the occasion on the grounds of the State Capitol is |
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a fitting way to celebrate the date; and |
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WHEREAS, On September 16, 1810, Miguel Hidalgo y Costilla, a |
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Mexican priest in the town of Dolores, ignited the first uprising in |
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what would become the Mexican War of Independence; after securing |
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the forced release of prisoners from the local jail on the night of |
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September 15, Father Hidalgo addressed his parishioners on the |
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morning of the 16th, exhorting them to join him in a movement |
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against the colonial government; the ensuing struggle soon became a |
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fight for full independence from Spain, a goal that was ultimately |
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achieved in 1821; and |
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WHEREAS, "Diez y Seis" celebrations take place in a number of |
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Texas cities, including San Antonio and Goliad, where they have |
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been held for well over a century and a half, and reenactments of |
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Father Hidalgo's clarion call, the "Grito de Dolores" or the "Grito |
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de la Independencia," are important features of the festivities; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The struggle for freedom is a noble endeavor, and |
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the Mexican American Legislative Caucus is calling for a |
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performance of the "Grito" on the State Capitol grounds to serve as |
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a reminder of the heroism of those individuals who threw off |
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colonial bonds and who made great sacrifices in order to forge an |
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independent nation, one that from 1821 to 1836 included the area |
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that is today the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby direct the State Preservation Board to allow a variance from |
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its rules pertaining to performances at the State Capitol in order |
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to allow reenactments of the "Cry of Independence" at midnight on |
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the evenings of September 15, 2013, and September 15, 2014; and, be |
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it further |
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RESOLVED, That the secretary of state forward an official |
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copy of this resolution to the executive director and members of the |
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State Preservation Board. |