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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, For well over a century, Americans have set aside a |
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time to honor those members of its military forces who have died in |
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this country's service; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally called Decoration Day, this special |
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remembrance was first observed in 1868, when flowers were placed on |
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the graves of Union and Confederate soldiers, and by the end of the |
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19th century, Memorial Day ceremonies were being held on May 30 |
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throughout the nation; in 1971, Congress designated the last Monday |
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in May as Memorial Day; and |
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WHEREAS, Legions of Americans have stepped forward to serve |
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their country in times of conflict, and more than a million have |
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made the ultimate sacrifice; they "gave the last full measure of |
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devotion" on their native soil, in foreign lands, and on seas around |
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the world, and on this Memorial Day, as Texans pause to remember, we |
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commemorate with fresh sorrow all Texans who have been killed in |
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combat; and |
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WHEREAS, The longest sustained U.S. military operation in |
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history, the Global War on Terrorism has claimed the lives of more |
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than 6,600 American service members, including over 580 Texans; |
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today we expressly want to pay homage to those brave fallen soldiers |
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and the families they left behind; and |
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WHEREAS, It is a grateful nation that reflects on our |
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American heritage and recognizes the extreme sacrifices made by all |
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who serve in the armed forces; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED by the 83rd Texas Legislature, That the Senate and |
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House of Representatives of the State of Texas meet in a joint |
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memorial session in the Hall of the House of Representatives on |
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Saturday, May 25, 2013, at 10 a.m., for the Fallen Heroes Memorial |
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Service to pay tribute to all who have died in the service of this |
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country and to honor especially the Texans killed while serving in |
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the Global War on Terrorism; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Honorable Rick Perry, Governor of Texas, |
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all Texas state officials, and the family members of those killed in |
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the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan be, and hereby are, invited to |
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attend the joint memorial session; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the 83rd Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby commemorate Memorial Day 2013 and express deep appreciation |
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to all the men and women who have served our great country. |