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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Proud residents of Palestine are gathering in Austin |
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on February 7, 2013, to celebrate Palestine Day at the State |
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Capitol, and this occasion provides a welcome opportunity to honor |
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this beautiful and historic Texas community; and |
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WHEREAS, The seat of Anderson County, Palestine was founded |
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in March 1846; it remained a largely agrarian community until 1873, |
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when tracks of the Houston and Great Northern Railroad, a precursor |
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of the International-Great Northern, reached the town; rail shops, |
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switching yards, and offices were subsequently established about a |
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mile from what came to be known as Palestine's Old Town, and a |
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second business district grew up near the rail line in the late |
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1800s; and |
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WHEREAS, With more than 1,800 historic structures, most of |
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which are located in the four National Register Historic Districts |
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and three local Palestine Historic Districts, Palestine is noted |
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for its exceptional success in preserving the historical integrity |
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of its built environment; the town has been designated a Texas Main |
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Street City, a National Main Street City, and a Preserve America |
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City; and |
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WHEREAS, Palestine is the home of the Dogwood Trails |
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Festival, which is held every March and which includes a parade, |
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arts and crafts exhibitions, and food booths in the downtown area |
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and live entertainment in the Old Town section; the town is also a |
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terminus of the Texas State Railroad, which runs steam train |
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excursions between Palestine and Rusk, in adjacent Cherokee County; |
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in November and December, the railroad has a special Polar Express |
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trip for children, inspired by the Chris Van Allsburg novel of the |
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same name; and |
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WHEREAS, Another notable institution in the city is the NASA |
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Columbia Scientific Balloon Facility, which is managed by the |
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Physical Science Laboratory of New Mexico State University; the |
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CSBF provides launching, tracking, and recovery services for |
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unmanned high-altitude research balloons, and over the years the |
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facility has launched more than 1,700 such devices; and |
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WHEREAS, Palestine city government, the Palestine Economic |
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Development Corporation, and local citizens, businesses, and civic |
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organizations have done an exceptional job of preserving the city's |
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history and charm while creating a vibrant community for residents |
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and visitors alike; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize February 7, 2013, as Palestine Day at |
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the State Capitol and extend to the visiting delegation sincere |
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best wishes for a productive and memorable visit to Austin. |
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Cook |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 270 was adopted by the House on |
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February 18, 2013, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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