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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members and supporters of the Joanna Troutman |
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Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution are gathering |
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at the Texas State Cemetery on February 26, 2013, to mark the 100th |
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anniversary of the reinterment of their organization's namesake; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Born on February 19, 1818, in Crawford County, |
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Georgia, Joanna Troutman was 17 years old when a battalion of |
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volunteers from her home state responded to an appeal from Texas for |
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support in its struggle against the Mexican Republic; inspired by |
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the Texas cause, she designed and sewed a flag consisting of an |
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embroidered blue star on a field of white silk; below the |
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five-pointed star were the words: "LIBERTY OR DEATH" and the |
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reverse of the banner bore the Latin motto: "UBI LIBERTAS HABITAT, |
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IBI NOSTRA PATRIA EST," or "where liberty dwells, there is our |
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country"; and |
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WHEREAS, The Georgia battalion carried Ms. Troutman's flag |
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with them when they entered Texas in December 1835 and this symbol |
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of Texas' lone struggle against tyranny was unfurled at Velasco on |
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January 8, 1836, above the American Hotel; James W. Fannin, Jr., |
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flew it as the national flag over the walls of Goliad when he heard |
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of the Texas Declaration of Independence on March 8, 1836; the flag |
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was torn, but its remnants witnessed the infamous Goliad Massacre |
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that soon followed; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1839, Ms. Troutman married S. L. Pope and the |
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couple moved to Elmwood, a prosperous plantation near Knoxville, |
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Georgia; after Mr. Pope's passing in 1872, she married state |
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legislator W. G. Vinson; although she died in 1879, Ms. Troutman |
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lived long enough to witness Texas prosper as an independent nation |
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and as a strong member of the United States; in 1913, Texas governor |
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Oscar B. Colquitt secured permission to have her remains moved from |
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Georgia to Texas for interment in the state cemetery of Austin, |
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where a bronze statue and historical marker continue to honor her |
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today; and |
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WHEREAS, Joanna Troutman truly exemplified and defined the |
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spirit of the Lone Star State and her memory holds a cherished place |
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in the hearts of all Texans; 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 the 100th anniversary of Joanna |
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Troutman's reinterment and extend to all those involved with the |
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event sincere best wishes for a successful and memorable ceremony; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Joanna Troutman Chapter of the Daughters of the |
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American Revolution as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |