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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The Boy Scouts of America celebrated the 100th |
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anniversary of establishing the rank of Eagle Scout in April 2012; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Since its creation as the supreme achievement in |
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American scouting, the Eagle Scout badge has served as a powerful |
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symbol of accomplishment for young men, and the pursuit of this |
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coveted designation has helped numerous individuals to develop |
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their confidence and decision-making skills in preparation for the |
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challenges of adulthood; and |
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WHEREAS, To receive the rank, a candidate must meet a |
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demanding set of requirements that includes the attainment of 21 |
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merit badges, the performance of troop leadership |
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responsibilities, and the completion of a community service |
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project; moreover, a prospective Eagle Scout must pass a rigorous |
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board of review that evaluates the manner in which he embodies the |
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tenets of the organization; and |
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WHEREAS, The nation's original Eagle Scout was Arthur Eldred |
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from Long Island, New York, who went before a review board composed |
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of the original founders of the Boy Scouts of America and was |
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approved for the honor in the summer of 1912; the first Eagle Scout |
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from Texas, and the first west of the Mississippi River, was William |
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Elmo Merrem of Shiner, who earned his badge on July 3, 1913; Mr. |
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Merrem went on to become a Marine Corps pilot during World War I |
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and, later, the vice president of the Houston Oil Company; and |
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WHEREAS, Many other Eagle Scouts have realized notable |
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accomplishments as well, and the list of badge recipients includes |
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winners of the Medal of Honor and the Nobel Prize, and numerous |
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astronauts, governors, and members of Congress; among the eminent |
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Texans to receive the rank are Walter Cronkite, H. Ross Perot, Lloyd |
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Bentsen, J. J. Pickle, and Governor Rick Perry; and |
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WHEREAS, Through the years, young men seeking the insignia |
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have collectively completed more than 100 million hours of service |
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while working on their Eagle Scout projects, which makes the |
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program one of the most productive youth initiatives of its kind; |
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some two million Americans have become Eagle Scouts during the past |
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century, and they have made positive contributions to cities and |
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towns across the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, The Eagle Scout program affirms the highest ideals |
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of the scouting movement, and the quest for this prestigious |
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designation has served as an important milestone in the lives of |
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legions of young men, helping them to build a strong foundation for |
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the future while benefiting their fellow citizens; now, therefore, |
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be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 100th anniversary of the |
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establishment of the Eagle Scout rank and extend sincere best |
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wishes to the Boy Scouts of America for continued success with this |
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important program. |