H.R. No. 46
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
 
         WHEREAS, The dedicated service and immeasurable sacrifice of
  our nation's military personnel are being recognized on May 21,
  2016, as Americans observe this country's annual Armed Forces Day;
  and
         WHEREAS, Before 1950, separate days had been set aside to
  honor the branches of the armed forces individually; the
  establishment of a single observance followed the combining in 1947
  of the Departments of War and Navy into one entity, the National
  Military Establishment, which two years later became known as the
  Department of Defense; and
         WHEREAS, Members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force,
  and Coast Guard are justly proud of the heroic records forged by
  those branches and by their continuing contributions to the
  security of American citizens at home and abroad; and
         WHEREAS, The U.S. Army was established on June 14, 1775, when
  the Second Continental Congress authorized the formation of 10
  companies of riflemen; from the American Revolution to operations
  in Afghanistan and Iraq, the army has furnished the majority of
  American ground troops when the country has taken up arms; today,
  this service is composed of a number of basic branches, including
  Infantry, Military Intelligence, Aviation, the Corps of Engineers,
  and Special Forces, and such specialized branches as the Army
  Medical Department Corps, Chaplain Corps, and Judge Advocate
  General's Corps; and
         WHEREAS, On October 13, 1775, the Second Continental Congress
  called for the fitting out of two warships, thereby founding the
  Continental Navy; although disbanded following the conclusion of
  the Revolutionary War, this service was reestablished with the
  creation of the Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798, and today,
  naval personnel ensure the defense of the nation by sea and give
  seaborne support to the other military forces; and
         WHEREAS, A month after the Continental Congress authorized
  the procurement and dispatching of the navy's first ships, it
  passed a resolution, on November 10, 1775, calling for the raising
  of two marine battalions; the Marine Corps disbanded, like the
  navy, following the War of Independence, but it was reestablished
  on July 11, 1798; a separate service within the Department of the
  Navy, the Marine Corps prepares for counterinsurgency, guerilla,
  and amphibious warfare and commando operations; and
         WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force, which became a separate branch
  within the Department of Defense on September 18, 1947, had its
  genesis in the 1907 creation of an aeronautical division within the
  U.S. Army Signal Corps; military aviation subsequently achieved
  widespread recognition during World War I, when planes proved their
  effectiveness in reconnaissance and bombing missions, and air power
  became a crucial factor in World War II, during which time the U.S.
  Army Air Forces emerged as the most powerful air force in the world;
  today's air force defends the country in the realms of air, space,
  and cyberspace; and
         WHEREAS, Now part of the Department of Homeland Security, the
  U.S. Coast Guard has assumed many duties throughout its history,
  from protecting against pirates to intercepting contraband,
  conducting search and rescue operations, responding to oil spills,
  and licensing and certifying all U.S. maritime personnel; its
  wide-ranging wartime service has included escort and patrol duty
  and assisting amphibious landings; and
         WHEREAS, Together with members of the reserve forces, the
  Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard, America's active
  duty servicemen and servicewomen are committed to maintaining the
  nation's security and are prepared to do their utmost in defense of
  their country and the cause of freedom; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas
  Legislature hereby recognize May 21, 2016, as Armed Forces Day and
  extend to all the members of the nation's military profound
  appreciation for their steadfast and courageous efforts in our
  country's behalf.
 
  Price
 
  ______________________________
  Speaker of the House     
 
         I certify that H.R. No. 46 was adopted by the House on
  February 19, 2015, by a non-record vote.
 
  ______________________________
  Chief Clerk of the House