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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The City of San Antonio is supporting the National |
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Park Service in its application for World Heritage Site designation |
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for the five Spanish Colonial missions established along the San |
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Antonio River in the 18th century; and |
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WHEREAS, Determined to expand its influence in the New World, |
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Spain built missions to convert indigenous people into subjects of |
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the Spanish crown; these frontier institutions provided not only |
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religious instruction, but also occupational training and |
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education in the Spanish language and system of government; and |
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WHEREAS, Vibrant communities grew up around these outposts, |
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and the city of San Antonio owes its existence to its five missions, |
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San José y San Miguel de Aguayo, Nuestra Señora de la Purísima |
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Concepción de Acuña, San Francisco de la Espada, San Juan |
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Capistrano, and San Antonio de Valero, better known as the Alamo; |
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these represent the largest concentration of Catholic missions in |
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North America; and |
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WHEREAS, World Heritage Site designation is granted under the |
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World Heritage Convention, which works to enhance understanding, |
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appreciation, and international cooperation for heritage |
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conservation, pursuing an ideal similar to that of the American |
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National Park system; in 1973, the United States became one of the |
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nearly 200 nations to ratify the convention, an independent treaty |
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administered under UNESCO; current sites include the Egyptian |
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pyramids and Australia's Great Barrier Reef, as well as our nation's |
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own Statue of Liberty and Grand Canyon; if accepted, the San Antonio |
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missions would become the first World Heritage Site in the State of |
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Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, World Heritage designation confirms the |
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extraordinary cultural significance of sites and contributes to |
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their preservation, and this recognition typically leads to |
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increased international tourism and greater access to historians |
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and preservation specialists; by supporting the National Park |
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Service in its endeavors in behalf of the Spanish Colonial |
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missions, the City of San Antonio is taking an important step to |
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heighten global awareness of these irreplaceable cultural |
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treasures and of Texas history; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the City of San Antonio for its vision in |
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joining the effort to gain World Heritage Site designation for its |
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five Spanish Colonial missions and extend sincere best wishes for |
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its success to all those associated with this important project; |
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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 city as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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McClendon |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 892 was adopted by the House on March |
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12, 2015, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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