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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, When residents of the Lone Star State commemorate |
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Juneteenth on June 19, 2015, they will be celebrating the |
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sesquicentennial of the day that marked the official end of slavery |
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in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, It was in Galveston, the birthplace of Juneteenth, |
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that the Union commander of the Department of Texas, Major General |
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Gordon Granger, issued General Order No. 3 on June 19, 1865; that |
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order advised "the people of Texas . . . that, in accordance with a |
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proclamation from the Executive of the United States, all slaves |
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are free"; and |
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WHEREAS, That watershed moment occurred at the Osterman |
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Building, located on the southwest corner of 22nd Street and Strand |
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in downtown Galveston; the site served as the Union Army |
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Headquarters, and today its crucial role in the story of Texas is |
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commemorated with a historical marker; and |
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WHEREAS, Galveston's annual observance of the abolition of |
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slavery dates back to January 1, 1866, when persons of color were |
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asked to assemble in the town square for a formal celebration of the |
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milestone event; since that time, the annual Juneteenth festivities |
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have continued to be highly anticipated by the city's residents and |
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visitors alike; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, 150 years after emancipation was proclaimed |
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in Texas, Juneteenth continues to inspire gatherings that are both |
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joyful and reflective; layered with meaning, these observances pay |
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tribute to all those who endured the rigors of slavery, honor their |
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immeasurable contributions to the development of this state and |
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nation, and recognize the myriad accomplishments of the generations |
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that have followed; in addition, and of equal importance, the |
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occasion serves as a powerful summons to the continuing work of |
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building a more just and inclusive society; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the 150th anniversary of the |
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abolition of slavery in Texas and encourage all Texans to |
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acknowledge the God-given right of freedom and to join in |
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celebrating this joyous American holiday. |