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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of the Grande Voiture du Texas are |
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commemorating the 100th anniversary of the entry of the United |
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States into World War I by bringing the famous "40 & 8" boxcar to the |
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State Capitol on February 18, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, In April 1917, the United States Congress formally |
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declared war on Germany, bringing our nation into the global |
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conflict that had been raging since 1914; by the time the guns went |
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silent in November 1918, 4 million Americans had served in the |
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victorious Allied war effort, with more than 116,700 making the |
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ultimate sacrifice; and |
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WHEREAS, During their service in France, American |
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"doughboys" were often transported in small railcars that came to |
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be known as "40 & 8" boxcars because they could hold either 40 |
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soldiers or 8 horses; in 1920, veterans of the war formed La Societe |
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des Quarante Hommes et Huit Chevaux (the Society of Forty Men and |
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Eight Horses); today, this invitation-only veterans organization |
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is commonly known as "the Forty and Eight," and it is represented in |
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the Lone Star State by the Grande Voiture du Texas (the Great Car of |
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Texas), which was chartered in 1922; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1947, when Europe lay in ruins after World War II, |
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a "Friendship Train" traveled across the United States soliciting |
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donations for the people of France and Italy, eventually delivering |
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more than $40 million in food, clothing, and fuel; in gratitude, the |
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people of France sent to America an authentic "40 & 8" boxcar filled |
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with gifts, and in 1948, Texas governor Beauford Jester put this |
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boxcar in the care of the Grande Voiture, which displays it at the |
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Texas Military Forces Museum at Camp Mabry in Austin; and |
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WHEREAS, In this year of the World War I centennial, the |
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Grande Voiture du Texas has been designated as an official |
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commemorative partner by the Texas World War One Centennial |
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Commission, and on February 18, the chapter is presenting the "40 & |
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8" boxcar for public viewing at a ceremony on the grounds of the |
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State Capitol; and |
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WHEREAS, The fabled "40 & 8" boxcar is a remarkable |
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historical artifact of World War I, a powerful reminder of the |
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sacrifice made by American soldiers, and a potent symbol of the |
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bonds of friendship between two great nations; now, therefore, be |
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it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby welcome the "40 & 8" boxcar and the Grand Voiture |
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du Texas to the State Capitol and commemorate the 100th anniversary |
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of our nation's entry into World War I; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Grand Voiture du Texas as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |