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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, During the years 1917 to 1919, Texas and Texans |
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played a prominent role in all aspects of the United States' |
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involvement in the Great War; and |
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WHEREAS, Of the approximately 200,000 Texans who served in |
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the military, on land, at sea, and in the air, 5,171 made the |
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ultimate sacrifice for their country during World War I; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans served in the army, navy, and marines, and |
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Texas soldiers formed the army's 36th and 90th Infantry Divisions; |
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the state became a primary training location for numerous National |
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Guard divisions mobilized from other states; Texas was also an |
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early leader in military aviation, with more than a dozen army |
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aviation training and logistics bases established in the state; and |
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WHEREAS, Texans made noteworthy individual, heroic |
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contributions during their military service, and the state produced |
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numerous Medal of Honor recipients, French Croix de Guerre |
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recipients, and aviation aces; after World War I, many Texas |
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veterans went on to make significant contributions in government, |
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industry, the arts, and the military; and |
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WHEREAS, The people of Texas provided essential support to |
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the war effort by producing needed materials, purchasing war bonds |
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and stamps, participating in food conservation programs, and |
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volunteering in civic organizations, such as the Red Cross, the |
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YMCA, the Jewish Welfare Board, and the Salvation Army; Texas |
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industry and agriculture provided livestock, oil, cotton, lumber, |
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shipbuilding, and manufacturing in support of the war effort; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas cities, towns, and counties supported |
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numerous military training facilities that were expanded in San |
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Antonio and El Paso and newly constructed in Houston, Dallas, Fort |
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Worth, Waco, and other locations around the state; students and |
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alumni of Texas' institutions of higher education answered the call |
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to serve in the army, navy, and marines; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas minorities and women served with distinction |
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in an era that often overlooked their contributions; more than |
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31,000 Texas African Americans served in the army during the war, as |
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did a substantial number of Mexican Americans and Native Americans; |
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Texas women served as military service members and as civilian |
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nurses, Red Cross volunteers, and communications specialists; and |
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WHEREAS, Both public and private organizations in Texas have |
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preserved the historical landmarks, exhibits, and artifacts |
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related to the state's prominent role in World War I, including |
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Battleship Texas, Hangar 9, and various museum exhibits; and |
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WHEREAS, Soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice are at the |
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forefront of commemorations of the war; all veterans, communities, |
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and civilians around the state made sacrifices that helped win the |
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war and ultimately propelled the United States and Texas onto the |
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world stage; and |
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WHEREAS, In 2013, the United States, through an act of |
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Congress and the establishment of the World War I Centennial |
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Commission, initiated actions to recognize the 100th anniversary of |
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the nation's many sacrifices during World War I; and |
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WHEREAS, The Texas World War I Centennial Commemoration |
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Association has championed the recognition of the role of Texas and |
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Texans in the Great War; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize the commemoration of the centennial of |
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World War I; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this resolution be prepared as an |
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expression of gratitude to those Texans who served in World War I |
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and the Texas civilians who worked as part of the war effort and in |
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appreciation for communities and organizations that seek to |
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commemorate the centennial of the war through various actions and |
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initiatives during the period of recognition between April 2017, |
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the 100th anniversary of the United States' entry into the war, and |
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June 2019, the 100th anniversary of the signing of the Treaty of |
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Versailles. |