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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Americans of Czech ancestry celebrate their |
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cultural heritage with events throughout the year, and many Texans |
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are observing Czech Heritage Day in Texas on September 30, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, Throughout its history, Texas has greatly benefited |
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from the many significant contributions of individuals of Czech |
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descent; immigrants from what is today known as the Czech Republic |
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began arriving in Texas in the early 1800s, seeking economic |
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prosperity and fleeing from political and religious persecution |
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within the Austrian Empire; in 1850, Josef Arnost Bergmann, a Czech |
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Protestant minister, traveled to Texas with his family and settled |
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in Cat Spring; he sent word back to his homeland of the freedom and |
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opportunity he'd found, and soon many more Czechs began making the |
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Atlantic voyage toward the Port of Galveston; and |
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WHEREAS, In the decades that followed, Czech communities were |
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established across Central Texas, especially in Austin, Fayette, |
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Lavaca, and Washington Counties and throughout the Blackland |
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Prairie region, where productive farmland was plentiful; Czech |
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immigration to Texas continued to grow through the turn of the |
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century, with the number of foreign-born Czechs in Texas reaching a |
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peak of just over 15,000 in 1910; and |
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WHEREAS, The Czech people carried with them a rich culture |
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and deeply held traditions, including a strong Catholic faith, |
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close-knit family units, and distinctive cuisine, folk art, and |
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music; proud of their native language, they promoted the study of |
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Czech among their children and supported a thriving journalism |
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industry that saw the publication of more than 30 Czech-language |
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newspapers and periodicals in Texas; and |
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WHEREAS, Thousands of men and women of Czech origin or |
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ancestry have made their home in Texas, playing a vital role in the |
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social, economic, and civic development of the Lone Star State; |
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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 September 30, 2017, as Czech Heritage |
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Day in Texas and honor the contributions of Czechs and people of |
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Czech descent to this state. |