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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society is |
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presenting the first annual Rio Grande Festival in San Elizario on |
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April 28-30, 2017; and |
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WHEREAS, This free celebration commemorates the arrival of |
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the Oñate expedition in the El Paso area in the late 16th century; |
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Don Juan de Oñate was commissioned by King Philip II of Spain in |
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1595 to settle the New Mexico region in the name of the crown; in |
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January 1598, Oñate embarked on that mission from Santa Barbara, |
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Mexico, leading a group of 400 men and their families across the |
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Chihuahuan Desert; they reached the present-day site of San |
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Elizario three months later, and on April 30, Oñate issued an |
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official proclamation, known as La Toma, claiming the land for |
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Spain; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to a reenactment of that momentous |
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event, the three-day festival will feature a special dinner with |
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entertainment, as well as a host of other family-friendly |
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activities, including daily cultural presentations, live music, |
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and arts and crafts; another major component of the festival is a |
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three-day history conference, the 26th such annual meeting the |
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society has sponsored; more than 30 speakers will be addressing a |
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range of topics, among them such subjects as the Oñate expedition, |
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historical preservation, and UNESCO World Heritage sites along the |
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Camino Real de Tierra Adentro, the Royal Inland Road, which passed |
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through El Paso del Norte and stretched some 1,600 miles, linking |
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Mexico City with Santa Fe; and |
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WHEREAS, The Rio Grande Festival offers local residents and |
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visitors alike the opportunity to learn more about a significant |
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milestone in the history of Mexico and the American Southwest, and |
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it is a pleasure to pay tribute to this outstanding celebration and |
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the dedicated individuals who have brought it to fruition; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commemorate the first annual Rio Grande Festival |
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and extend to the organizers and attendees sincere best wishes for a |
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memorable and enjoyable occasion; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the San Elizario Genealogy and Historical Society as |
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an expression of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |