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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The 300th anniversary of the founding of San Antonio |
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is being commemorated in 2018; and |
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WHEREAS, San Antonio's roots can be traced back to an |
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encampment known by local indigenous people as Yanaguana, which |
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meant "the clear water" in their native language; in the late 1600s, |
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Spanish explorers traveled through the area and gave it the name San |
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Antonio de Padua; the site, located halfway between northern Mexico |
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and Spanish settlements in East Texas, was subsequently chosen by |
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Spanish authorities for the establishment of a permanent community; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, On May 1, 1718, Martín de Alarcón, the governor of |
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Coahuila y Tejas, and Fray Antonio de San Buenaventura y Olivares |
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founded Mission San Antonio de Valero west of San Pedro Springs; |
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moved several times before its present site was chosen in 1724, the |
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mission would later become a fortress known as the Alamo; on May 5, |
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1718, the Spaniards also established a garrison, the Presidio San |
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Antonio de Béjar, to protect the new mission, and the soldiers' |
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families composed a rudimentary civilian settlement; four other |
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missions were planted in the area over the next decade and a half, |
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and when a group of Canary Islanders arrived in 1731, the civilian |
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settlement was organized as a villa, San Fernando de Béjar; the only |
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town in Texas to enjoy municipal status during Spanish rule, San |
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Fernando became the capital of Texas in 1773; following the Texas |
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Revolution, San Antonio, as the town was now called, was chartered |
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as the seat of Bexar County; and |
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WHEREAS, With the advent of the city's 300th anniversary in |
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2018, the San Antonio Tricentennial Celebration Commission has |
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partnered with hundreds of local organizations to plan a year of |
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festivities that emphasize history and education, community |
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service, and arts and culture, all culminating in a week of |
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commemorative events; and |
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WHEREAS, For three centuries, the Alamo City has played a |
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central role in the story of the Lone Star State, and it is a |
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pleasure to join its residents in celebrating this notable |
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milestone as they continue to build an even brighter future; 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 300th anniversary of the |
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founding of San Antonio and extend to its citizens sincere best |
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wishes for a memorable and meaningful tricentennial celebration; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the City of San Antonio as an expression of high regard |
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by the Texas House of Representatives. |