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SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 924
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WHEREAS, Our nation's victory in World War II required the |
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dedication and sacrifice of millions of Americans and their |
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families, and the demands of that titanic struggle fell |
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especially heavily on the family of Pablo and Cruz Valencia |
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Gonzales of Fort Stockton, who sent six of their sons into harm's |
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way; and |
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WHEREAS, Pablo Gonzales was the son of Felix Gonzales, one |
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of the earliest settlers of Fort Stockton, and after the death of |
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his wife, Cruz, in 1933, he raised their 10 children with the help |
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of his sister, Carolina; during World War II, six of his sons |
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entered the U.S. Army and served honorably in Europe and the |
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Pacific and at bases in the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, The oldest brother, Private First Class Abran |
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Gonzales, was deployed to England and took part in the invasion |
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of France; Private Natividad Gonzales fought in Italy and helped |
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to liberate Rome; Private Nicholas Gonzales saw action during his |
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two years in the South Pacific, and the youngest of the six, |
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Private Albertano Gonzales, served with the 3rd Army, 5th |
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Infantry Division, in Europe, where he was personally presented |
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with the Silver Star by General George Patton for his gallantry |
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in combat; and |
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WHEREAS, Two other brothers were still awaiting their |
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overseas assignments when the war ended, with Private Pilar |
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Gonzales stationed at Camp Fannin near Tyler and Private Reyes |
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Gonzales based in Sioux Falls, South Dakota; the family's |
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youngest son, Isabel Gonzales, later followed in his older |
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brothers' footsteps and served in the Korean War; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, more than 70 years after the end of World |
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War II, the six brothers have all passed away, but their children |
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and grandchildren continue to honor their memory and to share the |
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story of the brothers' sacrifice with the youngest members of the |
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family; and |
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WHEREAS, These brave Texans answered their nation's call to |
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duty and risked their lives to preserve democracy and liberty, |
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and their efforts offer a moving example of the immense |
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contributions that have been made by Hispanic Americans in the |
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United States armed forces; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 85th |
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Legislature, hereby honor Abran, Natividad, Nicholas, Albertano, |
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Pilar, and Reyes Gonzales, Fort Stockton's own "Band of |
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Brothers," for their courageous service during World War II; and, |
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be it further |
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RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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the Gonzales family as an expression of high regard from the |
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Texas Senate. |
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Uresti |
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Buckingham |
Menéndez |
Rodríguez |
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Lucio |
Perry |
Taylor of Collin |
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Patrick, President of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that the |
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above Resolution was adopted by |
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the Senate on May 29, 2017. |
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________________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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________________________________ |
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Member, Texas Senate |