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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For 100 years, Texas A&M University has provided |
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vital support to those students who have answered our nation's call |
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to duty and served in the military; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas A&M was founded as a military academy in 1876, |
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and in the aftermath of World War I, the school began offering |
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rehabilitation and vocational training to wounded American |
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veterans; on March 7, 1919, U.S. Army veteran Sidney O'Hara and U.S. |
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Navy veteran H. A. Camp arrived at the school to take part in the |
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program; Mr. O'Hara had been hurt in a troop train accident in |
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France, and Mr. Camp had been injured while working aboard the navy |
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training vessel Franklin; both men were enrolled in an eight-week |
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course in automobile and tractor repair; and |
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WHEREAS, Paid for by the federal government, this program |
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quickly grew, and within a few years, the school was serving up to |
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250 vocational students annually, all of whom were warmly welcomed |
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by the university and the local community; many of the men received |
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training in the cotton industry as well as additional instruction |
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in such subjects as commercial law, English, bookkeeping, and |
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office management; and |
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WHEREAS, A century later, Texas A&M offers a wide variety of |
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services to its student veterans through its Military Admissions |
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program, which provides individualized assistance to applicants, |
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through its Veteran Services Office, which helps veterans maximize |
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Veterans Administration education benefits and other benefits, and |
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through its Veteran Resource and Support Center, which connects |
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veterans with uniquely tailored resources from campus and community |
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networks; more than 3,800 veterans or spouses and children of |
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veterans are currently receiving benefits at the school; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those |
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men and women who take up arms in our defense, and Texas A&M is |
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playing a crucial role in the lives of its student veterans by |
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providing them with the support, encouragement, and resources they |
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so richly deserve; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend Texas A&M University for its 100 years |
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of outstanding service to veterans and extend to the university's |
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veterans affairs personnel sincere best wishes for continued |
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success in their important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Texas A&M University as an expression of high regard by |
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the Texas House of Representatives. |