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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Members of Walton H. Walker Post 55 of the American |
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Legion in Belton are celebrating the 100th anniversary of their |
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organization with an event on May 25, 2019; and |
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WHEREAS, The post was first established in Belton on the |
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Fourth of July in 1919 by the veterans of Bell County; the first |
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commander was W. R. Brown of Temple, and the adjutant was |
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C. W. Pyle of Belton; in 1951, the post was officially named in |
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honor of Korean War hero General Walton Walker; and |
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WHEREAS, Born in Belton in 1889, Walton Walker graduated from |
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West Point in 1912, and over the course of his career in the |
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U.S. Army, he became known as "Patton's Bulldog" for his leadership |
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of the IV Armored Corps and XX Corps during World War II and as the |
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"unsung hero" of the Korean War as the commander of the 8th Army, |
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which bore the brunt of the North Korean invasion on June 28, 1950; |
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he served as commander of the United Nations forces in Korea until |
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his death in a jeep accident in December 1950; and |
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WHEREAS, Over the years, Post 55 has greatly benefited its |
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community through its contributions to the Belton Christian Youth |
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Center, the Communities in Schools program, the Helping Hands |
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Ministry, the Belton Fire Department, the Make-A-Wish Foundation, |
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and the Apple Tree program, among others; using proceeds from its |
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bingo games, the post has also endowed two $100,000 scholarships |
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through the Belton Educational Enrichment Foundation, in the names |
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of two Legion members, former post vice commander Joseph Elliot |
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Wilson and former post commander Theo A. McGhee; and |
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WHEREAS, For 100 years, the legionnaires of Post 55 have |
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stayed true to the ideals of loyalty and patriotism that informed |
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their military service, and they have given generously of their |
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time and resources to make their community a better place in which |
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to live; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby congratulate Walton H. Walker American Legion |
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Post 55 on its centennial and extend to its members sincere best |
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wishes for a meaningful and memorable anniversary event; and, be it |
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further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Post 55 as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |