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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, For well over a century, Americans have set aside |
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Memorial Day as a time to honor those members of its military forces |
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who have given their lives in service to the United States; and |
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WHEREAS, This observance was introduced after the Civil War |
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as a means of paying tribute to those who had died on both sides of |
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the conflict; originally called Decoration Day for the practice of |
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adorning the graves of soldiers with flowers once a year, the |
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holiday came to be known as Memorial Day, a day to honor all of the |
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country's fallen; though it was celebrated on May 30 for a number of |
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decades, it has been observed on the final Monday in May since the |
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early 1970s; and |
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WHEREAS, In communities across the nation, veterans and their |
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fellow citizens gather in cemeteries and other public places to pay |
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tribute to the armed forces personnel who died protecting our |
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liberty; "Taps," the haunting bugle call customarily performed at |
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military funerals and memorials since the Civil War, is played |
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during these ceremonies, and in accordance with tradition, the |
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United States flag is lowered to half staff early in the day before |
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being raised again at noon; and |
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WHEREAS, The most well-known observance of Memorial Day |
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occurs in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown |
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Soldier, where the remains of unidentified Americans from World War |
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I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War are interred; |
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the president of the United States, accompanied by honor guards |
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from all branches of the armed services, traditionally lays a |
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wreath at the tomb, and a bugler offers a final salute by playing |
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"Taps"; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe an immeasurable debt to those men and |
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women who made the ultimate sacrifice in behalf of the peace and |
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stability of our nation, and it is a privilege to join with citizens |
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across the country in paying homage to the courage, commitment, and |
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patriotism of its military personnel; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Memorial Day 2019 in solemn |
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commemoration of those who have died in service to our nation. |