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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, On May 16, 2020, Americans are paying special |
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tribute to our nation's military personnel with the commemoration |
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of Armed Forces Day; and |
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WHEREAS, This annual observance was launched following the |
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1947 merger of the Departments of War and Navy into one entity, the |
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National Military Establishment, now known as the Department of |
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Defense; on this occasion, we pause to honor the members of the U.S. |
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Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, whose devotion to |
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duty has helped safeguard Americans at home and abroad; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Army began as 10 companies of riflemen that |
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were sanctioned by the Second Continental Congress on June 14, |
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1775; since that time, the army has supplied the majority of |
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American ground troops when our nation has taken up arms; today, the |
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service is composed of a number of divisions, including Infantry, |
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Military Intelligence, Aviation, the Corps of Engineers, and |
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Special Forces, as well as such specialized branches as the Army |
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Medical Department Corps, Chaplain Corps, and Judge Advocate |
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General's Corps; and |
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WHEREAS, The foundation for the U.S. Navy was first laid on |
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October 13, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress authorized |
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the outfitting of two warships; following the Revolutionary War, |
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the service remained dormant until the establishment of the |
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Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798; today, naval personnel |
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protect the homeland by sea and provide seaborne support to the |
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other military branches; and |
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WHEREAS, On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental |
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Congress passed a resolution to assemble two marine battalions, and |
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though the Marine Corps disbanded after the War of Independence, it |
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was reestablished on July 11, 1798; the service is now a component |
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of the Department of the Navy, with the mission of preparing for |
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counterinsurgency, amphibious warfare, and commando operations; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force traces its roots back to the 1907 |
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creation of an aeronautical division within the U.S. Army Signal |
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Corps, and it later became known as the Army Air Corps and the Army |
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Air Forces before being designated as an individual branch within |
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the Department of Defense on September 18, 1947; the service first |
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proved its tremendous worth by performing crucial reconnaissance |
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and bombing missions throughout World War I and World War II, and it |
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quickly earned recognition as the most powerful air force on earth; |
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the branch's scope has expanded dramatically over the years, and it |
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now encompasses defense in the realms of air, space, and |
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cyberspace; and |
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WHEREAS, Founded in 1915, the U.S. Coast Guard is now part of |
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the Department of Homeland Security; throughout its history, the |
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branch has assumed many duties, from protecting against pirates to |
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intercepting contraband, conducting search and rescue operations, |
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responding to oil spills, and licensing and certifying all U.S. |
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maritime personnel; during wartime, its efforts have included |
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escort and patrol duty and assisting amphibious landings; and |
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WHEREAS, From the infancy of our nation onward, American |
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military personnel have been integral to preserving the security |
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and liberty of our citizenry; this occasion provides a fitting |
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opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to all active-duty |
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servicemen and servicewomen, as well as to the members of the |
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reserve forces, the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard |
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for their gallantry and dedication; 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 May 16, 2020, as Armed Forces Day and |
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pay tribute to the members of the nation's military. |