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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Bible has filled many roles in the saga of Texas, |
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serving as a social and cultural touchstone that has been integral |
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to the state's history and development; and |
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WHEREAS, In the early 1800s, as settlement of Texas gained |
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momentum, the Bible provided a vital cultural link between Catholic |
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Tejanos and Protestant Anglo Americans; although their backgrounds |
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differed in many respects, shared traditions helped to unite them |
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and to further their pursuit of greater freedom and, ultimately, |
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independence from Spanish and later Mexican rule; and |
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WHEREAS, During the Texas Revolution, such heroic figures as |
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Sam Houston, William Travis, Juan Seguin, and Davy Crockett carried |
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their Bibles for wisdom and inspiration; a Bible believed to be Sam |
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Houston's own has been used to swear in more than 30 Texas governors |
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in an enduring inaugural tradition, and it serves as a powerful |
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symbol of continuity and state leadership; and |
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WHEREAS, Comprehensive recordkeeping was not carried out by |
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local and state government during the 19th century; instead, life |
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events such as births, marriages, and deaths were written in family |
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Bibles; many of these cherished volumes were passed down through |
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the generations and are now included in the state's archives, |
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providing a vital resource for historians; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas grants official recognition to |
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symbols that resonate broadly with the public and that have played |
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an important part in shaping our state's identity; as a prominent |
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element in the rich fabric of our Texas heritage, the Bible is truly |
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deserving of such acknowledgment; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 87th Legislature of the State of Texas, |
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3rd Called Session, hereby designate the Bible as the official |
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state book of Texas. |