87R18264 TBO-D
 
  By: Guerra H.R. No. 537
 
 
 
R E S O L U T I O N
         WHEREAS, The Tejano Monument was unveiled on the grounds of
  the State Capitol on March 29, 2012, and it has since become an
  iconic symbol for the sweeping influence that Tejanos have had on
  the story of Texas; and
         WHEREAS, The idea for the monument was first proposed by
  McAllen physician Cayetano Barrera, who visited the Capitol in 2000
  and noted that there were no statues that recognized the
  contributions of Hispanic Texans; Dr. Barrera's concern was met
  with widespread agreement, and soon, Mexican American leaders took
  the first steps to bring the Tejano Monument to fruition by forming
  a private fundraising committee, which went on to raise
  approximately $2 million for the project's completion; a series of
  legislative bills were passed to authorize, fund, design, and build
  the Tejano Monument, and Armando Hinojosa of Laredo was contracted
  to be the sculptor; and
         WHEREAS, The Tejano Monument pays tribute to the legacy of
  the state's Spanish and Mexican pioneers and settlers; it features
  a 20-foot-long granite base and 10 bronze statues depicting a
  Spanish explorer, a mounted vaquero, a pair of longhorn cattle, and
  a ranchero family; each statue was sculpted with careful attention
  to historical accuracy, and the monument is accompanied by five
  bronze-relief plaques that trace the history of Tejanos from the
  16th through the 20th centuries; the monument debuted to great
  ceremony on March 29, 2012, with then-Governor Rick Perry and other
  state officials and public speakers delivering addresses to a crowd
  that included descendants of some of the founding Tejano families;
  and
         WHEREAS, Though the original Tejanos arrived on Texas soil
  for a multitude of reasons, they all played a crucial role in
  shaping the narrative of the Lone Star State, and for nearly a
  decade, the Tejano Monument has stood as a resplendent tribute to
  Tejanos' contributions, their history, and the common heritage they
  share with all Texans; now, therefore, be it
         RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas
  Legislature hereby commemorate the dedication of the Tejano
  Monument on the Texas Capitol grounds and extend sincere
  appreciation to all those who were involved in the planning,
  funding, design, and creation of this notable landmark.