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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The dedicated service and immeasurable sacrifice of |
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our nation's military personnel are being recognized on May 20, |
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2023, as Americans observe this country's annual Armed Forces Day; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, Before 1950, separate days had been set aside to |
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honor the branches of the armed forces individually; the |
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establishment of a single observance followed the combining in 1947 |
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of the Departments of War and Navy into one entity, the National |
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Military Establishment, which two years later became known as the |
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Department of Defense; and |
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WHEREAS, Members of the U.S. Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, |
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Coast Guard, and Space Force are justly proud of the heroic deeds |
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forged by those branches and by their ongoing contributions to |
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maintain the security and liberty of American citizens both at home |
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and abroad; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Army was established on June 14, 1775, when |
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the Second Continental Congress authorized the formation of 10 |
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companies of riflemen; from the American Revolution to operations |
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in Afghanistan and Iraq, the army has furnished the majority of |
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American ground troops when the country has taken up arms; today, |
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this service is composed of a number of branches, including |
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Infantry, Military Intelligence, Aviation, the Corps of Engineers, |
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and Special Forces, and 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, On October 13, 1775, the Second Continental Congress |
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called for the fitting out of two warships, thereby founding the |
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Continental Navy; although disbanded following the conclusion of |
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the Revolutionary War, this service was reestablished with the |
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creation of the Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798, and today, |
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naval personnel ensure the defense of the nation by sea and by air |
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and give seaborne support to the other military forces; and |
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WHEREAS, A month after authorizing the procurement and |
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dispatching of the navy's first ships, the Continental Congress |
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passed a resolution, on November 10, 1775, calling for the raising |
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of two marine battalions; the Marine Corps disbanded, like the |
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navy, following the War of Independence, but it was reestablished |
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on July 11, 1798; today, the Marine Corps conducts military |
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operations on land, air, and sea, following faithfully in the |
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footsteps of those who so valiantly fought and died in Belleau Wood |
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and Afghanistan; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force, which became a separate branch |
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within the Department of Defense on September 18, 1947, had its |
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genesis in the 1907 creation of an aeronautical division within the |
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U.S. Army Signal Corps; military aviation subsequently achieved |
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widespread recognition during World War I, when planes proved their |
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effectiveness in reconnaissance and bombing missions, and air power |
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became a crucial factor in World War II, during which time the U.S. |
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Army Air Forces emerged as the most powerful air force in the world; |
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today's air force defends the country in the realms of air, space, |
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and cyberspace; and |
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WHEREAS, Now part of the Department of Homeland Security, the |
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U.S. Coast Guard has assumed many duties throughout its history, |
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from protecting against pirates to intercepting contraband, |
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conducting search and rescue operations, responding to oil spills, |
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and licensing and certifying all U.S. maritime personnel; its |
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wide-ranging wartime service has included escort and patrol duty |
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and assisting amphibious landings; and |
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WHEREAS, The U.S. Space Force was established on December 20, |
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2019, when the National Defense Authorization Act was signed into |
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law, thereby creating the first new branch of the armed services in |
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73 years; composed of the three field components of the Space |
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Operations Command, the Space Systems Command, and the Space |
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Training and Readiness Command, the space force trains and equips |
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its service members, called Guardians, to conduct global space |
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operations in a number of areas; chief among them is the critical |
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infrastructure that is increasingly dependent on satellites for |
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communication, navigation, meteorology, and intelligence; and |
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WHEREAS, Together with members of the reserve forces, the |
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Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard, America's |
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active-duty servicemen and servicewomen are committed to |
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maintaining the nation's security and are prepared to do their |
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utmost in defense of their country and the cause of freedom; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize May 20, 2023, as Armed Forces Day and |
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extend to all members of the nation's military profound |
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appreciation for their steadfast and courageous efforts in our |
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country's behalf. |
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Price |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 2054 was adopted by the House on May |
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29, 2023, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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