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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The third annual Celebration of Bagpipes is taking |
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place at Bel Air High School in El Paso on May 17, 2025, providing a |
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fitting opportunity to recognize the history and achievements of |
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the Bel Air Pipe and Drum Corps; and |
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WHEREAS, The band's origins can be traced to World War II, |
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when Ysleta Independent School District superintendent J. M. Hanks |
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conceived the idea while completing an active duty military |
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assignment in Canada; the plan was brought to fruition in the early |
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1960s by Bel Air educator John Estes, who went on to serve as the |
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band's director for more than three decades; through the years, the |
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Bel Air Pipe and Drum Corps has been showcased at football games, |
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parades, music festivals, international competitions, graduation |
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ceremonies, presidential visits, and flag ceremonies; and |
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WHEREAS, Today, Bel Air is the only public high school in |
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Texas and one of few in the United States that has established a |
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bagpipe band; to help keep the tradition alive, the 2025 |
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Celebration of Bagpipes is featuring the corps in performance with |
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pipe bands from the El Paso Police and Fire Departments, Empyre |
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Pipes and Drums, and other ensembles; proceeds benefit the John |
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Estes Scholarship, which was created to raise awareness of the |
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program and to assist a deserving Highlander piper or drummer in |
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continuing his or her education after graduation; the occasion also |
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includes a special appearance by Mr. Estes to announce the 2025 |
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scholarship recipient; and |
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WHEREAS, For more than six decades, the Bel Air Pipe and Drum |
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Corps has been a source of pride for the Highlander community and |
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the wider El Paso area, and it is indeed a pleasure to join in |
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recognizing this esteemed ensemble on this special occasion; now, |
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therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor the Bel Air High School Pipe and Drum Corps |
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on the occasion of the third annual Celebration of Bagpipes event |
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and extend to all those associated with the program sincere best |
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wishes for continued success; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the band as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |
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Perez of El Paso |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1111 was adopted by the House on May |
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23, 2025, by a non-record vote. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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