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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Every Memorial Day, millions of citizens across |
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Texas and the nation gather to remember those heroic men and women |
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in uniform who made the ultimate sacrifice in the defense of our |
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country; and |
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WHEREAS, Originally known as Decoration Day for the practice |
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of decorating the graves of soldiers with flowers once a year, this |
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holiday began after the Civil War as a remembrance of those who had |
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died on both sides of the conflict; celebrated on May 30 in |
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subsequent decades, the holiday came to be known as Memorial Day, a |
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day to honor all of the country's fallen, in all of its wars; since |
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the early 1970s, the day has been observed on the final Monday in |
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May; and |
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WHEREAS, The nation's most solemn Memorial Day ceremony |
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occurs in Arlington National Cemetery at the Tomb of the Unknown |
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Soldier, where the remains of unidentified Americans from World War |
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I, World War II, the Korean War, and the Vietnam War are interred in |
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a marble monument and in the adjacent plaza; accompanied by honor |
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guards from all branches of the military, the president of the |
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United States traditionally lays a wreath at the tomb, and the |
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ceremony is further solemnized by the sounding of "Taps," the |
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haunting bugle call that has been performed at military funerals |
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and memorials since the Civil War; and |
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WHEREAS, At the same time, in cities large and small across |
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the nation, veterans and their fellow citizens gather in cemeteries |
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and other public places to remember fallen comrades and to pay |
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tribute to those who died to protect our liberty; these ceremonies |
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are also graced by the stirring echoes of "Taps," and by tradition, |
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the United States flag is briskly raised to full staff at the |
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beginning of the day and then lowered slowly to half staff, where it |
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remains until noon, when it is raised to full staff again; and |
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WHEREAS, The toll of freedom is high; in the years since the |
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founding of our republic, more than 800,000 American military |
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personnel have died in battle, and each year, on Memorial Day, |
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Americans gather to pay tribute to those courageous men and women |
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who, in the words of President Abraham Lincoln, gave the last full |
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measure of devotion; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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Legislature hereby recognize Memorial Day 2016 in solemn |
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commemoration of all those who have died in the service of the |
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nation. |