H.R. No. 681 R E S O L U T I O N WHEREAS, March 2 marks the anniversary of that historic day in 1836 when residents of Texas officially declared their independence from Mexico, thereby giving birth to the independent republic that would stand on its own for more than nine years before becoming the 28th state of the Union; and WHEREAS, The proud Texans who issued the call for independence were members of the Convention of 1836 that met at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1 of that fateful year; as they gathered, the valiant defenders of the Alamo were facing down the troops of Mexican ruler Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, and the Texas revolutionaries had reached a crucial point in their campaign for greater political freedom; and WHEREAS, Stating the views of the revolutionaries in no uncertain terms, the Texas Declaration of Independence listed their grievances against the Mexican government and announced their bold conclusion: "that the people of Texas do now constitute a free, Sovereign, and independent republic, and are fully invested with all the rights and attributes which properly belong to independent nations"; and WHEREAS, Winning that independence on the battlefield would take another six weeks and the lives of many brave Texans, but the 59 delegates who put their names to the Texas Declaration of Independence had carried forth the vision of liberty, independence, and just government that enlightens the Lone Star State to this very day; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 81st Texas Legislature hereby commemorate Texas Independence Day on March 2, 2009, and pay tribute to the immense contributions of those individuals who helped found the nation and state of Texas. Branch ______________________________ Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 681 was adopted by the House on March 2, 2009, by a non-record vote. ______________________________ Chief Clerk of the House