By: Hegar S.B. No. 258
(Zerwas)
A BILL TO BE ENTITLED
AN ACT
relating to the pledge of allegiance to the state flag during a
state flag retirement ceremony.
BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS:
SECTION 1. Subsection (d), Section 3100.152, Government
Code, is amended to read as follows:
(d) The official retirement ceremony for the state flag
encouraged for public use is:
I am your Texas flag!
I was born January 25, 1839.
I am one of only two flags of an American state that has also
served as the symbol of an independent nation--The Republic
of Texas.
While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I represent
will never retire!
I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and
Tomorrow!
I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at San
Jacinto.
My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers over the Forts Trail of
the Big Country and herded cattle through the Fort Worth
stockyards. I have sailed up Galveston Bay and kept a
watchful eye over our El Paso del Norte.
My colors are in the waters of the Red River and in the
Bluebonnets of the Texas Hill Country.
You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro and in
the sands of Padre Island;
I am in the space station at Houston and atop the oil wells of
West Texas.
From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of San
Antone--all of Texas is my home!
I wave over the cotton and grain fields of the High Plains,
and I am deep in the rich soil of the Rio Grande Valley.
I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I fly high
above the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas.
You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and along
the Grandeur of the Rio Grande.
I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man!
The blue field in me stands for the valor of our ancestors in
the battles for our country.
Let us retire the blue--Salute!
My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas hearts!
It represents the honor that each of us should pay to our
state each day.
Let us retire the white--Salute!
The red is for all of the men and women who have died in
service of our state--whether as members of the armed
services or as citizen Samaritans.
Let us retire the red--Salute!
My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide because it
represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as one for
God, State, and Country.
Let us retire the lone star--Salute!
Join in the pledge to the Texas flag:
"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas,
one state under God, one and indivisible."
SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives
a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as
provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this
Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this
Act takes effect September 1, 2011.