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| 3 | 4 | | |
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| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
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| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, Residents of West Texas are coming together on May |
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| 6 | 7 | | 2, 2015, for the 50th annual Armed Forces Barbecue in Abilene; and |
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| 7 | 8 | | WHEREAS, This singular event, hosted by the Abilene Chamber |
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| 8 | 9 | | of Commerce Military Affairs Committee, is given to honor the |
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| 9 | 10 | | service of all area active duty, reserve, and national guard |
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| 10 | 11 | | military personnel; the occasion also provides an opportunity to |
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| 11 | 12 | | recognize the military family of the year with an award that is |
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| 12 | 13 | | bestowed for outstanding community service; and |
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| 13 | 14 | | WHEREAS, In 2015, the barbecue is returning to its original |
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| 14 | 15 | | location at Dyess Air Force Base after being held at the Abilene |
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| 15 | 16 | | Civic Center for more than three decades; plans are underway not |
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| 16 | 17 | | only for the barbecue that will serve 5,000 meals, including |
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| 17 | 18 | | several hundred plates that will be delivered to on-duty personnel, |
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| 18 | 19 | | but also for the 2015 Dyess Big Country Airfest to be held the same |
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| 19 | 20 | | weekend; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, The celebration has an impressive history; former |
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| 21 | 22 | | Abilene mayor Fred Lee Hughes chaired the barbecue before passing |
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| 22 | 23 | | the torch to Bob Deegan, who oversaw this worthwhile endeavor for |
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| 23 | 24 | | over 20 years; Rob Barnhill assumed the role in 1999, and under his |
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| 24 | 25 | | leadership, the military affairs committee expanded its honoree |
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| 25 | 26 | | base to include Department of Defense civilians; since 2014, the |
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| 26 | 27 | | event has been ably co-chaired by Doug Williamson and Kelly Jones; |
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| 27 | 28 | | and |
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| 28 | 29 | | WHEREAS, Over the course of a half-century, the Armed Forces |
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| 29 | 30 | | Barbecue has paid tribute to brave men and women in uniform, and all |
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| 30 | 31 | | participants merit special commendation for their support of |
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| 31 | 32 | | military personnel; now, therefore, be it |
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| 32 | 33 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 33 | 34 | | Legislature hereby commemorate the 50th annual Armed Forces |
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| 34 | 35 | | Barbecue and congratulate the Abilene Chamber of Commerce Military |
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| 35 | 36 | | Affairs Committee on its impressive record of achievement; and, be |
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| 36 | 37 | | it further |
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| 37 | 38 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 38 | 39 | | prepared for the event's organizers as an expression of high regard |
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| 39 | 40 | | by the Texas House of Representatives. |
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