| 2 | 3 | | |
|---|
| 3 | 4 | | |
|---|
| 4 | 5 | | R E S O L U T I O N |
|---|
| 5 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The third Friday of September is set aside each year |
|---|
| 6 | 7 | | for the observance of National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and Texans |
|---|
| 7 | 8 | | across the state are marking this occasion on September 18, 2015; |
|---|
| 8 | 9 | | and |
|---|
| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, In 1979, the United States Congress first passed a |
|---|
| 10 | 11 | | resolution naming July 18 as National POW/MIA Recognition Day to |
|---|
| 11 | 12 | | honor prisoners of war and members of the military still missing in |
|---|
| 12 | 13 | | action; the date was changed in 1986, and now each year on the |
|---|
| 13 | 14 | | designated day, the black and white POW/MIA flag is flown over the |
|---|
| 14 | 15 | | White House, the U.S. Capitol, and military installations, among |
|---|
| 15 | 16 | | other sites, to symbolize our nation's commitment to resolving as |
|---|
| 16 | 17 | | fully as possible the fate of individuals who did not return from |
|---|
| 17 | 18 | | the battlefield; and |
|---|
| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, This solemn event reminds all citizens that the true |
|---|
| 19 | 20 | | cost of war extends far beyond the end of conflict; tens of |
|---|
| 20 | 21 | | thousands of people are still considered missing in action or |
|---|
| 21 | 22 | | unaccounted for from World War II, and thousands more from the wars |
|---|
| 22 | 23 | | that followed; families continue to suffer from the tragic absence |
|---|
| 23 | 24 | | of their loved ones and from the emotional burdens caused by a lack |
|---|
| 24 | 25 | | of closure; and |
|---|
| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Today and every day, we acknowledge our profound |
|---|
| 26 | 27 | | debt of gratitude to the brave men and women who have served so |
|---|
| 27 | 28 | | selflessly in our name, and we express our deep appreciation for the |
|---|
| 28 | 29 | | tremendous sacrifices made by military families; the nation remains |
|---|
| 29 | 30 | | steadfast in its determination to recover missing Americans, and |
|---|
| 30 | 31 | | this mission is not accomplished until all are returned safely to |
|---|
| 31 | 32 | | our shores or a full accounting of their fate is provided; now, |
|---|
| 32 | 33 | | therefore, be it |
|---|
| 33 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
|---|
| 34 | 35 | | Legislature hereby commemorate September 18, 2015, as National |
|---|
| 35 | 36 | | POW/MIA Recognition Day and assure the families of prisoners of war |
|---|
| 36 | 37 | | and those still missing in action that their loved ones are not |
|---|
| 37 | 38 | | forgotten. |
|---|