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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, For nearly half a century, former U.S. Army Sergeant |
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| 6 | 7 | | Francisco Barrientes has devoted his best efforts to his country |
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| 7 | 8 | | and his community, and he is truly deserving of special |
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| 8 | 9 | | recognition; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, Born in Edinburg in 1947, Mr. Barrientes graduated |
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| 10 | 11 | | from high school and entered the U.S. Army in 1968; from January to |
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| 11 | 12 | | July 1969, he fought on behalf of his nation in Vietnam, where he |
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| 12 | 13 | | was wounded twice, the second time severely; during his deployment |
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| 13 | 14 | | to Vietnam he earned two Purple Hearts and the Bronze Star for |
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| 14 | 15 | | meritorious service in a combat zone, and he ended his military |
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| 15 | 16 | | service at the rank of sergeant; and |
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| 16 | 17 | | WHEREAS, After a long and difficult recovery from his |
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| 17 | 18 | | injuries, this brave Texan returned to Edinburg, where he has lived |
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| 18 | 19 | | a full and rich life with his wife, Martha, and their three |
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| 19 | 20 | | children, Leonel Eduardo, Jose Francisco, and Lucy Marie; and |
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| 20 | 21 | | WHEREAS, A man of profound religious faith, Mr. Barrientes |
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| 21 | 22 | | has been a leading member of Holy Family Catholic Church in Edinburg |
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| 22 | 23 | | since 1971; over the years, he has coordinated the altar services |
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| 23 | 24 | | and catechism classes and helped the priest oversee the church's |
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| 24 | 25 | | various programs and events; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, Francisco Barrientes has likewise dedicated more |
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| 26 | 27 | | than 21,000 hours of volunteer service to the Edinburg Independent |
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| 27 | 28 | | School District, working with students in groups or individually, |
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| 28 | 29 | | helping with PTA fund-raising events, and assisting with myriad |
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| 29 | 30 | | campus tasks, as well as taking part in the district's Veterans Day |
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| 30 | 31 | | programs; in addition, he has given freely of his time and energies |
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| 31 | 32 | | to the Edinburg Parks and Recreation Department and the Edinburg |
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| 32 | 33 | | Pony Baseball League; and |
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| 33 | 34 | | WHEREAS, Repeatedly honored for his work, Mr. Barrientes has |
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| 34 | 35 | | been awarded a certificate of recognition from the Texas House of |
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| 35 | 36 | | Representatives, and he has been named a Hero for Children by the |
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| 36 | 37 | | Texas State Board of Education; in 2007, the Edinburg ISD named |
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| 37 | 38 | | Francisco Barrientes Middle School in his honor; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Committed to the belief that he was permitted to |
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| 39 | 40 | | survive the war in Vietnam for a reason, Francisco Barrientes has |
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| 40 | 41 | | triumphed over injury and hardship to lead a fulfilling and |
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| 41 | 42 | | purposeful life dedicated to his family, his faith, and his |
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| 42 | 43 | | community, and he has been, and continues to be, an inspiration to |
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| 43 | 44 | | all who know him; now, therefore, be it |
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| 44 | 45 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 45 | 46 | | Legislature hereby commend former U.S. Army Sergeant Francisco |
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| 46 | 47 | | Barrientes for his outstanding, lifelong record of service to his |
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| 47 | 48 | | nation and his community and extend to him sincere best wishes for |
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| 48 | 49 | | continued happiness; and, be it further |
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| 49 | 50 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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| 50 | 51 | | prepared for Mr. Barrientes as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 51 | 52 | | Texas House of Representatives. |
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