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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, Texans and many other Americans are joining with our |
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| 6 | 7 | | neighbors south of the Rio Grande on May 5, 2015, to celebrate Cinco |
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| 7 | 8 | | de Mayo, a holiday honoring the legendary Mexican victory over the |
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| 8 | 9 | | French at the Battle of Puebla in 1862; and |
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| 9 | 10 | | WHEREAS, After chafing under Spanish colonization for |
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| 10 | 11 | | several centuries, Mexico declared itself a free and independent |
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| 11 | 12 | | nation in 1821, but the transition from colonialism was a difficult |
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| 12 | 13 | | one, and the mid-19th century saw the young nation struggling to |
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| 13 | 14 | | maintain a stable government; imperial powers in Europe seeking to |
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| 14 | 15 | | take advantage of Mexico's troubles and recover some of the rich |
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| 15 | 16 | | territory they had lost during recent independence movements joined |
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| 16 | 17 | | forces to invade the country in 1861; and |
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| 17 | 18 | | WHEREAS, Although England and Spain eventually withdrew, the |
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| 18 | 19 | | French army continued its invasion and by 1862 had begun the march |
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| 19 | 20 | | inland toward Mexico City; led by the young general Ignacio |
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| 20 | 21 | | Zaragoza Seguin, a small, poorly armed Mexican militia countered |
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| 21 | 22 | | the well-outfitted French soldiers at Puebla, a town southeast of |
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| 22 | 23 | | the capital, and, despite being vastly outnumbered, prevailed and |
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| 23 | 24 | | soundly defeated the French army; and |
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| 24 | 25 | | WHEREAS, That victory at Puebla on May 5, 1862, was an |
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| 25 | 26 | | important event in the history of the Republic of Mexico, for by |
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| 26 | 27 | | conquering one of the world's finest military forces the courageous |
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| 27 | 28 | | Mexican soldiers struck a blow against imperialism and foreign |
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| 28 | 29 | | domination and marked an extraordinary triumph for Mexican |
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| 29 | 30 | | independence and pride; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Today, the anniversary of that famous battle is |
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| 31 | 32 | | observed in many U.S. cities as well as in Mexico, but Cinco de Mayo |
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| 32 | 33 | | celebrations in Texas are unique because they pay tribute to our |
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| 33 | 34 | | shared heritage with Mexico; General Zaragoza, born in Presidio La |
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| 34 | 35 | | Bahia near present-day Goliad, Texas, holds a distinctive place in |
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| 35 | 36 | | history as a true Tejano, a son of both Texas and Mexico, and his |
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| 36 | 37 | | determination to honor and defend "la patria," the homeland, is as |
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| 37 | 38 | | inspiring now as it was more than 150 years ago; and |
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| 38 | 39 | | WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo pays homage to one of the notable |
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| 39 | 40 | | events in Mexico's past while celebrating its music, food, art, and |
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| 40 | 41 | | cherished traditions, and the annual event has truly become a |
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| 41 | 42 | | special part of the rich cultural fabric of the Lone Star State; |
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| 42 | 43 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 43 | 44 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 84th Texas |
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| 44 | 45 | | Legislature hereby commemorate Cinco de Mayo, 2015, and encourage |
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| 45 | 46 | | its observance around the state. |
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