| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 962 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 3 | | recognize the Limestone County 19th of June Organization on the |
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| 4 | 4 | | occasion of the 150th anniversary of the reading of the |
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| 5 | 5 | | Emancipation Proclamation and its celebration at Comanche |
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| 6 | 6 | | Crossing; and |
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| 7 | 7 | | WHEREAS, On June 19, 1865, Union General Gordon Granger |
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| 8 | 8 | | read the Emancipation Proclamation in Galveston, the event that |
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| 9 | 9 | | marked the end of slavery in Texas and throughout the South; and |
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| 10 | 10 | | WHEREAS, The Emancipation Proclamation was also read on |
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| 11 | 11 | | the Stroud Plantation in Limestone County, and the planation's |
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| 12 | 12 | | large population of newly freed slaves gathered at Comanche |
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| 13 | 13 | | Crossing, on the banks of the Navasota River, to celebrate; the |
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| 14 | 14 | | ensuing festivities became one of the first recognized |
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| 15 | 15 | | Juneteenth celebrations in the nation's history; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The Stroud family later gave the land at Comanche |
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| 17 | 17 | | Crossing to the freed slaves, and Juneteenth has since been |
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| 18 | 18 | | celebrated each year at the site, known today as Booker |
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| 19 | 19 | | T. Washington Park and situated on Lake Mexia; and |
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| 20 | 20 | | WHEREAS, For over 100 years, the Limestone County 19th of |
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| 21 | 21 | | June Organization has worked to preserve the landmark site and to |
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| 22 | 22 | | plan the annual Juneteenth celebration, and this year marks a |
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| 23 | 23 | | truly special anniversary of this historic day in Texas history; |
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| 24 | 24 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 25 | 25 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 84th |
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| 26 | 26 | | Legislature, hereby commend the members of the Limestone County |
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| 27 | 27 | | 19th of June Organization for their exemplary efforts to honor |
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| 28 | 28 | | Juneteenth in Texas and extend to them best wishes for a memorable |
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| 29 | 29 | | 150th anniversary Juneteenth celebration; and, be it further |
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| 30 | 30 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 31 | 31 | | the organization as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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| 32 | 32 | | Schwertner |
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| 33 | 33 | | ________________________________ |
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| 34 | 34 | | President of the Senate |
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| 35 | 35 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 36 | 36 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 37 | 37 | | the Senate on May 22, 2015. |
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| 38 | 38 | | ________________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 40 | 40 | | ________________________________ |
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| 41 | 41 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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