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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, 2018, 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 rule for several |
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| 10 | 11 | | centuries, Mexico declared itself a free and independent nation in |
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| 11 | 12 | | 1821, but the transition from colonialism was a difficult one, and |
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| 12 | 13 | | the mid-19th century saw the young nation struggling to maintain a |
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| 13 | 14 | | stable government; in the winter of 1861-1862, with the central |
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| 14 | 15 | | government in Mexico severely weakened, France, Britain, and Spain |
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| 15 | 16 | | jointly occupied the port of Veracruz for the avowed purpose of |
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| 16 | 17 | | securing the payment of debt owed by Mexico to European creditors; |
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| 17 | 18 | | and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, When it became evident that France actually intended |
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| 19 | 20 | | to conquer Mexico, Britain and Spain began withdrawing their troops |
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| 20 | 21 | | on April 11, 1862; some two weeks later, the French army began to |
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| 21 | 22 | | march on Mexico City; its advance, however, was dramatically |
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| 22 | 23 | | checked at the town of Puebla, where the Mexican general Ignacio |
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| 23 | 24 | | Zaragoza Seguin, leading a small, poorly armed, and greatly |
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| 24 | 25 | | outnumbered force, defeated the French on May 5, 1862; and |
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| 25 | 26 | | WHEREAS, That victory at Puebla was an important event in the |
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| 26 | 27 | | history of the Republic of Mexico, for by repelling one of the |
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| 27 | 28 | | world's finest military forces, the courageous Mexican soldiers not |
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| 28 | 29 | | only struck a blow against foreign domination but also fired a |
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| 29 | 30 | | powerful sense of national pride; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Today, the anniversary of the Battle of Puebla is |
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| 31 | 32 | | observed in many U.S. cities as well as in Mexico; Cinco de Mayo |
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| 32 | 33 | | celebrations in Texas enjoy a particular resonance because General |
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| 33 | 34 | | Zaragoza was a Tejano, born in Presidio La Bahia, near present-day |
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| 34 | 35 | | Goliad; the determination of this able officer and his men to defend |
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| 35 | 36 | | "la patria," the homeland, is as inspiring now as it was more than |
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| 36 | 37 | | 150 years ago; and |
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| 37 | 38 | | WHEREAS, Cinco de Mayo festivities pay homage to one of the |
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| 38 | 39 | | notable events in Mexico's past while highlighting that country's |
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| 39 | 40 | | music, food, art, and cherished traditions, and the annual |
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| 40 | 41 | | celebration has become a special part of the rich cultural fabric of |
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| 41 | 42 | | the Lone Star State; now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 43 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 85th Texas |
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| 43 | 44 | | Legislature hereby commemorate Cinco de Mayo, 2018, and encourage |
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| 44 | 45 | | its observance around the state. |
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