| 1 | 1 | | 86R29315 KSM-F |
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| 2 | 2 | | By: Miller H.C.R. No. 166 |
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| 3 | 3 | | |
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| 4 | 4 | | |
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| 5 | 5 | | CONCURRENT RESOLUTION |
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| 6 | 6 | | WHEREAS, World War II lasted from 1939 until 1945, and the |
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| 7 | 7 | | United States entered the war in 1941 following the attack on Pearl |
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| 8 | 8 | | Harbor; and |
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| 9 | 9 | | WHEREAS, Over 16 million Americans served their country and |
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| 10 | 10 | | its allies over the course of the war; and |
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| 11 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The generation of men and women who served our |
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| 12 | 12 | | country in World War II has been called "the greatest generation" |
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| 13 | 13 | | for their selfless sacrifice; and |
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| 14 | 14 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is the highest military |
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| 15 | 15 | | decoration that is awarded by the United States government; and |
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| 16 | 16 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is presented by the president of |
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| 17 | 17 | | the United States, in the name of Congress; and |
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| 18 | 18 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor is only conferred upon members of |
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| 19 | 19 | | the United States armed forces who distinguish themselves through |
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| 20 | 20 | | conspicuous gallantry and intrepidity at the risk of life above and |
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| 21 | 21 | | beyond the call of duty while engaged in action against an enemy of |
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| 22 | 22 | | the United States, while engaged in military operations involving |
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| 23 | 23 | | conflict with an opposing foreign force, or while serving with |
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| 24 | 24 | | friendly forces engaged in an armed conflict against an opposing |
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| 25 | 25 | | armed force in which the United States is not a belligerent party; |
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| 26 | 26 | | and |
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| 27 | 27 | | WHEREAS, More than 3,400 Medals of Honor have been awarded to |
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| 28 | 28 | | our nation's bravest soldiers, sailors, airmen, marines, and coast |
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| 29 | 29 | | guardsmen since the creation of the award in 1861; and |
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| 30 | 30 | | WHEREAS, The Medal of Honor was awarded to 473 Americans |
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| 31 | 31 | | during World War II and only 4 of those 473 Americans are alive |
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| 32 | 32 | | today; and |
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| 33 | 33 | | WHEREAS, Charles H. Coolidge of Tennessee, Francis S. Currey |
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| 34 | 34 | | of New York, Robert D. Maxwell of Oregon, and Hershel W. Williams of |
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| 35 | 35 | | West Virginia all served their country with conspicuous gallantry |
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| 36 | 36 | | and intrepidity at the risk of life and therefore deserve the |
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| 37 | 37 | | gratitude of the American people; and |
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| 38 | 38 | | WHEREAS, The president of the United States has the sole |
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| 39 | 39 | | authority to designate a state funeral; and |
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| 40 | 40 | | WHEREAS, Historically, the president of the United States has |
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| 41 | 41 | | designated state funerals for former presidents, generals, and |
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| 42 | 42 | | other extraordinary Americans; and |
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| 43 | 43 | | WHEREAS, Designating a state funeral when the last surviving |
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| 44 | 44 | | World War II Medal of Honor recipient dies would be a wonderful way |
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| 45 | 45 | | for the American people to unite and honor all 16 million soldiers, |
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| 46 | 46 | | sailors, and airmen who served in our armed forces from 1941 to |
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| 47 | 47 | | 1945; now, therefore, be it |
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| 48 | 48 | | RESOLVED, That the 86th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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| 49 | 49 | | hereby respectfully urge the president of the United States to |
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| 50 | 50 | | designate a state funeral for the last surviving Medal of Honor |
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| 51 | 51 | | recipient from World War II; and, be it further |
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| 52 | 52 | | RESOLVED, That the Texas secretary of state forward official |
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| 53 | 53 | | copies of this resolution to the president of the United States. |
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