H.R. No. 2169
R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, On May 16, 2020, Americans are paying special
tribute to our nation's military personnel with the commemoration
of Armed Forces Day; and
WHEREAS, This annual observance was launched following the
1947 merger of the Departments of War and Navy into one entity, the
National Military Establishment, now known as the Department of
Defense; on this occasion, we pause to honor the members of the U.S.
Army, Navy, Marines, Air Force, and Coast Guard, whose devotion to
duty has helped safeguard Americans at home and abroad; and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Army began as 10 companies of riflemen that
were sanctioned by the Second Continental Congress on June 14,
1775; since that time, the army has supplied the majority of
American ground troops when our nation has taken up arms; today, the
service is composed of a number of divisions, including Infantry,
Military Intelligence, Aviation, the Corps of Engineers, and
Special Forces, as well as such specialized branches as the Army
Medical Department Corps, Chaplain Corps, and Judge Advocate
General's Corps; and
WHEREAS, The foundation for the U.S. Navy was first laid on
October 13, 1775, when the Second Continental Congress authorized
the outfitting of two warships; following the Revolutionary War,
the service remained dormant until the establishment of the
Department of the Navy on April 30, 1798; today, naval personnel
protect the homeland by sea and provide seaborne support to the
other military branches; and
WHEREAS, On November 10, 1775, the Second Continental
Congress passed a resolution to assemble two marine battalions, and
though the Marine Corps disbanded after the War of Independence, it
was reestablished on July 11, 1798; the service is now a component
of the Department of the Navy, with the mission of preparing for
counterinsurgency, amphibious warfare, and commando operations;
and
WHEREAS, The U.S. Air Force traces its roots back to the 1907
creation of an aeronautical division within the U.S. Army Signal
Corps, and it later became known as the Army Air Corps and the Army
Air Forces before being designated as an individual branch within
the Department of Defense on September 18, 1947; the service first
proved its tremendous worth by performing crucial reconnaissance
and bombing missions throughout World War I and World War II, and it
quickly earned recognition as the most powerful air force on earth;
the branch's scope has expanded dramatically over the years, and it
now encompasses defense in the realms of air, space, and
cyberspace; and
WHEREAS, Founded in 1915, the U.S. Coast Guard is now part of
the Department of Homeland Security; throughout its history, the
branch has assumed many duties, from protecting against pirates to
intercepting contraband, conducting search and rescue operations,
responding to oil spills, and licensing and certifying all U.S.
maritime personnel; during wartime, its efforts have included
escort and patrol duty and assisting amphibious landings; and
WHEREAS, From the infancy of our nation onward, American
military personnel have been integral to preserving the security
and liberty of our citizenry; this occasion provides a fitting
opportunity to express our deepest gratitude to all active-duty
servicemen and servicewomen, as well as to the members of the
reserve forces, the Army National Guard, and the Air National Guard
for their gallantry and dedication; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby recognize May 16, 2020, as Armed Forces Day and
pay tribute to the members of the nation's military.
Price
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 2169 was adopted by the House on May
27, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House