| 1 | 1 | | SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 725 |
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| 2 | 2 | | WHEREAS, The descendants of Gregorio and Ana Esparza are |
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| 3 | 3 | | gathering in Floresville on July 13, 2019, for their much |
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| 4 | 4 | | anticipated family reunion; and |
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| 5 | 5 | | WHEREAS, Gregorio Esparza was one of the last Alamo |
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| 6 | 6 | | defenders to join the garrison during the Texas Revolution, |
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| 7 | 7 | | contributing to the cause as Juan Seguín's best gunner and a |
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| 8 | 8 | | small artillery expert; he was slain in battle while manning a |
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| 9 | 9 | | cannon at the back of the chapel, but his wife, Ana Salazar de |
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| 10 | 10 | | Esparza, and their children, Maria de Jesus Castro and Enrique, |
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| 11 | 11 | | Manuel, and Francisco Esparza, were among the few to survive; and |
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| 12 | 12 | | WHEREAS, Following the Texans' defeat, Ms. Esparza and her |
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| 13 | 13 | | husband's brother, Francisco, who served as a soldier in the |
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| 14 | 14 | | Mexican Army under General Cos, obtained permission to bury |
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| 15 | 15 | | Gregorio Esparza's body; he was the only defender of the garrison |
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| 16 | 16 | | allowed Christian burial rites; and |
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| 17 | 17 | | WHEREAS, Decades passed, and in the 1860s, the Esparzas' |
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| 18 | 18 | | three sons received preemptive claims in Atascosa County, where |
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| 19 | 19 | | they settled with their families to farm and ranch; Enrique |
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| 20 | 20 | | Esparza and his wife, Gertrudes Hernandez Esparza, deeded five |
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| 21 | 21 | | acres of their land to the Catholic Diocese and were |
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| 22 | 22 | | instrumental in establishing the county's first Catholic church |
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| 23 | 23 | | and school; and |
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| 24 | 24 | | WHEREAS, Over the years, the descendants of Gregorio and |
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| 25 | 25 | | Ana Esparza have come together to share in one another's company |
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| 26 | 26 | | and to celebrate the rich heritage that has united them for |
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| 27 | 27 | | generations, and it is indeed a pleasure to recognize this |
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| 28 | 28 | | special occasion; now, therefore, be it |
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| 29 | 29 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 86th |
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| 30 | 30 | | Legislature, hereby commemorate the sixth Gregorio and Ana |
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| 31 | 31 | | Esparza Family Reunion and extend to all those in attendance |
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| 32 | 32 | | sincere best wishes for a memorable and enjoyable event; and, be |
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| 33 | 33 | | it further |
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| 34 | 34 | | RESOLVED, That an official copy of this Resolution be |
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| 35 | 35 | | prepared for the family as an expression of high regard by the |
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| 36 | 36 | | Texas Senate. |
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| 37 | 37 | | Flores |
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| 38 | 38 | | ________________________________ |
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| 39 | 39 | | President of the Senate |
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| 40 | 40 | | I hereby certify that the |
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| 41 | 41 | | above Resolution was adopted by |
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| 42 | 42 | | the Senate on May 9, 2019. |
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| 43 | 43 | | ________________________________ |
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| 44 | 44 | | Secretary of the Senate |
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| 45 | 45 | | ________________________________ |
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| 46 | 46 | | Member, Texas Senate |
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