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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, On National POW/MIA Recognition Day, which is being |
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| 6 | 7 | | observed on September 16, 2022, citizens across Texas and the |
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| 7 | 8 | | United States pay solemn tribute to the servicemen and women who |
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| 8 | 9 | | were held as prisoners of war or who remain missing in action from |
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| 9 | 10 | | our nation's conflicts; and |
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| 10 | 11 | | WHEREAS, The toll of war is never-ending, lasting far beyond |
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| 11 | 12 | | cease-fires, armistices, and treaties; many thousands of soldiers, |
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| 12 | 13 | | sailors, and airmen are still considered missing in action from |
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| 13 | 14 | | World War II, and thousands more are listed as missing from |
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| 14 | 15 | | subsequent wars; decades after their loved ones have been listed as |
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| 15 | 16 | | unaccounted for, families continue to mourn and to seek answers as |
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| 16 | 17 | | well as respite from the emotional burden of not knowing the fate of |
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| 17 | 18 | | a beloved parent, sibling, or child; and |
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| 18 | 19 | | WHEREAS, The first national commemoration of POWs and MIAs |
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| 19 | 20 | | was held in 1979, when the U.S. Congress passed a resolution |
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| 20 | 21 | | specifying July 18 as National POW/MIA Recognition Day, and a |
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| 21 | 22 | | ceremony was held in the National Cathedral in Washington, D.C.; in |
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| 22 | 23 | | 1984, President Ronald Reagan hosted a ceremony at the White House, |
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| 23 | 24 | | which served to honor all returned POWs while also renewing the |
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| 24 | 25 | | commitment to account for the missing; since 1986, the |
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| 25 | 26 | | commemoration has been held on the third Friday in September, and on |
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| 26 | 27 | | that day each year, the black-and-white POW/MIA flag has been flown |
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| 27 | 28 | | over somber ceremonies at the White House and the U.S. Capitol, as |
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| 28 | 29 | | well as over state capitols, military bases, ships at sea, schools, |
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| 29 | 30 | | churches, and many other venues; and |
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| 30 | 31 | | WHEREAS, Our men and women in uniform and their families make |
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| 31 | 32 | | tremendous sacrifices in order to preserve our freedom and our way |
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| 32 | 33 | | of life, and they are owed a profound debt of gratitude as well as |
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| 33 | 34 | | the steadfast commitment of our nation to continue its work to |
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| 34 | 35 | | ensure that all missing Americans are accounted for or returned |
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| 35 | 36 | | home in dignity and honor; now, therefore, be it |
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| 36 | 37 | | RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 87th Texas |
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| 37 | 38 | | Legislature hereby commemorate September 16, 2022, as National |
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| 38 | 39 | | POW/MIA Recognition Day and assure the families of prisoners of war |
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| 39 | 40 | | and those still missing in action that their loved ones will never |
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| 40 | 41 | | be forgotten. |
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