| 2 | 6 | | WHEREAS, The Senate of the State of Texas is pleased to |
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| 3 | 7 | | recognize the City of Palestine and to honor its residents for |
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| 4 | 8 | | their many important contributions to the Lone Star State; and |
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| 5 | 9 | | WHEREAS, In 1846, the first legislature of the State of |
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| 6 | 10 | | Texas established Anderson County on a 100-acre tract of land and |
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| 7 | 11 | | designated Palestine, named after a town in Illinois that had |
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| 8 | 12 | | been the previous home of early settlers, as the county seat; and |
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| 9 | 13 | | WHEREAS, Palestine benefited from the shipment of |
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| 10 | 14 | | agricultural goods down the Trinity River in its early history, |
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| 11 | 15 | | and the International and Great Northern Pacific Railroad, which |
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| 12 | 16 | | eventually merged with the Union Pacific Railroad, has allowed |
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| 13 | 17 | | the town to continue to thrive as a transportation and shipping |
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| 14 | 18 | | hub; and |
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| 15 | 19 | | WHEREAS, Committed to investing in the economic |
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| 16 | 20 | | development and progress of their region, in 1875, Anderson |
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| 17 | 21 | | County citizens awarded the International-Great Northern Pacific |
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| 18 | 22 | | Railroad a $150,000 bonus for selecting Palestine as the site for |
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| 19 | 23 | | its headquarters, a decision that led the town's population to |
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| 20 | 24 | | double within five years; and |
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| 21 | 25 | | WHEREAS, Palestine has continued to attract successful |
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| 22 | 26 | | companies and manufacturers that offer employment to the town's |
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| 23 | 27 | | workforce; the city is home to two of Walmart's distribution |
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| 24 | 28 | | centers, several wholesale beverage and aerospace parts |
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| 25 | 29 | | distributors, and a growing medical industry; Trinity Valley |
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| 26 | 30 | | Community College at Palestine and The University of Texas at |
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| 27 | 31 | | Tyler Palestine Campus are also located in Palestine; and |
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| 28 | 32 | | WHEREAS, As a designated Texas Main Street City, Palestine |
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| 29 | 33 | | is noted for its magnificent historic architecture, including |
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| 30 | 34 | | many Victorian-era buildings; visitors enjoy touring Palestine's |
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| 31 | 35 | | many popular landmarks and historic sites, including Davey |
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| 32 | 36 | | Dogwood Park, a 254-acre park with eight miles of unincorporated |
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| 33 | 37 | | hiking and biking trails and scenic views, and the Texas State |
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| 34 | 38 | | Railroad, the oldest heritage railway in the state, which offers |
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| 35 | 39 | | the opportunity to experience its steam and diesel train |
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| 36 | 40 | | excursions; and |
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| 37 | 41 | | WHEREAS, Palestine has practiced careful stewardship of |
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| 38 | 42 | | its rich past and natural beauty while adapting to the changing |
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| 39 | 43 | | demands of modern commerce, and its residents take justifiable |
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| 40 | 44 | | pride in the dynamic and beautiful place that they call home; |
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| 41 | 45 | | now, therefore, be it |
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| 42 | 46 | | RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas, 88th |
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| 43 | 47 | | Legislature, hereby commend the City of Palestine on its many |
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| 44 | 48 | | contributions to our state's prosperity and extend to its |
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| 45 | 49 | | citizens sincere best wishes for their town's future; and, be it |
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| 46 | 50 | | further |
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| 47 | 51 | | RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared for |
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| 48 | 52 | | the city as an expression of esteem from the Texas Senate. |
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