1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 823
 1-3           WHEREAS, The Texas Senate is pleased to join the citizens
 1-4     of Goliad in celebrating Cinco de Mayo and in commemorating the
 1-5     notable victory of troops led by Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza over
 1-6     French forces in the Battle of Puebla on May 5, 1862; and
 1-7           WHEREAS, Designated as the State of Texas Official
 1-8     Celebration Site for Cinco de Mayo, Goliad is also celebrating
 1-9     its 250th anniversary; and
1-10           WHEREAS, During this 250th anniversary celebration, it is an
1-11     appropriate time to add the state's first ever Tejano History
1-12     Museum near the Presidio La Bahia and the Zaragoza Birthplace; and
1-13           WHEREAS, Born on March 24, 1829, at the Presidio La Bahia
1-14     del Espiritu Santo near Goliad, Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza was the
1-15     second son of Maria de Jesus Seguin and Miguel G. Zaragoza; and
1-16           WHEREAS, At first, Ignacio studied for several years for
1-17     the priesthood, and later trained for a career in commerce; he
1-18     enlisted in the military as a young man and followed his father's
1-19     career choice; and
1-20           WHEREAS, His brilliant military leadership was tested during
1-21     the War of La Reforma, when Ignacio Zaragoza allied himself with
1-22     the federalist troops of Benito Juarez; and
1-23           WHEREAS, Gallantly leading his troops against the strongholds
1-24     of Santa Anna in Guadalajara and Monterrey, General Zaragoza greatly
 2-1     assisted the federalist troops; after the federalist victory, he
 2-2     became, for a brief time, the Minister of War under the Juarez
 2-3     government; his service in this post was of short duration, and he
 2-4     resigned his position to lead the Army of the East against the
 2-5     invading French forces; and
 2-6           WHEREAS, Leaving behind his young and seriously ill wife,
 2-7     Rafaela, the general realized that the cause of independence was
 2-8     far greater than the lives of two people; he left to accept the
 2-9     grave responsibility of defending his fatherland; and
2-10           WHEREAS, A master strategist, General Zaragoza deployed his
2-11     troops in defensive positions in the hills above Puebla and beside
2-12     the main road leading to town; when the French troops advanced
2-13     toward Puebla, the general led an advancement of crack troops to
2-14     harass the French forces; and
2-15           WHEREAS, Intending to conquer Mexico, join forces with the
2-16     Confederate army across the border, and attack the Union, the
2-17     French troops were sorely defeated by a determined Mexican army;
2-18     and
2-19           WHEREAS, Many people believe that the Battle of Puebla was a
2-20     watershed event which changed the course of history in the Western
2-21     Hemisphere; the Mexican forces made a lasting contribution to the
2-22     cause of democracy; shortly after General Zaragoza's great success,
2-23     he was deeply saddened to hear of his wife's death, and he died
2-24     soon thereafter; and
2-25           WHEREAS, Citizens across the State of Texas will celebrate
2-26     Cinco de Mayo, and this special celebration is at Zaragoza Plaza,
 3-1     adjacent to the birthplace of Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza, which has
 3-2     been designated by the Texas Legislature as the focal point for
 3-3     Cinco de Mayo festivities; and
 3-4           WHEREAS, The Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and Texas
 3-5     Historical Commission, in cooperation with many local groups and
 3-6     individuals, have developed an Interpretive Master Plan which will
 3-7     illuminate for all to understand the national and international
 3-8     significance of Goliad State Park and the Zaragoza Birthplace; and
 3-9           WHEREAS, Memorialized in a lovely plaza in Goliad, the
3-10     spiritual bond between the founders of Texas and Ignacio Zaragoza
3-11     are readily apparent; now, therefore, be it
3-12           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-13     76th Legislature, hereby honor General Ignacio Seguin Zaragoza,
3-14     Cinco de Mayo, and the 250th anniversary of the City of Goliad
3-15     by recognizing the historical significance of the important
3-16     contributions made to the independence of Mexico and Texas; and,
3-17     be it further
3-18           RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution be prepared as an
3-19     expression of the highest esteem and regard of the Texas Senate.
3-20                                                              Armbrister
3-21                                  ______________________________________
3-22                                          President of the Senate
3-23                                       I hereby certify that the above
3-24                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-25                                  on May 3, 1999.
3-26                                  ______________________________________
3-27                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-28                                  ______________________________________
3-29                                           Member, Texas Senate