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AN ACT
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relating to the pledge of allegiance to the state flag during a |
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state flag retirement ceremony. |
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BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF TEXAS: |
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SECTION 1. Subsection (d), Section 3100.152, Government |
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Code, is amended to read as follows: |
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(d) The official retirement ceremony for the state flag |
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encouraged for public use is: |
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I am your Texas flag! |
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I was born January 25, 1839. |
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I am one of only two flags of an American state that has also |
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served as the symbol of an independent nation--The Republic |
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of Texas. |
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While you may honor me in retirement, the spirit I represent |
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will never retire! |
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I represent the spirit of Texas--Yesterday, Today, and |
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Tomorrow! |
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I represent the bravery of the Alamo and the Victory at San |
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Jacinto. |
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My spirit rode with the Texas Rangers over the Forts Trail of |
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the Big Country and herded cattle through the Fort Worth |
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stockyards. I have sailed up Galveston Bay and kept a |
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watchful eye over our El Paso del Norte. |
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My colors are in the waters of the Red River and in the |
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Bluebonnets of the Texas Hill Country. |
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You'll find my spirit at the Light House of Palo Duro and in |
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the sands of Padre Island; |
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I am in the space station at Houston and atop the oil wells of |
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West Texas. |
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From the expanse of the Big Bend to the Riverwalk of San |
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Antone--all of Texas is my home! |
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I wave over the cotton and grain fields of the High Plains, |
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and I am deep in the rich soil of the Rio Grande Valley. |
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I am proudly displayed under the Capitol Dome, and I fly high |
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above the concrete canyons of downtown Dallas. |
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You'll find my spirit in the East Texas piney woods and along |
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the Grandeur of the Rio Grande. |
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I represent Texas--every Child, Woman, and Man! |
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The blue field in me stands for the valor of our ancestors in |
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the battles for our country. |
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Let us retire the blue--Salute! |
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My white field stands for the purity in all our Texas hearts! |
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It represents the honor that each of us should pay to our |
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state each day. |
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Let us retire the white--Salute! |
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The red is for all of the men and women who have died in |
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service of our state--whether as members of the armed |
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services or as citizen Samaritans. |
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Let us retire the red--Salute! |
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My lone, independent star is recognized worldwide because it |
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represents ALL of Texas and stands for our unity as one for |
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God, State, and Country. |
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Let us retire the lone star--Salute! |
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Join in the pledge to the Texas flag: |
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"Honor the Texas flag; I pledge allegiance to thee, Texas, |
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one state under God, one and indivisible." |
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SECTION 2. This Act takes effect immediately if it receives |
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a vote of two-thirds of all the members elected to each house, as |
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provided by Section 39, Article III, Texas Constitution. If this |
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Act does not receive the vote necessary for immediate effect, this |
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Act takes effect September 1, 2011. |
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______________________________ |
______________________________ |
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President of the Senate |
Speaker of the House |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 258 passed the Senate on |
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April 7, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 31, Nays 0. |
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______________________________ |
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Secretary of the Senate |
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I hereby certify that S.B. No. 258 passed the House on |
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May 20, 2011, by the following vote: Yeas 149, Nays 0, one |
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present not voting. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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Approved: |
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______________________________ |
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Date |
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______________________________ |
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Governor |