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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Ever since his own military service in the 1960s, |
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musician and music teacher Ram Chavez of Corpus Christi has |
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dedicated countless hours to honoring and supporting his fellow |
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veterans; and |
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WHEREAS, After graduating from Miller High School in 1964, |
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Mr. Chavez performed with his Tejano and pop band, Ram and the |
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Impalas, before answering his nation's call to duty during the |
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Vietnam War and joining the U.S. Army; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Chavez served as a combat medic with Company D, |
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12th Regiment, 4th Battalion, 199th Light Infantry Brigade, and he |
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often risked his life while tending to his wounded comrades; for his |
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courage under fire, he earned the Silver Star and the Bronze Star |
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with Valor; and |
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WHEREAS, Following his return to Texas and civilian life, |
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Mr. Chavez embarked on a four-decade career as a music teacher and |
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band director; in 1986, seeing the need for live music at events |
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honoring veterans, he founded the Veterans Band of Corpus Christi; |
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made up of veterans of every branch of the armed forces, the group |
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includes postal workers, businesspeople, medical personnel, |
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refinery workers, school employees, and retirees; and |
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WHEREAS, This inspiring ensemble has performed at a variety |
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of events in Corpus Christi and for hundreds of ceremonies honoring |
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veterans, including the 1994 Veterans Day program in Washington, |
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D.C., when it appeared before 100,000 veterans at the Vietnam |
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Veterans Memorial; the band has also played for three presidents |
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and two Texas governors, including Governor Ann Richards on the |
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occasion of her inauguration; and |
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WHEREAS, In addition to his work with the band, Mr. Chavez |
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has devoted much effort to archiving information about veterans, |
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filling a binder with lists of those who have made the ultimate |
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sacrifice for their country and providing more than 160 photos of |
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South Texas service members killed in action to the permanent |
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archive of the Education Center at the Wall in Washington, D.C.; and |
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WHEREAS, Americans owe a profound debt of gratitude to those |
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who serve our nation, and Ram Chavez's gift of music and remembrance |
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to our men and women in uniform, past and present, is truly |
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deserving of special recognition; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Ram Chavez for his efforts in behalf of |
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veterans and extend to him sincere best wishes for continued |
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success with his important work; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Mr. Chavez as an expression of high regard by the Texas |
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House of Representatives. |