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CONCURRENT RESOLUTION
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WHEREAS, The Purple Heart is a combat decoration awarded to |
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members of the United States armed forces who are wounded by an |
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instrument of war in the hands of the enemy or presented to the next |
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of kin in the name of those who are killed in action or die of wounds |
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received in action; and |
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WHEREAS, In 1932, the Military Order of the Purple Heart was |
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established to protect and further the interests of Purple Heart |
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recipients; its membership remains composed entirely of Purple |
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Heart recipients; and |
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WHEREAS, Texas is home to 1.5 million veterans, representing |
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5 percent of the nation's total veteran population; the state has 29 |
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Purple Heart cities, 4 Purple Heart counties, and 9 Purple Heart |
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universities, which have all committed to recognizing veterans and |
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honoring their commitments to veterans services; in addition, Texas |
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is home to Henry T. Waskow New Tech High School in Belton, the first |
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high school in the nation to earn a Purple Heart School designation, |
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and to Purple Heart Elementary School in El Paso; and |
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WHEREAS, Numerous Texas agencies provide services to benefit |
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former members of the military, including the Texas Veterans |
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Commission, Texas Veterans Land Board, Office of the Adjutant |
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General, Texas Health and Human Services Commission, State Bar of |
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Texas, Department of State Health Services, Department of Assistive |
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and Rehabilitative Services, Texas Workforce Commission, Texas |
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Workforce Investment Council, Texas Higher Education Coordinating |
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Board, Texas Correctional Office on Offenders with Medical or |
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Mental Impairments, Texas Commission on Jail Standards, Texas |
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Department of Housing and Community Affairs, and Texas Department |
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of Agriculture; and |
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WHEREAS, The State of Texas is dedicated to improving the |
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lives of its veterans with the highest standard of services, and it |
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acknowledges the enormous sacrifices made by recipients of the |
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Purple Heart; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the 85th Legislature of the State of Texas |
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hereby recognize Texas as a Purple Heart State; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That the Texas Legislature encourage agencies and |
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government bodies at all levels to serve veterans with the same |
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degree of devotion demonstrated by members of the armed forces in |
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their service to our state and nation. |