1-1                                     1
 1-2                          SENATE RESOLUTION NO. 526
 1-3           WHEREAS, April is the month in which the Confederate States
 1-4     of America began and ended a four-year struggle for states' rights,
 1-5     individual freedom, and local government control; and
 1-6           WHEREAS, The State of Texas declared herself to be a free
 1-7     and independent state and subsequently joined the Confederate
 1-8     States of America of which it was a member state from 1861 until
 1-9     1865; and
1-10           WHEREAS, The battlefields, monuments, museums, and other
1-11     historical sites to be found in Texas allow our citizens and
1-12     visitors to remember, study, and appreciate the men and women
1-13     of that unique time in the history of Texas and the nation; and
1-14           WHEREAS, The flag of the State of Texas was carried by Texas
1-15     Confederate soldiers in every major battle of the War Between the
1-16     States and the state contributed over 115,000 soldiers and sailors
1-17     to the service of the Confederate States of America; and
1-18           WHEREAS, During the period of reconciliation, Texas
1-19     Confederate veterans became instrumental in the continued
1-20     development of our state and local governments and our
1-21     institutions of higher learning; and
1-22           WHEREAS, We honor our past and draw from it the courage,
1-23     strength, and wisdom to go forward into the future together as
1-24     Texans and Americans; and
 2-1           WHEREAS, The State of Texas has long recognized her
 2-2     Confederate history and the leaders who made sacrifices on
 2-3     behalf of the Confederate cause; and
 2-4           WHEREAS, The Texans who served in the War Between the States
 2-5     are memorialized in almost every county in the state, and many
 2-6     cities and counties in the State of Texas bear the name of
 2-7     Confederate veterans; and
 2-8           WHEREAS, It is important for all Texans to reflect upon our
 2-9     state's past and to respect the devotion of her Confederate leaders,
2-10     soldiers, and citizens to the cause of Southern liberty; and
2-11           WHEREAS, In years since the war, the morally abhorrent
2-12     practice of slavery has in the minds of many Texans become the
2-13     prime motivation of Southern soldiers, despite the fact that 98
2-14     percent of Texas Confederate soldiers never owned a slave and never
2-15     fought to defend slavery; and
2-16           WHEREAS, Politically correct revisionists would have Texas
2-17     children believe that their Confederate ancestors fought for
2-18     slavery when in fact most Texans joined the Confederate armed
2-19     forces to defend their homes, their families, and their proud
2-20     heritage as Texans; and
2-21           WHEREAS, Confederate Memorial Day in April is a time for all
2-22     Texans to honor those men and women who died for Texas, and also
2-23     all the Texans who came afterward and benefitted from their legacy
2-24     of honor and devotion to our state; now, therefore, be it
2-25           RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
2-26     76th Legislature, hereby recognize April as Confederate History
 3-1     and Heritage Month in the State of Texas and encourage all Texas
 3-2     schools and citizens to join in efforts to become more knowledgeable
 3-3     of the role of the Confederate States of America in the history of
 3-4     our country.
 3-5                                                                 Jackson
 3-6                                  ______________________________________
 3-7                                          President of the Senate
 3-8                                       I hereby certify that the above
 3-9                                  Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-10                                  on March 30, 1999.
3-11                                  ______________________________________
3-12                                          Secretary of the Senate
3-13                                  ______________________________________
3-14                                           Member, Texas Senate