TITLE: Recognizing May 11, 2023, as World War II Veterans Capitol Day.

SUMMARY: Recognizing May 11, 2023, as World War II Veterans Capitol Day.

FULL TEXT:
WHEREAS, The observance of World War II Veterans Capitol Day on May 11, 2023, provides an opportunity to honor brave members of the Greatest Generation for their selfless service; and WHEREAS, On December 7, 1941, the United States was drawn into the most devastating and consequential conflict in human history; then-Texas Governor Coke R. Stevenson predicted that Texans would rise proudly to the challenge of defending their country, and he was proved correct by the long lines of volunteers waiting eagerly to enlist at recruiting centers around the state; and WHEREAS, Although Texas in that era had but five percent of the nation's population, the state provided seven percent of armed forces personnel; by the end of the war, 750,000 Texans, including 12,000 women, had contributed to victory over enemy forces; the majority of these service members were in the U.S. Army and the Army Air Force, but nearly a quarter served in other branches; over 22,000 Texans made the ultimate sacrifice, a third of this number in the U.S. Navy, Marine Corps., or Coast Guard; Texas A&M University alone produced more officers than both of the extant military academies together; and WHEREAS, Individual Texans fought with great valor in all the theaters of the war, and 33 were awarded the Medal of Honor; one such honoree, Lieutenant Audie L. Murphy of Farmersville, was the most highly decorated American of the Second World War; another honoree, Private First Class Silvestre S. Herrera of El Paso, was injured in a fight that led to the capture of eight enemy soldiers; more than 150 generals and 12 admirals were either natives or residents of Texas, the Supreme Allied Commander in Europe, General Dwight D. Eisenhower, a Denison native who was stationed at Fort Sam Houston when the war began; Admiral Chester W. Nimitz, appointed Commander in Chief, US Pacific Fleet and Commander in Chief, Pacific Ocean Areas following the attack on Pearl Harbor, was born in Fredericksburg and descended from a pioneer Texas German family; other Texans who served with particular distinction include Women's Army Corp. Colonel Oveta Culp Hobby, who also served as a parliamentarian in this chamber, Navy cook Doris "Dorie" Miller of Waco, Marine parachuter Harlan Block, Major General Claire Chennault of Commerce, and Major General James Earl Rudder of Eden, among many others who we honor today; and WHEREAS, According to the National World War II Museum, as of 2022, 8,200 World War II veterans were living in Texas, the fifth-highest number of all states in the U.S.; they represent 0.6 percent of the state's total veteran population of approximately 1,400,000; and WHEREAS, Inspired by a deep sense of patriotism, love for freedom, and opposition to tyranny everywhere, the veterans of World War II answered their nation's call to duty, and it is indeed fitting to express our enduring respect and admiration for their courage and immeasurable fortitude; now, therefore, be it RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 88th Texas Legislature hereby recognize May 11, 2023, as World War II Veterans Capitol Day and encourage all residents of the Lone Star State to learn more about the incomparable contributions of the Greatest Generation. Wilson Phelan Guerra Murr Allen Guillen Neave Criado Allison Harless Noble Anch a Harris of Anderson Oliverson Anderson Harris of Williamson Ordaz Ashby Harrison Orr Bailes Hayes Ortega Bell of Kaufman Hefner Patterson Bell of Montgomery Hernandez Paul Bernal Herrero Perez Bhojani Hinojosa Plesa Bonnen Holland Price Bowers Howard Ramos Bryant Hull Raney Buckley Hunter Raymond Bucy Isaac Reynolds Bumgarner Jetton Rogers Burns Johnson of Dallas Romero, Jr. Burrows A. Johnson of Harris Rose Button J. Johnson of Harris Rosenthal Cain Jones of Dallas Schaefer Campos Jones of Harris Schatzline Canales Kacal Schofield Capriglione King of Hemphill Shaheen Clardy King of Uvalde Sherman, Sr. Cole Kitzman Shine Collier Klick Slawson Cook Kuempel Smith Cortez Lalani Smithee Craddick Lambert Spiller Cunningham Landgraf Stucky Darby Leach Swanson Davis Leo-Wilson Talarico Dean Longoria Tepper DeAyala Lopez of Bexar Thierry Dorazio Lopez of Cameron Thimesch Dutton Lozano Thompson of Brazoria Flores Lujan Thompson of Harris Frank Manuel Tinderholt Frazier Martinez Toth Gamez Martinez Fischer Troxclair Garcia Metcalf Turner Gates Meyer VanDeaver Gerdes Meza Vasut Geren Moody Vo Gervin-Hawkins Morales of Harris Walle Goldman Morales of Maverick Wilson Gonz lez of Dallas Morales Shaw Wu Gonz lez of El Paso Morrison Zwiener Goodwin Mu oz, Jr. Speaker of the House I certify that H.R. No. 1716 was adopted by the House on May 11, 2023, by a non-record vote. Chief Clerk of the House