Texas Designates April as Confederate History Month
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
2-1 Texans and Americans; and
2-2 WHEREAS, The State of Texas has long recognized her
2-3 Confederate history and the leaders who made sacrifices on
2-4 behalf of the Confederate cause; and
2-5 WHEREAS, The Texans who served in the War Between the States
2-6 are memorialized in almost every county in the state, and many
2-7 cities and counties in the State of Texas bear the name of
2-8 Confederate veterans; and
2-9 WHEREAS, It is important for all Texans to reflect upon our
2-10 state's past and to respect the devotion of her Confederate leaders,
2-11 soldiers, and citizens to the cause of Southern liberty; and
2-12 WHEREAS, In years since the war, the morally abhorrent
2-13 practice of slavery has in the minds of many Texans become the
2-14 prime motivation of Southern soldiers, despite the fact that 98
2-15 percent of Texas Confederate soldiers never owned a slave and never
2-16 fought to defend slavery; and
2-17 WHEREAS, Politically correct revisionists would have Texas
2-18 children believe that their Confederate ancestors fought for
2-19 slavery when in fact most Texans joined the Confederate armed
2-20 forces to defend their homes, their families, and their proud
2-21 heritage as Texans; and
2-22 WHEREAS, Confederate Memorial Day in April is a time for all
2-23 Texans to honor those men and women who died for Texas, and also
2-24 all the Texans who came afterward and benefited from their legacy
2-25 of honor and devotion to our state; now, therefore, be it
3-1 RESOLVED, That the Senate of the State of Texas,
3-2 76th Legislature, hereby recognize April as Confederate History
3-3 and Heritage Month in the State of Texas and encourage all Texas
3-4 schools and citizens to join in efforts to become more knowledgeable
3-5 of the role of the Confederate States of America in the history of
3-6 our country.
3-7 Jackson
3-8 ______________________________________
3-9 President of the Senate
3-10 I hereby certify that the above
3-11 Resolution was adopted by the Senate
3-12 on March 30, 1999.
3-13 ______________________________________
3-14 Secretary of the Senate