Bill Text: TX HR960 | 2019-2020 | 86th Legislature | Enrolled

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Bill Title: Commending U.S. Navy veteran Gary Ferguson of Gainesville for assistance offered to Vietnamese refugees.

Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Republican 1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-04-16 - Reported enrolled [HR960 Detail]

Download: Texas-2019-HR960-Enrolled.html

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H.R. No. 960

R E S O L U T I O N
WHEREAS, Vietnam veteran Gary Ferguson of Gainesville,
Texas, was featured in the PBS television program We'll Meet Again
in February 2018, in recognition of his work with Vietnamese
refugees; and
WHEREAS, A native of Minnesota, Mr. Ferguson enlisted in the
navy after graduating from high school, and he went on to serve in
Vietnam; and
WHEREAS, In 1979, Mr. Ferguson felt compelled to help those
Vietnamese who had fled the chaos following the end of the war and
were living as refugees; embarking on a personal mission, he
attempted to rescue a number of people stranded on the Indonesian
island of Buton and take them by boat to Singapore, but he and the
others were turned back; he was later arrested by the Indonesian
authorities for this effort; and
WHEREAS, After his release, Mr. Ferguson was joined by his
wife, Sandra, and their daughters, Kimberly and Kelly, and he
continued his refugee work in Cambodia; in 1980, he and his family
returned to the United States; he became the father of a third
daughter, Kristina, and he now lives near his daughter Kelly in
Gainesville; and
WHEREAS, In the episode of We'll Meet Again entitled "Lost
Children of Vietnam," Mr. Ferguson is reunited with one of the
former refugees from Pulau Buton, Nam Nguyen; now a resident of the
United States, Mr. Nguyen has never forgotten Mr. Ferguson's
kindness; and
WHEREAS, During the difficult years after the Vietnam War,
Gary Ferguson made a remarkable attempt to help those Vietnamese
who found themselves in desperate circumstances, and his efforts
are a testament to his courage, initiative, and compassion; now,
therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 86th Texas
Legislature hereby commend Gary Ferguson for the assistance he
offered Vietnamese refugees and extend to him sincere best wishes
for the future; and, be it further
RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be
prepared for Mr. Ferguson as an expression of high regard by the
Texas House of Representatives.
Springer
______________________________
Speaker of the House
I certify that H.R. No. 960 was adopted by the House on April
12, 2019, by a non-record vote.
______________________________
Chief Clerk of the House