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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Gerardo Acevedo Danache played a crucial role in |
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securing the release of Jon Hammar, a U.S. citizen who was detained |
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in a Mexican federal prison; and |
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WHEREAS, Jon Hammar is a 27-year-old native of Eagle Pass and |
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a veteran of the U.S. Marine Corps; in August 2012, he and a friend |
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crossed the U.S.-Mexico border while on a road trip to Costa Rica, |
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during which he planned to hunt using a vintage shotgun that had |
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belonged to his grandfather; although he had declared the weapon to |
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U.S. customs officials and was told that it would not present a |
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problem, he was arrested and charged with possession of an illegal |
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firearm upon entering Mexico, as he had not obtained the necessary |
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permit; and |
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WHEREAS, Mr. Hammar was detained in Matamoros, directly |
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across the border from Brownsville, in one of the country's most |
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notorious prisons; there, he was held in deplorable conditions and |
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became the target of violent threats and extortion attempts by |
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criminal gangs; and |
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WHEREAS, Gerardo Acevedo Danache, a Mexican attorney |
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specializing in international affairs, became aware of Mr. Hammar's |
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dire situation and understood that he needed to act as quickly as |
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possible; using his position as vice president of the Tamaulipas |
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Chamber of Commerce, he organized a massive press conference to |
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bring attention to the case and called on the president of Mexico |
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and the Tamaulipas state governor to intervene on the American |
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prisoner's behalf; he subsequently began an intense media campaign, |
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with the aid of the Brownsville Herald, to put more pressure on |
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authorities; and |
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WHEREAS, The heroic actions of Mr. Acevedo Danache and other |
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media figures resulted in an outpouring of support from both sides |
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of the border; eight days later, Mr. Hammar was released, having |
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been incarcerated for more than four months; and |
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WHEREAS, A longtime advocate for increased cooperation |
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between the United States and Mexico, Mr. Acevedo Danache has been |
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recognized by such authorities as the California Highway Patrol and |
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Governor Bob Miller of Nevada for his efforts to promote |
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international relations; in addition to his involvement in the |
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Matamoros and Tamaulipas chambers of commerce, he has held a number |
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of posts in the Mexican government and has served in Mexican |
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consulates and embassies in the United States and other nations; |
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and |
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WHEREAS, By winning Jon Hammar's freedom, Gerardo Acevedo |
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Danache has shown what can be accomplished through the perseverance |
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of one determined individual, and we, as Texans, are proud to |
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commend the efforts of this hero as we welcome another hero home; |
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now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby honor Gerardo Acevedo Danache for his successful |
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intervention in the safe return of a U.S. Marine and extend to Mr. |
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Acevedo Danache the sincere appreciation of a grateful citizenry; |
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and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for Gerardo Acevedo Danache as an expression of high |
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regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |