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<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">My Dear Faculty Members,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I welcome this occasion to communicate directly with you to express my sincere appreciation for your commitment to our university and for your dedication to our students and
to the fulfillment of our institutional mission.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">I also want to appraise you of a very special day of immense historical significance for Texas A&M University – Commerce. That day is Wednesday, October 14, 2015. It is
the date of the unveiling of a historical marker, just a couple of blocks from our campus, to commemorate the heroic accomplishments, during World War II, of Major General Claire L. Chennault –who was born here in the city of Commerce back on September of
1893. In 1937 he was asked by General Chaing Kai – Shek to assist China in the development of an Air Force to combat the threatening air raids by Japan. Major General Chennault became the organizer and commander of the famous “Flying Tigers” in World War
II. Four years later he was authorized by the United States to construct a corps of U.S. airmen to help train the Chinese—that’s how the “Flying Tigers” were born.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">On Wednesday, October 14, at 10:00 AM a commemorative marker will be unveiled at 1509 Monroe Street here in Commerce, TX. Via this message I am asking each of you to consider
joining local and Chinese dignitaries and to consider bringing your classes, if appropriate, to this ceremony as well. I understand that there may be shuttle transportation available, if so, look for announcements on it later but, you have my permission to
walk!<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Thank you kindly for your consideration, I look forward to seeing many of you there.<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">With my sincere personal regards,<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif""><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><span style="font-size:10.0pt;font-family:"Arial","sans-serif"">Adolfo<o:p></o:p></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0070C0">Adolfo Benavides<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0070C0">Provost and Vice President of Academic Affairs<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0070C0">McDowell Administration Bldg Room 280<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><i><span style="color:#0070C0">P. O. Box 3011 - Commerce, TX 75429<o:p></o:p></span></i></p>
<p class="MsoNormal"><o:p> </o:p></p>
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