Posted on 03/06/2007 7:44:05 AM PST by WestTexasWend
PEOPLE WHO HAVE grown up with freedom and enjoyed it all of their lives may have a difficult time understanding the driving, passionate desire for liberty in the hearts of people who do not have it. One need look no further than the Alamo, which fell to Santa Anna's army on this date in 1836, for a vivid example of such passion.
The 189 defenders of the Alamo are legendary - not just in Texas but around the world - for their valor and heroism in the face of overwhelming odds. But underlying that death-defying courage was a love of freedom. It was what drove them.
Their sacrifice was instrumental in bringing the precious commodity of freedom to the residents of Texas in 1836 and to all the people who have lived in the Republic of Texas and the Lone Star State in the 171 years since the Alamo.
The 13-day siege of the Alamo has significance far beyond the mere drama of a heroic last stand. It was crucial to the independence of Texas in several ways.
Because the siege occupied Santa Anna and his army, the Alamo defenders provided the 59 delegates of the Convention of 1836 with the time to assemble and to draft and adopt the Declaration of Independence that marked the birth of Texas.
And the battle of the Alamo reduced the size of Santa Anna's army by about 600 troops. Sam Houston's army was badly outnumbered in the Battle of San Jacinto 46 days later - 783 men to an estimated 1,500 in the Mexican army - but it would have been far worse and perhaps insurmountable without the Alamo.
Finally, the Alamo and Santa Anna's massacre at Goliad on March 27, 1836, emotionally incited the Texas fighters, who shouted "Remember the Alamo" and "Remember Goliad" at San Jacinto.
While Texas Independence Day on March 2 and San Jacinto Day on April 21 are holidays of celebration, Alamo Day is one of somber remembrance and respect for the men who gave their lives for the freedom of Texas.
The 189 heroes of the Alamo would never return home and would never savor the freedom they helped win, but they forever changed the future of Texas. May they always be remembered.
Audie Murphy.
It seems silly to have an athlete included in this elite group of historical figures, but Campbell was quite a mythical figure who had the unusual distinction of excelling at all levels of football right in Texas -- from his days at Tyler High School to a storied career at the University of Texas (including winning the Heisman Trophy in 1977) to his All-Pro days with the Houston Oilers.
Sí señor, entiendo. Usted piensa que el Presidente es culpable de Traición.
"Remember The Alamo! Remember Goliad!"
Damn - I'm proud to be a Texan.
Oh, I dont know. I like the Menger Hotel.
From the monument--
Measured by its results, (the battle of Ed) San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas (not part of the United States at the time) from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican-American War, resulting in the acquisition by the United States of the states of Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, Nevada, California, Utah and parts of Colorado, Wyoming, Kansas and Oklahoma. Almost one-third of the present area of the American Nation, nearly a million square miles of territory, changed sovereignty."
William Travis
A lot of us think of professional athletics as a desirable career because of the money involved, but here he was telling the interviewer that the best thing all that money did was give his kids the opportunity to get educated so they could earn a living without beating the crap out of themselves.
His life is a fascinating "rags to riches" American story -- from humble origins, overcoming racial hostility, etc.
Equivalent to a populous state like Caliphornia. Its like a large state was added to the union.
IIRC, the Texas state capital is the tallest capital building of any in the US (including the Fed).
Tom Landry?
Brujo got this one right -- it's Earl Campbell, who played high school football in Tyler, college football at the University of Texas, and played most of his professional career for the Houston Oilers.
That's an excellent guess, but see #35.
Ditto to your comments. Texas may fall without a shot, just absorbed back into Mexico.
Right....the TX capital is about 20ft taller (but the US capital has more square footage).
And the Bush family may either become Mexican citizens or just move back to Kennybunkport.
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