Happy Texas Independence Day!

As everyone knows, things are bigger in Texas. History lessons are bigger, too. 174 years ago today the citizens of Mexican Texas declared their independence from Mexico and her promise-breaking President Antonio López de Santa Anna. The Texans were tired of interference from a distant capital, and wanted to be left alone to manage their own affairs.

The Republic of Texas (1836 to 1845) was born in battle, like the less important American and French Revolutions. Unlike those wars, and in keeping with the theme of Texas pride, we staged the most poignant battle in human history: The Battle of the Alamo. Those brave 182 men could have easily escaped the Mexican Army, but chose to stay and die in the citadel so that other Texans could be free to live as they saw fit. After the massacre was known, Texan patriots rallied. Soon the battle cry of “Remember the Alamo!” was shouted in victory a few miles from my house at the Battle of San Jacinto.

As we all reflect upon the important contributions of our nation's only well-run large state, it is important that we not lose focus on some important lessons. Hatred for a distant despotism, love of faith and sacrifice, and an entrepreneurial spirit energized great men like Sam Houston, Mirabeau Lamar, and Stephen F. Austin. Much has changed, but what has not changed is the debt we owe to the men and women who fought to make us free.

This song gives me goosebumps:

Let the old men tell the story
Let the legend grow and grow
Of the thirteen days of glory
At the siege of Alamo.

Lift the tattered banners proudly
While the eyes of Texas shine
Let the fort that was a mission
Be an everlasting shrine.

That they died to give us freedom
That is all we need to know
Of the thirteen days of glory
At the siege of Alamo.

“Commandancy of the Alamo
Bexar, Feby. 24th, 1836

To the People of Texas & all Americans in the World—Fellow Citizens and Compatriots—

I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna—I have sustained a continual Bombardment & cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man—The enemy has demeaned a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken—I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls—I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all despatch—The enemy is receving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country—Victory or Death.”

—William Barret Travis Lt. Col. comdt.

**Can you imagine President O’Booger sacrificing himself for our country the way Travis and the others did for Texas? No.

“The Ballad of the Alamo” (Marty Robbins)

In the southern part of Texas, in the town of San Antone,
There’s a fortress all in ruin that the weeds have overgrown.
You may look in vain for crosses and you’ll never see a one,
But sometime between the setting and the rising of the sun,
You can hear a ghostly bugle as the men go marching by;
You can hear them as they answer to that roll call in the sky:
Colonel Travis, Davy Crockett and a hundred eighty more;
Captain Dickenson, Jim Bowie, present and accounted for.

Back in 1836, Houston said to Travis:
“Get some volunteers and go fortify the Alamo.”
Well, the men came from Texas and from old Tennessee,
And they joined up with Travis just to fight for the right to be free.

Indian scouts with squirrel guns, men with muzzle loaders,
Stood together heel and toe to defend the Alamo.
“You may never see your loved ones,” Travis told them that day.
“Those that want to can leave now, those who’ll fight to the death, let ‘em stay.”

In the sand he drew a line with his army sabre,
Out of a hundred eighty-five, not a soldier crossed the line.
With his banners a-dancin’ in the dawn’s golden light,
Santa Anna came prancin’ on a horse that was black as the night.

He sent an officer to tell Travis to surrender.
Travis answered with a shell and a rousin’ rebel yell.
Santa Anna turned scarlet: “Play Deguello,” he roared.
“I will show them no quarter, everyone will be put to the sword.”

One hundred and eighty five holdin’ back five thousand.
Five days, six days, eight days, ten; Travis held and held again.
Then he sent for replacements for his wounded and lame,
But the troops that were comin’ never came, never came, never came.

Twice he charged, then blew recall. On the fatal third time,
Santa Anna breached the wall and he killed them one and all.
Now the bugles are silent and there’s rust on each sword,
And the small band of soldiers lie asleep in the arms of The Lord.

In the southern part of Texas, near the town of San Antone,
Like a statue on his Pinto rides a cowboy all alone.
And he sees the cattle grazin’ where a century before,
Santa Anna’s guns were blazin’ and the cannons used to roar.
And his eyes turn sort of misty, and his heart begins to glow,
And he takes his hat off slowly to the men of Alamo.
To the thirteen days of glory at the siege of Alamo.

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