Posted on 04/19/2002 5:34:59 AM PDT by rw4site
Those who complain that too little attention is paid to Texas history sometimes have a point. Not so this weekend, as the San Jacinto Museum of History, the Texas Army and others mark the 166th anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto this weekend.
A battle symposium today will include professors and authors James L. Haley and Stephen L. Hardin discussing the controversial role of Gen. Sam Houston. Professor Josefina Zoriada, of El Colegio de Mexico, will discuss "The Enigmatic Lopez de Santa Ana," and Dr. Jesus F. de la Teja, of Southwest Texas State University, will speak on the role of Juan Seguin, who with his Tejano company fought at San Jacinto.
On Saturday, San Jacinto Day will be celebrated with activities at the battleground, including a re-enactment of the decisive battle that took place on April 21, 1836, and won Texas its independence from Mexico.
Information on these events is available online at www.sanjacinto-museum.org. Information about the battle, the causes of the Texas war of independence and the participants is, of course, available in copious supply at any bookstore, school or public library.
The battle, which lasted a mere 18 minutes, culminated the "Runaway Scrape," one of Texans' first significant experiences with "homeland defense." It led to the establishment of the Republic of Texas and set into motion a chain of events that would change the map of the western United States and the world.
An inscription at the base of the Lone Star monument on the battlefield just east of Houston tells much: "Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world. The freedom of Texas from Mexico won here led to annexation and to the Mexican War, resulting in the acquisition by the United 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."
And if that's not enough, the stories of the men and women who participated in the events surrounding the Texas Revolution rival any work of historical literature.
Houstonians too often forget that they reside so close to so much living and important history.
This weekend is a chance to refresh our memories.
"Texas, Our Texas"
Texas, Our Texas! all hail the mighty State!
Texas, Our Texas! so wonderful so great!
Boldest and grandest, withstanding ev'ry test
O Empire wide and glorious, you stand supremely blest.
(chorus)
Texas, O Texas! your freeborn single star,
Sends out its radiance to nations near and far,
Emblem of Freedom! it set our hearts aglow,
With thoughts of San Jacinto and glorious Alamo.
(chorus)
Texas, dear Texas! from tyrant grip now free,
Shines forth in splendor, your star of destiny!
Mother of heroes, we come your children true,
Proclaiming our allegiance, our faith, our love for you.
Chorus
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
God bless you Texas! And keep you brave and strong,
That you may grow in power and worth, throughout the ages long.
I especially loved the battle flag the Texians used in their fight for independence~~
The picture of a cannon with the words, "Come and take it"
I kinda like cannons! LOL!
For the record, the San Jacinto Monument is 36 feet taller than the Washington Monument.
This is for all the people who like to state that the Washington Monument is the Tallest obelisk in the World.
We never claimed that the San Jacinto Monument was the tallest in the world, just taller than the Washington Monument.
...but only after the Republic of Texas had been putting up with open warfare and frequent violations of their borders by Mexico throughout the decade of their existence.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.