Will Texans celebrate?
Usually this date passes by with little, if any notice.
Jane and I almost always celebrated Texas Independence Day when living overseas. We invited guests from a variety of states and countries. The usual question was 'What are you celebrating?' 'Did Texas really leave the Union?'
We found that many people thought we had made the whole thing up. We always had to include a history lesson in the celebration.
I wonder how many Texans ever realize the great sacrifice made in 1836 to set us free from Mexico.
We have a good friend who thinks we should actually celebrate on April 21. Do you know what happened on that day?
Feb 23 - Santa Anna and his troops arrived in San Antonio and quickly retook the town with little or no reistance. He then surrounded the Alamo.
Feb 24 - William B Travis sent a letter of appeal for help.
To the People of Texas & All Americans in the world.
I am besieged by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment & connonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man.
I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism, & of everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and 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 and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country.
Victory or Death
William Barret Travis
The Alamo fell on March 6, four days after Texas Independence was proclaimed.
