May We Always Remember

 One of the commanders was an alleged swindler and fraud. The other had abandoned his family and had left behind a pile of unpaid debts. And yet another was a politician who had been voted out of office for taking an unpopular stand against a very popular president and had also left his family behind. Sounds like some of our present day leaders don't it? But the men I'm describing are James(Jim) Bowie, William Travis, and David(Davy) Crockett.

The troops  they led were men who had left their homes wives and families to take a stand for freedom and were willing to fight and even die for what they believed in. They weren't professional soldiers or even a well trained militia. They were men who had  heard the siren call of freedom and had taken up their rifles and possibles bags and had stepped across a line in the sand. Most weren't even natives but men who had left a life, be it good or bad, to come to a country where a man was only limited by himself.  Nearly every state in the in the US was represented. Some weren't even Americans. They came from countries such as England, Ireland, Germany, and Mexico. They had names such as Garza,Bourne,Blazeby, Hawkins, Lightfoot...... They were for the most part farmers while some had a profession, But for the most part, they were all strong men in a tough country.

 They never lost their faith and hope, either in themselves or the ideal they were fighting for in a broken down, crumbling, abandoned mission just on the outskirts of San Antonio de Bexar.  Numerous dispatches had gone seeking reinforcements but only a few had responded. Once resigned to their fate, these men exacted a high price for their lives. They fought gallantly against overwhelming odds, opposed by a well trained, determined force. The final battle of the thirteen day siege was over quickly and all the defenders had either been killed in battle or executed after being captured.

 We have honored these fallen heroes by naming counties and cities after them so their names will forever be remembered in our great state. Let us ask God to grant them eternal peace and Salvation.

Let us also remember them by standing tall and stepping across a new line in the sand to stand united against another oppressive leader who wants to strip us of our God-given rights and freedom. The battle won't be won with bullets and cannon shot, but at the ballot box. But, the battle will be just as fierce. And, as we all know from history, Freedom isn't free!

One final note here; the commander of the Texas Army that defeated Santa Anna was  a man known to have frequently tipped a jug or two. He had also resigned under a cloud of rumors and disgrace as Governor of the  State of Tennessee after his wife left him. His name? Sam Houston.

Remember The Alamo!!

God Bless Texas!