San Jacinto Day

162 year ago today, a bunch of Texians met a MUCH larger bunch of Mexicans on a patch of land between what is now Houston and Texas City. If ya'll want to read a really fine description of the battle and the circumstances leading up to it, I refer you to a historian I just adore!

Today there's a monolith close to that site. It's modeled after the Washington monument, 'cept this Texas memorial is taller on account of the Lone Star crownin' it.

In the School District I attended from 5th through 12th grade we got two holidays per year that other students in Texas missed. We were given a day off in February to attend the opening of the Houston Fat Stock Show. When April 21 came, we got that day off in honor of The Battle that actually won Texas' Independence. [personally I think we should have gotten March 2, 6 and 27 off, too: for TX Independence Declaration Day; Alamo Day; and Goliad Day, respectively. But that's just 5 generations of Native Texan blood talkin']

Later, in May, we'd take a field trip out to the Battleground. If you ever can't decide where to go on vacation, and you have an interest in Texas history, may I suggest you visit the San Jacinto Battleground. Read T.R. Fehrenbach's Texas, before you go. Take notes, or take the book with you with the pages describing The Battle marked. The Battleground has markers, but having this excellent reference will be helpful when you visit what many Texans consider hallowed ground. It's quite the thrill to stand on the same ground, close your eyes and imagine what it must have been like.

Visit that monolith I mentioned above, too. We call it the San Jacinto Memorial. The names of all our Texas patriots are carved into the base. If you are lucky enough to live in Texas, you may find the name of your county on there, since many of our counties were named after these brave men.

When the Dearly Beloved and I were talking about our S.J. Day posts, I asked him if he was going to do his usual, fact-filled, educational post that ever-body loves. He allowed as to how that was his plan. I figured since I can NEVER compete with his level of expertise in the history arena.. He majored in it, I'm just a proud Daughter of the Texas Revolution [eligible, anyway, I'm not much of a joiner. Besides, Robert Patton showed up a day late for San Jacinto, but he did play a part.] I decided I would take another tact, since I can't compete with his historical knowledge. My idea is to urge y'all to perform a Citizen's Arrest, if you can do so without risk of personal injury, of an Illegal Mexican Immigrant. Actually, my originally words were, "Shoot an Illegal for Texas", but that seemed a bit harsh, even in jest...so I toned it down. See, I CAN so be P.C.!