March is Texas History Month as designated by the Texas Legislature in 2003, and the Joshua D. Brown Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas is encouraging all Texans to fly the Texas flag and promote the celebration of the three Texas Honor Days that fall during the month of March, as they are among the most critical events in the formation of the Texas Republic.
The first event is Texas Independence Day, Flag Day, and the birthday of Sam Houston on March 2, 1836.
In near freezing temperature, 54 delegates from all municipalities in Texas convened in an unfinished building at Washington-on-the-Brazos on March 1 to appoint a committee to draft a declaration of independence from Mexico.
The next day, Chairman George Childress presented the draft to the convention, the Texas Declaration of Independence was adopted unanimously, and the Republic of Texas was formed.
The second event is Alamo Heroes Day, celebrated on March 6, when we remember one of the most inspiring moments in Texas history, where fierce loyalty and determination to the struggle for independence was demonstrated by a small force of Texian soldiers at the Alamo in San Antonio.
For twelve days, 189 brave men led by Colonel William B. Travis, had held the fort against a force of almost 2,000 Mexican soldiers led by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna, but on March 6, 1836, Santa Anna stormed the complex, killing all of the defenders.
The sacrifice of the Texians bought precious time for the Texian army under General Sam Houston to prepare to meet and defeat Santa Anna at San Jacinto.
The third Honor Day in March is Goliad Heroes Day, celebrated on March 27. After the fall of the Alamo, Sant Anna’s army attacked Colonel James W. Fannin and his men in the Battle of Coleto, near Goliad.
The Texians were defeated and Fannin surrendered, the men believing they would be treated honorably as prisoners of war. The prisoners were marched back to La Bahia Presidio at Goliad.
At sunrise on Palm Sunday, 1836, those prisoners who were able to walk were marched out in groups along the Bexar, Copano, and Victoria roads. Less than a mile from the garrison, all were executed at close range. Most were killed instantly, but a few managed to escape.
Back at the garrison, those who were unable to march, including Colonel Fannin, were also executed. In all, 342 brave Texians lost their lives at Goliad on March 27, 1836.
Their remains were burned and left unburied for almost three months, until the bones were gathered and buried in a mass grave with full military honors by General Thomas J. Rusk.
This tragedy provoked even greater fervor in the Texians to defeat Santa Anna and his army, and along with “Remember the Alamo,” the cry of “Remember Goliad” inspired the Texians to victory at San Jacinto a few weeks later.
The March meeting of the Joshua D. Brown Chapter of the DRT will be Monday, March 25th at 10:00am at the First United Methodist Church, 321 Thompson Drive in Kerrville.
The speaker will be Grant Terry, who will be speaking about his fourth great grandfather, Thomas Jefferson Rusk.
Mr. Terry is a 7th generation Texan, and a member of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, and of the Descendents of the Signers of the Texas Declaration of Independence.
He recently retired from the City of Kerrville as Superintendent of the Water Department after 36 years of service. He has two sons, Jeremiah Rusk Terry and Ethan Thomas Terry, and two grandsons.
The public is welcome to attend, and any woman interested in tracing her ancestry back to the days of the Texas Republic will be able to receive assistance in her search.
For more information, contact Registrar Judy McVay at 830-537-3742 or email [email protected]. Betsy Drapela is the Publicity Chair for the Daughters of the Republic of Texas ‘Joshua D Brown Chapter.
