On February 24, 1836, in San Antonio, Texas, Colonel William Travis issues a call for help on behalf of the Texan troops defending the Alamo, an old Spanish mission and fortress under siege by the Mexican army.

A native of Alabama, Travis moved to the Mexican state of Texas in 1831. He soon became a leader of the growing movement to overthrow the Mexican government and establish an independent Texan republic. When the Texas revolution began in 1835, Travis became a lieutenant-colonel in the revolutionary army and was given command of troops in the recently captured city of San Antonio de Bexar (now San Antonio). On February 23, 1836, a large Mexican force commanded by General Antonio Lopez de Santa Ana arrived suddenly in San Antonio. Travis and his troops took shelter in the Alamo, where they were soon joined by a volunteer force led by Colonel James Bowie.

Though Santa Ana’s 5,000 troops heavily outnumbered the several hundred Texans, Travis and his men determined not to give up. On February 24, they answered Santa Ana’s call for surrender with a bold shot from the Alamo’s cannon. Furious, the Mexican general ordered his forces to launch a siege. Travis immediately recognized his disadvantage and sent out several messages via couriers asking for reinforcements. Addressing one of the pleas to “The People of Texas and All Americans in the World,” Travis signed off with the now-famous phrase “Victory or Death.”

Only 32 men from the nearby town of Gonzales responded to Travis’ call for help, and beginning at 5:30 a.m. on March 6, Mexican forces stormed the Alamo through a gap in the fort’s outer wall, killing Travis, Bowie, Davy Crockett and 190 of their men. Despite the loss of the fort, the Texan troops managed to inflict huge losses on their enemy, killing at least 600 of Santa Ana’s men.

The defense of the Alamo became a powerful symbol for the Texas revolution, helping the rebels turn the tide in their favor. At the crucial Battle of San Jacinto on April 21, 910 Texan soldiers commanded by Sam Houston defeated Santa Ana’s army of 1,250 men, spurred on by cries of “Remember the Alamo!” The next day, after Texan forces captured Santa Ana himself, the general issued orders for all Mexican troops to pull back behind the Rio Grande River. On May 14, 1836, Texas officially became an independent republic. Texas joined the Union in 1845. 

 

Dear Fellow Rotarians,

After a few days in sunny Arizona, I am back and refreshed. A big Thank you to Claire for filling in for me.

I know she did awesome.

It’s amazing what some time in the sun will do. Tooling around in Tortilla Flat and up in Cave Creek is great for the soul.

I see “snow birding” in my not-too-distant future.

 

Speaking of being away from Rotary……In a few weeks it will mark one year that our Rotary meeting halted.

While Claire did a fantastic job keeping us connected with video on Facebook, we returned to meetings in early June.

For a variety reasons regarding safe social distancing, some Rotarians chose not to return. I’ve run into some members in passing and they’ve expressed the desire to return.

Some are waiting to finish rounds of the vaccines and some are waiting as they need to be safe for work. Some have told me they just got out of the habit.

This last category of member is concerning. If you’ve gotten out of the habit, Let’s start a new habit. Just like Church, the fitness club or whatever.

We want to see you. We are meeting and doing it safely. We’ve been averaging about 30 at a meeting. We have room for many more to attend each week.

Before long, the Commissar’s City of Racine edict will allow even more. Please come see your fellow Rotarian as we have some fun doing good in the community.

Also, members that have been attending, reach out to someone you haven’t seen at the meetings.

See you Friday

Ponch