THE ALAMO

On Saturday February 9, we went on a tour of the Alamo, given by John Richardson. He explained about the Alamo , the founders, the people that lived there and how it came about.
It was originally named Mission San Antonio de Valero. For nearly seventy years it was a home to missionaries and their Indian converts. In 1724 they began construction on the mission. Soldiers referred to the old Mission as the Alamo in honor of their home town Alamo de Parras, Coahuila. During Mexico’s ten-year struggle for Independence, it was home to the Revolutionaries and Royalists. The military, Spanish , and Mexican occupied the Alamo until the Texas Revolution.
Most of this I did not know. I never went on a tour of the Alamo, its just always been there. I never thought about how it became. This changes the way I think about the way Tejanos (me) are and about the background of the Alamo and the importance of it. Going on this tour gave me more information, rather then just reading about the Alamo.
In 1835, Ben Milam led Texian and Tejano volunteers against Mexican troops. They forced General Marin Perfecto de Cos to surrender after 5 days. In 1836, the arrival of General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna’s army nearly caught San Antonio by surprise. The Texians and Tejanos prepared to defend the Alamo. They held out for 13 days against Santa Anna’s army. The Commander of the Alamo sent fourth couriers to get help. Around 32 volunteers from Gonzales arrived. Among the Alamo were Jim Bowie, and David Crockett. The final came before day break on March 6, 1836.