[Congressional Record Volume 154, Number 64 (Tuesday, April 22, 2008)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E682-E683]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                   JUAN SEGUIN--TEXAS FREEDOM FIGHTER

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Tuesday, April 22, 2008

  Mr. POE. Madam Speaker, as Texans we are proud of our fight for 
independence. We often celebrate the courage and sacrifice made by the 
Alamo defenders. We boast of the cunning and valor displayed by the 
victorious troops at the Battle of San Jacinto. When celebrating these 
two historic events, I would be remiss not to mention the vital role 
that Juan Seguin played in both of those battles.
  Juan Seguin was born in 1806 at San Antonio, in what was then Mexico. 
He soon grew

[[Page E683]]

tired of President Santa Anna's policies and in 1835, he responded to a 
call for support by raising a company of Tejanos, Texans of Hispanic 
descent, to aid in the revolution. In October of 1835, following a 
battle in Bexar, Stephen F. Austin granted a captain's commission to 
Seguin.
  Seguin's company would soon arrive at the Alamo with other 
Revolutionary heroes such as, Jim Bowie, Davy Crockett, and William 
Barrett Travis, who were taking shelter as General Santa Anna's army 
was advancing on San Antonio.
  As the Alamo came under constant bombardment, Colonel Travis sent out 
messengers to get help. The last messenger sent out was Juan Seguin on 
a mission to seek reinforcements from Colonel James Fannin to send 
troops from nearby Goliad to help the defenders at the Alamo. After his 
failed attempts to persuade Fannin, he journeyed to the ranches along 
the Guadalupe and San Antonio Rivers to recruit more Tejanos.
  His company then met up with General Sam Houston at the town of 
Gonzales. There, the tragic news that the Alamo had fallen was 
delivered. A decision was made to burn the town of Gonzales in order to 
deny shelter to Santa Anna's troops.
  As General Houston's armies retreated, he gave Seguin's company the 
task of riding into the frontier and warning the settlers of the coming 
danger. Because of this great service to the Texas Revolution, he has 
been dubbed ``The Paul Revere of Texas.''
  Later, Seguin commanded the only Tejano unit to fight in the Battle 
of San Jacinto. None of the Texians at San Jacinto wore uniforms on the 
battlefield. In order to distinguish themselves from the Mexican 
soldiers, only Mexican officers wore uniforms, Seguin's Tejanos wore 
playing cards in their hats to avoid friendly fire. After the battle, 
Seguin personally accepted the surrender of a number of Mexican 
officers. After his company's valiant effort in the battle, Seguin was 
promoted to Lt. Colonel. Texas liberty would not be secure without the 
help of the native Tejanos in this and other battles during the fight 
for Texas independence.
  Each year, approximately 220,000 people visit the World's tallest war 
memorial, The San Jacinto Monument. The monument, which stands 15 feet 
taller then the Washington Monument, has two roads leading to the park. 
In honor of the contributions made by Seguin and his Tejanos one of 
those roads is named Juan Seguin Boulevard.
  One of the oldest towns in Texas, Seguin was originally founded in 
1838 near the Guadalupe River. In 1853, it was incorporated and named 
Walnut Springs. Six months later the name was permanently changed to 
Seguin. Today, the city nicknamed the ``Pecan Capital of Texas'' is 
home to the Texas Lutheran University. In October of 2000, the city of 
Seguin unveiled a 17-foot statue of its namesake in the town square. 
The statue depicts this Texas hero valiantly leading the charge atop a 
horse with his saber in hand. As I stand here one day after we 
celebrated the historic battle of San Jacinto that gave Texas its 
independence, I want to acknowledge this Texas legend that played such 
an instrumental role in the victory.
  And that's just the way it is.

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