[Congressional Record Volume 155, Number 40 (Friday, March 6, 2009)]
[House]
[Page H3067]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                              {time}  1215
                          JAMES BUTLER BONHAM

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Madam Speaker, today, March 6, is an important day 
in not only Texas's history but American history because this is the 
day that the Alamo fell with 187 volunteers from all States in the 
United States and numerous foreign countries. Even though all of the 
defenders of the Alamo were killed, ten times that number was killed on 
the enemy side, the invading Mexican army.
  March 2, earlier this week, was the day that Texas declared 
independence from Mexico. And during that final successful battle at 
San Jacinto, Texas gained independence and was a free and independent 
nation for over 9 years.
  There are many Texas heroes, remembering, of course, they came from 
all over the world, at the Alamo. We've heard about William Barret 
Travis, the commander; Davy Crockett; Jim Bowie. We later hear about 
Sam Houston at the battle of San Jacinto.
  But we often don't remember a person by the name of James Butler 
Bonham. A 29-year-old, he was from the University of South Carolina, 
grew up in Red Bank, South Carolina. He was a boyhood friend of William 
Barret Travis. And it was his job, along with Juan Seguin, to try to 
seek out reinforcements to the Alamo. He would break through enemy 
lines numerous times to try to bring people to come in aid at the 
Alamo. He was successful in bringing 32 men from Gonzales. He breaks 
through the lines his final time, goes to Washington-on-the-Brazos to 
try to get more recruits. They refused to go because they were trying 
to build a government. And when he left that time on March 3, he made 
the report that ``I will report back to my friend William Barret Travis 
or die in the attempt that no one is coming.'' He broke through the 
enemy lines one last time, and 3 days later, he and the other 186 
defenders of the Alamo gave the ultimate sacrifice for freedom.
  Another example in American history of the character and integrity of 
people who have lived before us that believe some things are worth 
fighting for and one of those is freedom, liberty, and independence.
  And that's just the way it is.

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