[Congressional Record Volume 157, Number 140 (Tuesday, September 20, 2011)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1667-E1668]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                  THE ALAMO: THE THERMOPYLAE OF TEXAS

                                 ______
                                 

                              HON. TED POE

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                      Tuesday, September 20, 2011

  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, a plaque on the Alamo wall states: 
``The Alamo: The Thermopylae of Texas.'' The Alamo is a tribute to all 
those that are defiant against any form of tyranny. It is important for 
us to recognize all those that sacrificed for freedom, yesterday, 
today, and tomorrow. Remember who we are and what we stand for. This 
week, we ``Remember the Alamo.''
  One hundred seventy-five years ago, 187 freedom fighters started 
assembling in an old beat-up mission in San Antonio. Juan Seguin and 
his company of Tejanos, rode into the Alamo and readied for battle 
alongside William Barrett Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett. This 
rag-tag group of relentless patriots, made up of men from nearly every 
State in the Union and 13 foreign countries, including Mexico, readied 
for one of the most storied battles in our history.
  Outnumbered by an overwhelming Mexican army, these Texas warriors 
knew that surrender was not an option. Retreat was never on the table. 
Victory or death.
  On February 23, 1836, Santa Ana's army of 1,500 well armed troops 
unleashed on the defenders of the Alamo. During the siege, Travis sent 
out his famous call for reinforcements. Juan Seguin was the last 
messenger to leave, riding though enemy lines carrying the final 
message from the beleaguered mission. Unfortunately, the call for help 
was not answered in time. On March 6, 1836, Travis and 187 volunteers 
sacrificed their lives on the altar of freedom after thirteen glorious 
days at the Alamo.
  It was at his final battle that my favorite Texas war hero, William 
Barrett Travis, penned the most famous letter in Texas history. From 
behind the walls of a besieged rundown mission in San Antonio, Travis 
wrote:

       To the people of Texas and all Americans in the world, 
     fellow citizens and compatriots, I am besieged by a thousand 
     or more of the enemy under Santa Anna. I have sustained a 
     continual bombardment and cannon fire for over 24 hours, but 
     I have not lost a man.
       The enemy has demanded surrender at its discretion. 
     Otherwise, the fort will be put to the sword. I have answered 
     that demand with a cannon shot. And the flag still waves 
     proudly over the north wall.
       I shall never surrender or retreat. I call upon you, in the 
     name of liberty and patriotism and everything dear to the 
     American character, to come to my aid with all dispatch.
       If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain 
     myself for as long as possible, die like a soldier who never 
     forgets what is due his honor and that of his country. 
     Victory or death.

  I could read this over and over. As a child, I was so intrigued by 
this letter. I would always be the first in my class to volunteer to 
play Travis at any given opportunity, if only just to read his words 
aloud. To me, he was the ultimate hero.
  History teaches us everything we need to know, if we just look. This 
letter was written nearly two centuries ago and its message still rings 
true today. It's a story of ``liberty and patriotism and everything 
dear to the American character.'' Freedom is still worth dying for. And 
to do so as a soldier, ``is what is due his honor and that of his 
country.''
  Travis believed these words whole-heartedly. He believed that the 
cause for independence was worth his life. Our freedom fighters today 
understand these words as well, they know that America is worth 
fighting for and that defeat is not an option.
  When I visit our troops over in Iraq and Afghanistan, the Texas boys, 
and gals, are easy to spot. They usually have a Texas flag flying on 
their humvee. (I have even seen one on a tank.) My personal favorite is 
the ``Don't Mess with Texas'' bumper sticker. And when you meet these 
modern-day freegom fighters, you know that no truer words have ever 
been spoken. There's just something about a Texas warrior.
  As we continue to celebrate the 175th anniversary of Texas 
Independence this year, I will take a look back at those that put it 
all on the line for freedom. As much as some things change, the most 
important, thankfully stays the same. A century and half later, that 
same dogged determination that filled that little Spanish Mission is 
what continues to set us apart from all the rest. ``God and Texas.''--
William Barrett Travis.
  And that's just the way it is.

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