[Congressional Record (Bound Edition), Volume 162 (2016), Part 4]
[House]
[Page 4907]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office, www.gpo.gov]




                            SAN JACINTO DAY

  (Mr. POE of Texas asked and was given permission to address the House 
for 1 minute.)
  Mr. POE of Texas. Mr. Speaker, in the marshy plains where the San 
Jacinto River meets Buffalo Bayou, now near Houston, General Sam 
Houston and his volunteer Army of Texians--men from most States and 
several countries, including Mexico, England, and Germany--faced the 
invading army under dictator Santa Anna of Mexico. Texas was fighting 
for independence from Mexico because Mexico had abolished its democracy 
and became an oppressive dictatorship.
  It was the afternoon of April 21, 1836--180 years ago today. The 
Texian volunteers, although outnumbered 2-1, caught the enemy literally 
by surprise. On that hot afternoon, General Sam, with his Tejano 
Cavalry protecting the flank, charged the invaders with the battle cry: 
Remember the Alamo. Remember Goliad.
  In 18 minutes, the battle was over. Half of the enemy were killed, 
and the other half were captured. On that day, Texas gained freedom and 
independence.
  Sam Houston became President of the Republic of Texas. Texas was an 
independent country for 9 years and then joined the United States.
  Mr. Speaker, our past has allowed us to have today's freedom. We 
thank those Texian freedom fighters, on April 21, 1836, San Jacinto 
Day, for their bold sacrifices, for choosing freedom over tyranny and 
creating Texas.
  And that is just the way it is.

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