The unique and beautiful ecosystem of Southern Texas is one that should be preserved, protected and appreciated. While I agree with the importance of “butterfly highways” that Rick Kelley reported on in March 2021, I believe your newspaper should also cover the current status of their food source: milkweed. As I write this letter, the prostrate milkweed is awaiting an enlisted status under the Endangered Species Act.
As of 2020, there are only 16 known populations of the prostrate milkweed, which are located in Starr and Zapata counties. Moreover, all these populations occur within 9 miles of the Mexican border.
Getting the prostrate milkweed enlisted will ensure federal protections for its known populations as well as designated areas of critical habitats for this species. Protecting this little, largely unknown plant may seem like an unimportant task, but I assure you it is not. This is one of the most understudied varieties of milkweed in the world; and the loss of any species ultimately has effects that no one can predict, particularly to the beloved monarch butterflies. While the public comment period for this proposal has already closed, I will still provide the link to the proposed rule as a source for further relevant information: https://www.regulations.gov/document/FWS-R2-ES-2021-0041-0001 )
Aylish Flahaven
Phoenixville, Penn.
Tejano fighters
long forgotten
Texas history has long forgotten Capt. Juan Seguin and his Tejanos, who served as the rear action guard for the retreating Texas army under the command of Gen. Sam Houston.
After the fall of the Alamo, Houston knew his army was not ready to combat Mexican Gen. Santa Anna’s army, but he was concerned about being attacked from the rear by the elite Mexican cavalry.
Gen. Houston needed to choose the best company of Texas cavalry for this very important task against the finest Mexican cavalrymen, who were Santa Anna’s point of the spear of each attack for his army.
Capt. Jesse Billingsley, mountain man and Indian fighter; Capt. Mosely Baker, leader of the largest company of Texans; or Capt. Henry Karnes, a great scout, all had military experience against the Mexican infantry and all were good choices. However, Houston’s best choice was Capt. Seguin and his Tejano vaqueros, who had ridden horses all their lives, herding cattle and roping wild horses with their lassos on their ranchos.
But Santa Anna’s cavalry had to prove their abilities by performing feats on horseback that no one else could to qualify to be part of the dreaded and feared Mexican cavalry.
Many in the Mexican cavalry wore metal helmets and breastplates, and carried 7-8-foot lances with sharp metal edges and small banners attached. These Mexican cavalrymen looked like Medieval knights, and fought like Medieval knights, even though each carried muskets.
According to Seguin’s memoirs, he was very honored to have his Tejanos chosen as Houston’s rear guard, and they were not going to let Gen. Houston down.
Houston’s deepest fears came true at the river crossing at San Felipe, when advance units of Mexican cavalry surprised the Tejanos. Musket fire was exchanged across the BrazosRiver, but the Tejanos prevented the Mexican cavalry from crossing the river to attack Houston’s retreating army.
Texas historians erroneously list Capt. Baker and his red bandana-wearing Texans as Houston’s rear guard, but the only reason Baker and his men were at San Felipe was to burn down the town so as not to leave any shelter for the advancing Mexican army. Baker was ordered to go to San Felipe when he told Houston that he and his company of Texans would not retreat any further. At San Felipe, Baker’s soldiers assisted Seguin’s Tejanos with musket fire against the Mexican cavalry.
Seguin’s Tejanos caught up to Houston’s army to help fight along with their Texas comrades on the battlefield of San Jacinto to help win Texas independence.
Viva Seguin y vivan los Tejanos.
Jack Ayoub
Harlingen
Recent letter
spurs reaction
An April 17 letter to The Herald bashes Trump advocates, and Trump himself, with offensive opinions, not facts, saying that America is not a free society if Trump followers support him.
That in itself is hate-filled personal opinion. Trump did not abandon the suffering Afghans and Americans to the hands of the Taliban; nor did he open our borders to some dangerous terrorists and drugs that kill our young.
Confusingly, the writer preaches teaching tolerance and acceptance of those different from us.
His narrow-thinking must be ingrained.
Former President Jimmy Carter must take pride that he no longer carries the stigma of being America’s worst president, because President Biden has now earned the title. That in itself speaks of the writer’s choice to ignore Biden’s many ongoing failures, and predictably dumping it against the political opposition.
Imelda Coronado
Mission
