Letters: Memorial at Alamo

Texas history has long forgotten Texas Col. Juan Seguin and his Tejanos performing the military funeral service for the burnt ashes of the defenders of the Alamo. After fighting for Texas independence in five different battles, including the Siege of the Alamo and San Jacinto, Seguin was promoted to lieutenant colonel and assumed his command of the Army of the West (San Antonio). To his horror and surprise, Juan came across three piles of burnt ashes; one large pile in front of the Alamo and two smaller piles at the Alameda (east entrance of San Antonio). It would be his sole responsibility to provide a proper funeral service for the fallen defenders of the Alamo.

According to Seguin’s memoirs, a carpenter made a coffin that was covered with black cloth draped with a Texas flag along with a musket and sword. Seguin ordered the church bells of San FernandoChurch to start ringing at 8 a.m. and led the Tejanos’ funeral procession at 3 p.m. to the two smaller piles of ashes at the Alameda. The ashes of both piles were placed in the coffin, and his Tejanos offered a 21-gun salute. Seguin led the procession back to the Alamo and placed the large pile of ashes into the coffin and repeated the 21-gun salutes. Seguin gave a eulogy in Spanish, saying, “Texas shall be free and independent or we will die in glorious combat.” The he coffin was buried in a peach orchard close to the Alamo, but the exact location went with Seguin when he was run out of Texas to Mexico, fearing for his life just five years later.

On Memorial Day, we should all take the time to remember and honor all our brave soldiers who have died defending our liberty and freedom and carry on that Texas tradition that all started with Col.Seguin and his Tejanos for the defenders of the Alamo.

Viva Seguin y vivan los Tejanos.

Jack Ayoub

Harlingen

Misinformation

about abortion

The abortion issue is always a sensitive topic, as well it should be. The 1973 Supreme Court Roe v. Wade decision said that abortion is legal up to the point of viability of the fetus outside the womb.

Unfortunately, I believe the American people are being misled today concerning the potential decision of the Supreme Court to overturn Roe v. Wade. Some believe that decision will make abortion illegal. It will not. That misunderstanding is leading to daily “pro and con” abortion protests that very possibly can lead to violence.

If the Supreme Court makes the decision to overturn Roe v. Wade it does not mean the court has decided that abortion is illegal, which the mainstream media are mostly implying. It means the 1973 abortion decision was unconstitutional and that each individual state should make its own laws concerning the issue of abortion. The result will be some states making abortion illegal in all cases, some states making abortion legal in some cases within a time frame, and other states will make abortion legal in all cases right before the child leaves the mother’s birth canal.

Sadly, this misinformation is just another way the anti-Christian, anti-Constitution side is trying to divide us. And they are succeeding.

Abraham Lincoln said: “A house divided against itself cannot stand.”

Darrell Williams Sr.

McAllen