>>2950340175 years ago in 1836, defenders of Texas independence held off a siege by a large Mexican army for 13 days. Much is said and written about the battle. The cry "Remember the Alamo!" is synonymous with the idea of not giving up even though the odds are really, REALLY against you.
When people visit the site which is now in the middle of downtown San Antonio, they usually say they thought it would be bigger. It's not that big. The former Mission San Antonio de Valero, does not impress one as being a bigger than life fortress. That just illustrates the size of the sacrifice and struggle to hold the Alamo.
What touches me about the Alamo defenders is who they were. It wasn't just Davey Crockett and Jim Bowie.
Examining the names and the places those people traveled from to join the fight takes one back to a mindset that seems rare today. Check out some of the names, did you expect an Esparza or Fuentes or the Black Freedman, John? The idea was that the PEOPLE of Texas were fighting for their independence. Race didn't matter, age didn't matter, religion didn't matter, cultural heritage didn't matter, where one came from didn't matter. There were no lobbyists. Those things were not important because the goal was for the good of all who had the same beliefs in the bigger picture. I don't think people realize that it was not just a bunch of white cowboys there. MANY different types of people stood together that day. I may live in Texas, but I'm from Ohio. Both places are still my country, and from down here it looks like we're being invaded.
The defenders of the Alamo knew they had to fight together, to be independent. Maybe we should try that. I don't know if we could remember how.
So, in the interest of looking at the defenders of the Alamo, look at the bigger picture….they sure did.
Defenders of the Alamo all listed by name and home here http://seektress.com/alamo.htm