Come and see how Texas won its freedom from Mexico and eventually became the twenty-eighth state, and enjoy a day of games, food, fun, and history. The festival takes place on Saturday April 22, 2017 on the grounds of the San Jacinto Monument. The festivities will include reenactments of the “runaway scrape” and the battle of San Jacinto, where Texas independence was finally secured.
During the day, the reenactors will be available to answer questions and give a unique insight into the battles fought against the Mexican army, and the rigors of frontier life. They take Texas history from the pages of books and bring it to life in front of your eyes, on the very ground, where, over 175 years ago, the actual events took place. The festival is put on by the San Jacinto Museum of History, Texas Parks and Wildlife, and many volunteers, and admission is entirely free.
As a child, my love of history was developed visiting historic sites around Texas, and by listening to those who had a passion for bringing the events of history alive. Take it from someone with four kids, children have a natural curiosity to know why things are the way they are, and what the people were like who came before. What they learn in school is important, but it’s only a beginning. To truly have a grasp of history and to be able to make up their own minds about how they feel about the events of our past, they need to see it in front of their eyes. As a writer, I have a great love of books, but they don’t always serve to convey the importance and relevance of their subject. Historical events and people tend to seem far removed from our lives in the twenty-first century, but when you see these reenactments you come away realizing that these were just people like us, with the same dreams, struggles, and faults that we all share.
As Americans, and Texans, we are all living out the dreams that our forefathers fought and died for. They knew the importance of freedom, because they knew what it was not to have it, and they would be very gratified that we have prospered to the degree we have because of the sacrifices they have made. Thank God, we don’t have to make the same difficult choices, but there is debt that we owe to them, and our payment is to set aside a little time from our busy lives to learn our history and what it took for all of us to live the amazing lives we enjoy today.
© 03/30/2017
