The Alamo

Davy Crockett was quoted as saying, "You can go to hell, I am going to Texas." Having lived there and visited several times, it would at times be a difficult distinction to make. With that little disclaimer out of the way, I'll tell my tale.

As I mentioned, I've visited Texas several times and lived here for a few years, but this week I made my first trip to San Antonio compliments of the ASBDC convention. My first trip into this area surprised me in that the city seemed devoid of people. On my daily walk between hotels, I don't recall seeing more than a dozen people and not many more cars. After several days of trying to assess where the people of this city spent their days, I finally found them hanging around the Alamo, which appears to be the cultural and tourist attractant for the city.

The Alamo, as you may know, is a shrine preserved in remembrance of the valiant few that fought and died between the period of Feb. 23, 1836 and March 3, 1836 in a failed attempt to defend the borders of a fledgling republic. Led by Colonel William Travis and others including the American cultural icon Davey Crockett, the siege which set upon the the small Catholic cathedral overcame the resistance of the group who, save women and children, were killed as the battle wained under the onslaught and of the Mexican nationals.

What struck me about the Alamo was the size. For the perceived enormity of its importance in the annals of Texas' history, the church building is a small place. The church, which served as the entry point into the complex of housing and military barracks, was not more than 100 feet from front to back. Its layout was similar to that of the Vatican with a central corridor which would have housed the altar and other vestments and smaller rooms to each side accommodating the diverse needs of the worship experience. Although the entire complex of buildings stretches across several acres, the central historical focus is on the cathedral.

What may be the best representation of the battle is a diorama in the center of the gift shop for visitors. Constructed from the historical records of the buildings, the commodious complex springs to life as hundreds of miniature figures reenact the battle of 1836. Looking at the battle from an omniscient view can only lead one to consider how futile the defenders of the Alamo must have felt their efforts to be as members of the militia, international in their origin, died one by one.


There was listed among the fallen patriots one Christopher Parker of Mississippi. Given the personal roots that stretch into that state, this will be a person I must research further. Since we've already established some lineage links to the infamous Bonnie Parker (of Bonnie & Clyde fame), it would be nice to find someone with a more reputable background.

Glad I made the walk to see the place and grab another little slice of American (Texas) history to which I can say -- been there, done that.