Alamo Courage

It was one of the greatest examples of courage and "self-sacrifice" in our country's history, on that day of March 6, 1836. The defense of the Alamo. The 186 men of the Alamo, for more than 13 days, stood against an army of 4,000 seasoned warriors and refused to give up. Colonel Travis, realizing that no help would be coming from the outside and knowing that the army of Santa Anna would soon overrun the Alamo, addressed the heroes of the Alamo. He told them that their fate was to die for the cause of Liberty and for the freedom of Texas. Travis made clear their only choice would be in how they would die, and he then outlined three procedures for them:
First, they could rush the enemy, killing only a few but be massacred in a hand to hand fight with the enemy.
Second, they could surrender, which would lead to all their deaths by the Mexicans.
Third, they could remain in the Alamo and fight, defending it to the last man was dead and give the Texas army more time.

The 186 men of the Alamo chose the third procedure, facing certain death. The siege of the Alamo came to an end on the dawn of March 6, when it's heroes were all put to the sword. These great men had been given several opportunities to leave, yet they chose to remain, to fight and die. I wonder how these "heroes" must appear to this generation of Americans. It is easy to forget, that Davy Crockett, Jim Bowie and Will Travis were real men with lives, families, hopes and dreams. Does this generation of spoiled Americans remember the cost? The men of the Alamo were real men, flesh and bone, just as you and I. There was, however, a difference in them I believe. They believed in Liberty so much, that their personal comforts and safety came second. They believed in Freedom and sacrificed their lives for it. Heroes.

Early on in the siege of the Alamo, Col. Travis penned these words to the people of Texas: "The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise the garrison are to be put to the sword...I have answered the demand with a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat...Victory or Death!" I would ask that you remember that Col. William Travis was only 23 years old, and that he had a small baby at home. Yet, he declared "Victory or Death", I will not surrender or retreat. The words of a young American hero in the face of death. I wonder how our young Americans today view William Travis and his sacrifice. Would they too, stand in the face of death and refuse to surrender or retreat.

In reading this simple account of the Alamo, remember that William Travis and these brave men didn't have organizations such as the ACLU telling them that they were intolerant and too narrow minded, with all these ideas and beliefs of patriotism and honor. There were no newspapers, magazines, anchormen or talk show hosts painting them as a group of wild and crazy extremists. They had never been taught in school that their forefathers and founders of the nation were just a bunch of losers. The men of the Alamo simply believed that America was great, "the land of the free". It was a part of them, instilled in them, that God was with them and would bless them. In the hearts of these 186 men, they knew that if their families and future generations were to remain free, they would have to fight to the end.

The courage and commitment of the men of the Alamo can never be forgotten. In a supreme act of devotion, they gave their lives that others could live free. In the lens of our country today, by current standards, the heroes of the Alamo seem foolish. They, after all, had no chance to win. Today, as we watch our "gutless, cowardly" political and religious leaders continue to compromise and give in to what is deemed politically correct--remember the men of the Alamo. In your own heart, make the commitment to stand for freedom and the principles this nation was founded upon. Refuse to surrender to compromise and being politically correct, hold our leaders accountable to the same standards and principles. Let the sound be heard throughout the land "Remember The Alamo".