The Alamo

Now we're going to have to work backwords because I haven't been able to update in several days.

The trip down was long but we took long breaks and made the trip as enjoyable as possible. The best stop we made was in San Antonio Texas: home of a shrine to American fortitude--the Alamo. Several places I have visited have struck a certain cord in my heart that resounded with patriotism and tenacity, but the Alamo tops them all. To know that every soldier within that chaple died fighting makes me wonder how I would fare under in such a struggle. Once it had begun, I know it would take little effort to fight to the finish, knowing that no quarter would be given. But the point of no return would come earlier, when the soldiers were on their way and I still had the chance to run. Would I stay with Travis to beat the Mexican army? In the presence of such men as Travis, Crockett, and Bowie, I think I would have the courage.

The chapel still stands and part of the baracks. They have such relics as rifles owned by Crockett, a knife owned by Bowie, and a lock of Davy's brown hair. They even have a knife carried by the adventurer-statesman when he was hunting bear--perhaps he used it to legendary good use on those journeys. The only drawback of my visit was the location of the fabled fort. No longer does it rise up out of the desert, blocking the path of the oncoming Mexicans. Now it blocks traffic in downtown San Antonio. A lot of people pass through every day on their way down to the river. I tried my best to imagine everything gone and dust on my boots from the long ride I had just finished in order to help in the defence of what I knew was a doomed enterprise, like the 32 men from Gonzales. They were the only troops who responded to the passionate cries from the indominable Travis who will forever be considered a patriot of this great nation.