Minutes of the March 2, 2003 special monthly meeting of the
Henry L. Kinney
Chapter #17, Sons of the Republic of Texas
Present:
Karl Arnold*
Johnny Bishop
Grady Price Blount*
Dan Byerly*
Tim Erwin
Joe Fox
Tom Gomez, Jr.*
Skip Kennedy*
Ed Ledwig
John McElroy
*Active
SRT members with Chapter 17 affiliation
The informal special meeting for March 2003 was called to order at 1:30 PM at the Centennial House on Upper Broadway in Corpus Christi. Secretary/Treasurer Tom Gomez, Jr. reported that we had one bounced check from the January banquet. He will redeposit the check and see if it goes through.
There are 3 other major events in March for the group to be aware of:
1) The planting of a Stephen F. Austin Oak Tree will be held on Saturday, March 8th at 2:30 PM at the Hilltop Community Center, 11425 Leopard. Take the Violet exit off I-37 to Leopard. Come in period costume if you can. Members are urged to attend and to bring a small container of soil from a special location of their choice to be used as backfill for the seedlings.
2) The 17th annual reenactment of the Goliad Massacre will be March 22nd and 23rd. See below for details.
3) The local chapter of the DRT has invited all of us to join them for a day trip to historic Gonzales on March 29th. See below for details.
Our next regular monthly meeting will be back at the Golden Corral restaurant on South Padre Island Drive near Greenwood (in the Wal-Mart parking lot) at 10:00 AM on Saturday, April 5, 2003.
The observance of Texas Independence Day began at 2 PM at the Centennial House. Sponsors were the Nueces County Historical Society, the Clara Driscoll Chapter of the DRT and the Kinney Chapter of the SRT. Approximately 70 persons were present. To see a picture of some of the Kinney Chapter folks in front of Centennial House, click here.
Elmon Phillips led off the ceremonies with pledges the U.S. and Texas flags. Elmon gave a short talk on the significance of Texas Independence Day and then introduced Carolyn Baker of the DRT and our own Grady Price Blount for remarks. The ceremony closed with a “Toast to Texas” of Utopia Spring water and cake provided by the Clara Driscoll Chapter, DRT.
Members of the SRT are invited to join the members of the Clara Driscoll Chapter, DRT for a day trip to Gonzales. It will be aboard a chartered bus. You may bring wives, girlfriends or anyone who would like to tour HISTORIC GONZALES. Cost is $45.00 per person, which includes the bus ride, lunch, a tour of historic homes, and admission to the Gonzales museum. Departure is on March 29, 2003 at 6:15 AM. The bus will leave from the First Presbyterian Church parking lot, 430 S. Carancahua. You may leave cars in the lot, but the church is not responsible. For reservations, please send money and the names that would like to go to Lois Welch, Treasurer, 4509 Dolphin Place, Corpus Christi, TX., 78411. Please mail your check as soon as possible, but no later than March 17th. Make checks payable to Clara Driscoll Chapter, DRT. Snacks will not be served on bus - people are welcome to bring their snacks or drinks for bus trip. We will return around 6:00 PM that evening. For information, Call (361) 993-0823.
March
23 and 24, 2003 at Goliad, Texas--Welcome to the 17th Reenactment of
the last days of Fannin's Command. While we, the reenactors, portray the life
and times of the 19th century as accurately as possible, we are restrained by
today's environs. We present a 2-week
period compressed into a 2-day program.
The battle scenes are not meant to be actual recreations but to give an
insight into military methods and tactics of the day. The Fort's camp life is meant to do the same. 1st & 3rd
Personas are used. A person doing 1st Person impression knows only
of the events that have transpired prior to the day you are speaking (March
27). A 3rd person also does
a first person impression. But when
necessary he will come out of 1st person to give a better
explanation to you, the General Public.
You may wonder about the number of women and children present. There were refugees passing through here on
their flight from the Mexican Army. To
many of the reenactors, this is a family activity and the whole family is
included whenever and wherever possible.
There is a small admission fee. This goes for
the operation of the Fort during the year.
Saturday:
Children: ages, 5 to 11---$1.00 +$1.00 for Candle light Tour
Adults:
$3.00 + $2.00 for Candle Light Tour
Candle
light Tour tickets Not available without general admission ticket
Sunday;
Children: ages, 5 to 11---$1.00 Adults: $3.00
Saturday
22. 2002
Fort Defiance, Goliad, Texas - Opens at 9:00
a.m. - 3 skirmishes; lectures on area history; living history and camp life of
both Texican and Mexican abound inside Fort Defiance. There is enough going on to keep you busy until closing at 5:00
p.m.
The famous Candle Light Tour -7:00 p.m. till about 10:30 p.m. is the time
to experience an emotion filled tour of
the Presidio under Mexican control.
In the main barracks, you'll see an exchange between Mexican officers
and Texan doctors treating the Mexican
Wounded. The Texas prisoners are in
under guard in the Northeast corner of the compound. In the Officer's quarters you'll witness a very heated discussion
between the Mexican officers when they received the order to put all the Texans
to death. Following that you enter
the chapel full of Texas wounded. In a
side alcove you will witness Col. Fannin's wounded leg being attended to by Dr.
Bernand. If there is any sign of life
in your body you will be moved by this tour.
Sunday
23. 2002
El Presidio La Bahia, Goliad, Texas - Opens
at 9:00 a.m. This is the beginning of
a sobering program that occurred here on Palm Sunday, March 27, 1836. The program begins with excitement in the
air amongst the prisoners. Many
believe they are headed for Copano where they will board a ship for home. Others are told, they will be gathering
firewood. The Isaac Hamilton saga - the
prisoner- a stirring account of one man's ordeal. Travel to one of three actual massacre sites for the
re-enactment of the massacre. Back at
the compound, The Isaac Hamilton saga - the survivor- continues; then the massacre
of Col. James Fannin and the Texas wounded.
After a short program in the Chapel (still in use today by the Catholic
Church) everyone gathers behind the country and state flags of the Fannin
command for a short walk to the Fannin Monument. This is the final resting-place for the remains of the fallen
heroes of Goliad. After a short
ceremony, you'll be on you way home before 2p.m. Go home safely, we want to see you next year
You can contact the Presidio for further details.
Presidio La Bahia, PO Box 57, GOLIAD, TX 77963 361-645- 3752
Read more of Henry’s Journal -Henry Wolff, Jr., columnist - The Victoria Advocate on line
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