Alamo Memorial Day

29 MAY 17

Nothing quite like going to the Alamo. Me and my wife took a road trip to Texas for Memorial weekend. Very emotional. Took some pictures of this and that while we were there. 

 

For those who have never been, the roof of the church, including the iconic round part at the top, was an add-on after the famous battle. Inside the church is an amazing display of flags, representing the states and countries of all the men who died at the Alamo. I did not know that so many defenders were from Ireland. I had always thought the Alamo was defended by people from Texas and other Continental states, but there were actually a large number of defenders from across the sea. Each flag had a pennant, with the number of people from that state or country that died in the battle. Walking around the inside of the church was very moving. 

 This is a cactus on the Alamo grounds. I loved the order of the buds on the top. 


On the church door is a small plaque that reads "Be silent, Friend. Here heroes died to blaze a trail for other men." This is a detail from the front of the Church.

This is a column outside the Alamo gift shop. I love the intricate craftsmanship. 

These are some flowers on the grounds outside the wall surrounding the Alamo. I don't know the name of the plant, but I like the star-like formation of the flowers. 

Some more flowers from the grounds outside the Alamo wall. I used a macro lens for most of the flower pictures. The white flowers were hard to get, but I think the petite petals came out great. 


The following pictures are details from the Alamo Hall door.  

 A beautiful scene from the grounds of the Alamo. So peaceful. We also saw huge Koi fish in a small water run behind the church. Keep an eye out for them or you might miss them.

The following are several photos of the Cenotaph. Cenotaph means empty tomb. They are built to honor fallen heroes whose bodies are not recovered. In this case, the defenders of the Alamo were burned.

At the center of this side of the Cenotaph is the following inscription: "From the fire that burned their bodies rose the eternal spirit of sublime heroic sacrifice, which gave birth to an empire state."

 

The lady with the shields is from the North side of the Cenotaph. The inscription reads: "In memory of the heroes who sacrificed their lives at the Alamo, March 6, 1836 in the defense of Texas. They chose never to surrender nor retreat, these brave hearts with flag still proudly waving perished in the flames of immortality that their high sacrifice might lead to the founding of this Texas."

We also went to the Riverwalk. I had never been there. Very dense with lots to see, including many service members from the Air Force and Army. A few pictures from there of various things. We also ate dinner at the County Line. Great BBQ.

Details from a display of Glass in a store in a hotel on the Riverwalk. The 'blue' version is a photo-manipulation, the orange and red is the original picture. 

 A scene from nearby the Riverwalk.

 A black and white photograph from along the Riverwalk. The rest of the photos here are from the path to and along the Riverwalk.

To visit the Alamo on Memorial Day weekend was a way to really connect with the spirit of Memorial Day. Not only did we remember those who have fallen in the line of duty, but we took the time and energy to visit the site where the battle took place, where lives were lost and remembered.  A friend and fellow service member posted this on Facebook: 


Here are some rules for this Memorial Day weekend:
1. Please do not wish any veteran a "Happy Memorial Day". There is nothing happy about remembering the brave men and women who died for their country.
2. All though it is technically a federal holiday, it was established a few years following the civil war to honor those who died while serving in the US military, so remember those who have died for the freedoms we take for granted.
3. If you want to promote patriotism, take your family to visit a National Memorial Cemetery or a local VA cemetery, not an amusement park.
4. Don't tell me how great any one political power is or how much you don't like or do like your Commander in Chief. Tell me about Chesty Puller, George Patton, John Basilone, Dakota Meyer, Kyle Carpenter, Mitchell Paige, Ira Hayes, Chris Kyle and other heroes too numerous to name. Attend a Bell Ceremony and shed some tears.
5. Say a prayer, then another and maybe donate not just money but some of your time to a veteran cause.
6. Remember the Fallen for all the Good they did while they were here.
7. Reach out and let a Vet know you're there for them. We are losing too many at home in "peace".
8. Have a BBQ, have a party, but at some point during that event, raise a toast to the men and women who have lost their lives protecting this country.


Last thought: I used to drive along Basilone Road on Camp Pendleton for many years before learning the history of the outstanding man behind that name. History is all around us. Take some time to learn and appreciate those who came before us and who brought us to where we are today.