As we approach the 184th anniversary of Texas’ independence on March 2nd, since 1836, Texans have been proud of our heritage and linkage back in time to true heroes, with a legacy as an independent nation.
Texans have a lot to be proud of, from inception to current day realities.
We were recently reminded of the historical significance of Texas’ fight for independence, a very honorable mention, that the nation and the entire world witnessed and experienced. On February 4, in the recent State of the Union address by President Donald J. Trump, he highlighted the Texas influence on the United States and the American experience.
Here is an excerpt from the spoken address, in the closing remarks:
“As the world bears witness tonight, America is a land of heroes. This is the place where greatness is born, where destinies are forged, and where legends come to life. This is the home of Thomas Edison and Teddy Roosevelt, of many great generals, including Washington, Pershing, Patton, and MacArthur. This is the home of Abraham Lincoln, Frederick Douglass, Amelia Earhart, Harriet Tubman, the Wright Brothers, Neil Armstrong, and so many more. This is the country where children learn names like Wyatt Earp, Davy Crockett, and Annie Oakley. This is the place where the pilgrims landed at Plymouth and where Texas patriots made their last stand at the Alamo.
“The American nation was carved out of the vast frontier by the toughest, strongest, fiercest, and most determined men and women ever to walk the face of the Earth. Our ancestors braved the unknown; tamed the wilderness; settled the Wild West; lifted millions from poverty, disease, and hunger; vanquished tyranny and fascism; ushered the world to new heights of science and medicine; laid down the railroads, dug out canals, raised up the skyscrapers. And, ladies and gentlemen, our ancestors built the most exceptional Republic ever to exist in all of human history. And we are making it greater than ever before!
“This is our glorious and magnificent inheritance.”
– President Donald J. Trump
While the Republic of Texas was rather short-lived, from inception in 1836 to becoming the 28th state of the United States in 1845, it is part of our common inheritance. Even though Texas was an independent country for less than 10 years, the legacy of that time has remained in our collective conscience since then.
As President Trump mentioned Texas during the State of the Union, we should have been proud of that. We should also be proud of what we are accomplishing along the way every day—our common moral values and our instinctual behaviors to maintain Texas as a free and independent Republic, as it has always meant to be.
We should celebrate our heritage, where we came from and how we got here, either by birth or by immigration, we are all Texans regardless of political differences, ancestral backgrounds, race, religion or ideology.
Collectively, we have made many significant accomplishments and contributions to society. We should be proud to call ourselves Texans.
God Bless Texas.
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