American history is replete with many battles which have helped to shape the history of the United States. When one considers World War 2 and the D Day landings, there were terrible losses on all sides, however victory was grasped by the allies. There is however one unique battle which is remembered with pride by Americans, and that is the battle of the Alamo. The battle of the Alamo took place in 1863 and is a battle which my own Ancestors were part of. This is a battle which was lost, and almost all participants on the Texan side were brutally killed. On February 23d 1836 the army of General Antonio López de Santa Anna arrived at San Antonio, the Texan defenders were almost taken by surprise. The defenders believed that the Alamo was the vital key to the defense of Texas, and they were prepared to give their lives to defend it against Santa Anna.

The battle of the Alamo was in no way a conventional battle, it was in fact a slaughter. The Texan defenders were outnumbered by thousands of Mexican soldiers. There were around two hundred brave souls on the Texan side who stood their ground against terrible odds. It is this brave stand which continues to inspire people from all walks of life today. This reinforces the ethic of many Americans, which is to never give up or surrender when there is a strong principle to be defended.

The Alamo siege lasted thirteen full days. It started on the 23d of February 1863, and by March the 6th it was all over. It is quite difficult to comprehend today, with Mexico being a trusted ally of the United States. This battle was part of the attempt to stop Mexico invading the new country known as the United States. The invasion attempts of Mexico were seen as an act of war. Those brave souls who made a stand against that huge Mexican army are now American icons of bravery, some of the names listed as being killed in the fort that day were, Davy Crocket, Jim Bowie, the unit commander Lieutenant Colonel William B. Travis. It was Travis who inspired those men to stand and fight against insurmountable odds; it is his courage which is celebrated whenever we hear the now famous rallying cry "Remember the Alamo." A letter written by Travis told how he had defied the Mexican attackers on the eve of that final siege.

I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual Bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country. Victory or Death.

It was the bravery of Travis and his men which turned the war against the invading Mexican army to the advantage of the Americans. The utter outrage felt across the land from the slaughter of these brave men inspired that famous rallying cry "Remember the Alamo". Even today centuries later, that rallying cry still inspires. The stand taken against Santa Anna by these men gave Sam Houston the time to organize a much more potent army, an army which went on to defeat Santa Anna at San Jacinto. This was the turning point for Texas which then went on to victory in this war.

The Texas spirit was never the same again, and to this day, Texas takes pride in being a people of particular courage, a boldness which even today sets them apart from the already independent American spirit. Even more so, the entire United States remembers this battle as an example of how a small number of brave men succeeded in delivering a victory, even though this victory would cost them their own lives. This indeed is the true spirit of patriotism.

I am however saddened, that so many of us are so fueled by greed that we forget that these brave men gave their lives so we could enjoy the freedom and democracy we have today. Let us forever keep these brave men and the many more like them always in our hearts and minds.