Real Texas history published, finally

Editor:

It was inspiring to finally get to read a true historical article, written by Jack Ayoub on March 2, in a local newspaper. The vast majority of the written history books of Texas have not reflected the true history of some of our Tejano pioneers.

Fernando De Leon, a forgotten hero for Texas independence, should have received the same courtesy as David Crockett, Daniel Boone, Sam Houston and many others whose names we are all taught in school.

Moreover, when the baby boomers were in school, that generation was deprived from reading about true Tejano heroes like Don Martin de Leon, Placido Benavides, Patricia de Leon, Juan N. Cortina, Fernando de Leon, Petra Ramirez Vela (who married Mifflin Kenedy) and many others.

Is it not a fact that the written history books of Texas refuse to acknowledge these great people their due credit for our Texas independence? Finally, after 200 years, South Texas has a writer like Jack Ayoub who will actually write about our forgotten heroes for independence. Thank you for the wonderful and delightful article.

Natalia Ramirez Garcia

Brownsville

Via the Internet

Other cities ring in the New Year

Editor:

A recent letter by Mr. Robert T. Hernandez suggested that Brownsville have a New Year's fete just like New York. He added, "No one has this idea, only New York."

A good idea, but he's wrong about "No one has this idea, only New York."

I went to my first New Year's fete in Como Park in Minneapolis well over 80 years ago. Afterward my parents allowed me to go home and sleep with my cousins who lived nearby. Another fireworks fete yearly takes place in downtown Indianapolis.

One I have enjoyed many times is at the end of Navy Pier in Chicago over Lake Michigan. All those I have "awed and awed at" have appropriately ended with a sparkling, waving, American flag.

Ethel Beadell

Brownsville

Via the Internet