San Benito hosts first Texas Independence Day celebration
SAN BENITO - Mexican soldiers shot at mission defenders before engaging in hand-to-hand combat and taking siege of the legendary Alamo, and it all happened on a Saturday afternoon in San Benito.
The Battle of the Alamo reenactment was the grand finale of San Benito's first celebration of Texas Independence Day, which falls on Monday.
The Alamo fell on March 6, 1836, four days after the document of independence was signed at Washington-on-the-Brazos, northwest of Houston.
Festivities began with a parade of cowboys on horses, a hay wagon and actors in a slew of period costumes all marching alongside the Texas flag.
Onlookers cheered and a small child darted after horses along the parade route down Sam Houston Boulevard, toward Plaza de San Benito, where Dutch ovens, a teepee and an old wagon made the grounds look like a scene out of a John Wayne movie.
"We are remembering the brave Texans and Tejanos who died for Texas," event co-organizer Jack Ayoub said.
The weather was drizzly and cold but people at the celebration kept warm next to the Tejano Cookers' mesquite fire while the cooking team baked pan de campo, or campfire bread.
"The Dutch oven has coals on top and coals on the bottom," Tejano Cooker David Champion said. "This bread is baked. It has no yeast. We do other meals too, like chili and carne guisada and other meats."
Texas historian and musician K.R. Wood wore a raccoon cap and period Texan clothes while playing for a crowd with students from Fred Booth and Frank Roberts elementary schools.
"I'm supposed to be Davy Crockett for today," he said. "We're just happy to be here in San Benito celebrating our Texas history and our heritage."
The Alamo was only one of several reenactments during the day.
People on the plaza watched as soldiers on both sides fell from "gunshots" as the Wild Horse Desert Historical Brigade reenacted battles leading up to the fall of the Alamo.
"We're just having fun and trying to show people the history of Texas," said reenactor Ruben Cordova, dressed in his Tejano soldier period costume. "We do reenactments all over Texas."
Steven Cortez, 9, of San Benito said his favorite exhibit at the event was the American Indian teepee, where a man dressed in native garb gave a demonstration on arrowhead shaping.
"I like to see all the plays and stuff I saw in the teepee where I can put on a bobcat skin," he said. "I like to see all the soldiers doing the fights."
Cortez's grandfather, Romeo Garza, said he thought the historical aspect of the event was a good learning experience for little Steven.
"I just love all this stuff," Garza said about the American Indian exhibit. "Coming out here is great - all the history and everything."
Ayoub said he now looks forward to next year to begin a tradition of celebrating Texas independence.
"Next year will be bigger and better," he said. "It's just been a total team effort."
