Last week we spent the day at the Alamo, the most visited place in the State of Texas. So it was appropriate to bring it to remembrance on this day the 23rd.day of February, the day the thirteen day siege of the mission began back in 1836.

Being an Ulster Scot, myself, it was of special interest to me to know of the Scotch-Irish blood that stained the walls of that mission in the cause of freedom.

The above plaque reads:

Many of those who fought and died for Texas’ independence were of Scottish (Scots-Irish) descent including some of our most beloved heroes, David Crockett, Jim Bowie, and Sam Houston.  Most of the leaders in that struggle for independence were of Scottish ancestry, including  Stephen F. Austin, Peter J. Bailey, Henry P. Brewster, J.A. Brooks, David Burnet, Mathew Caldwell, Capt. Ewen Cameron, S.P. Carson, Robert Cochran, just to name a few.

Piper John MacGregor stood on the adobe walls in the midst of the battle to pipe the men on in true Scottish tradition. MacGregor played his bagpipes along with David Crockett on his fiddle to entertain the men during their stressful days of siege.

These heros shed their blood for national freedom.

John 15:13 Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.

But never forgetting the blood of the greatest hero that stained an old rugged cross for our spiritual freedom especially during this season of Lent.

1 John 3:16 Hereby perceive we the love of God, because he laid down his life for us:and we ought to lay down our lives for the brethren.

For special interest to my friends who live in Texas there is a predawn ceremony at the Alamo each year to commemorate the Battle on March 6th. Re-enactors led by piper Bill Jones of San Antonio!  In honor of National Tartan Day each April, the Scots of San Antonio present wreaths to commemorate those of Scottish ancestry who died fighting for Texas Independence.