Welcome to March!  This month is always a welcome sight.  It heralds the beginning of spring, the return of warmer weather, and many local events.  In addition, March is one of the most important months in Texas history.

March 2 is a day celebrated and remembered in our area each year, not only as Texas Independence Day, but because it is our own Sam Houston’s birthday.  In case you have forgotten some of the important things that happened in March in Texas history, here are just a few:

• March 2, 1793: Sam Houston is born in Virginia.
• March 2, 1836: The Texas Declaration of Independence is signed at the Convention of 1836 at Washington-on-the-Brazos.
• March 6, 1836: Colonel William B. Travis and the Alamo defenders are overwhelmed by Santa Anna and his Mexican troops.
• March 27, 1836: Under orders from Santa Anna, Colonel James Fannin and more than 400 Texians are massacred at Goliad.
• March 25, 1843: Seventeen members of the Mier Expedition, a remnant of a failed raid into Mexico, are executed in the Mexican town of Salado. Notable survivors include famed Texas Rangers Bigfoot Wallace and Samuel Walker.
• March 2, 1861: Texas joins the Confederate States of America after seceding from the U.S. against then Governor Sam Houston’s wishes.
• March 30, 1870: The U.S. Congress readmits Texas into the Union.
• March 26, 1918: Texas women win the right to vote in primary elections.
• March 1, 1962: NASA opens the Manned Spacecraft Center in Houston.
  
  In September 2003, the Texas legislature proclaimed March would become “Texas History Month in honor of those Texans who helped shape the history of the State of Texas and in recognition of events throughout Texas’ history.”  In this month’s issue, we are featuring the Bullock Museum, a true Texas Treasure dedicated to sharing and preserving the history of our great state.  We are looking forward to a visit soon.
  
  Over a recent lunch with a friend, we were discussing the pride native Texans have in their state (and why we tend to think everything is “bigger and better in Texas”).  We ultimately decided the reason–because it IS.  If you aren’t a native Texan or don’t “get it,” someday you will feel the same way…or probably move. 😁
  
  Until next time,