"Holding Down the Fort"-13 Days of Defending the Alamo

Actually...it was made. It was made the hard way. It came at the heftiest price that any one of us can imagine. It came at the price of Approx. 185 Alamo Defenders (On up to Alamo Defender's Numbering in the low: 200's...but that is just one of many debates revolving around the Alamo.). How can you describe the brave actions of men who realize that there will be no reinforcements...no back-up...no support...as they watch 5000 soldiers from a uniformed opposing enemy force...move in to surround them?

That is a serious defensive position. Did they panic? Did they turn tail...and high-tail it out of there? No...they did the complete opposite. They formed a united front...by standing together...and crossing a line in the sand. In the dirt...lay one long symbol of their defiance. A simple symbol of a line with two sides. One side = give up and leave. The other side = Stand and fight! That simple symbol of that line...was a testiment to their enduring will. The will to push back at the opposition! They did not back down. They did not run away! In fact...out of the options that were available to them (though few)...it was "leaving" that lost the vote...hands down...unanimously. They had a job to do...and they were determined to carry it out...despite the odds...despite the fact that it didn't look like it was going to go their way. What courage does that take? Do we see this kind of spirit in modern times? I'm pretty sure this kind of spirit happens everyday...out in the battlefield. However...how many of us people who do not have to make this kind of decision...with this great of magnitude...and finality...in our daily lifes...know what this kind of dedication to your beliefs...must take?

The Defenders of the Alamo...were a breed of Men that knew how to draw from their strengths and weaknesses...and make a stand. Even...if it was to be their final one...they knew exactly what they were doing...and what the cost would be! How triumphant a moment is it to take on such a group of men...with such an imbalanced amount of force...when it is all over? Is it a real big "Victory" for your side? What would the outcome have been if it was a balanced fight...against...let's say: 5000 Alamo Defenders ?

But that was not the case...and the History to this Battle...this Seige...has already been played out...in days...of a long ago era, place, and time.

The Alamo Defenders stood and fought. They fought back for a long while...against impossible odds. This has to be what endears us to them...their memories...their spirit...and their legend. These Alamo Defenders were held-up in a fort...surrounded for 13 days. Now...what they did...and were able to do...lives on...in the thousands and thousands of days since...and the millions and trillions to come. Perhaps...these same men guide us quietly today...by our memories of them and their brave actions ?

I believe for everyone that sees and respects what they did...that it does. I truly do!

A MANLY POETRY MAN TRIBUTE TO THE BRAVE DEFENDERS OF THE ALAMO:

When the gun smoke had all cleared...

And the Texas Fighting Defenders had all died...as everyone feared.

For Freedom...that each man wanted very much...in his heart and mind...down deep...

Came the Men of Alamo to defend a fortress...and for 13 days...were they able to keep.

Those Alamo Defenders...Who dared to show how Men's Hearts can truly be...

Stood and Fought there...like Men...who were willing to give their all to be free.

During the 13 day Siege...when they realized that there would be no reinforcements in time...

That's when...Col. William B. Travis...Drew out his sword...and in the sand there...He drew a line.

All Men inside the Alamo crossed that line to remain and fight until the bugle call for the final battle...

All Defenders of that mission there...who watched as they had been surrounded...like a Texas herd of cattle.

Be it known...for Tales of Daring...that there is no one bolder...

Then those Alamo Defenders who stood...Shoulder to Shoulder.

Their names have since been etched in Stone in our History...

From when they fortified a Mission...and used it to engage an enemy.

When asked by Santa Anna...if they were ready to come out...

Travis answered with a cannon volley...to show what this Siege was all about.

Defenders: "Muskets at the ready...Prepare to fire on my Command,"

Cannons started blazin'...from the fortress...and could be heard...far across the land.

Defended it well...with only a few men...those Defenders of the "Alamo"...

And their Spirit still resonates...even with us now...though they perished long ago.

For 13 days...Stone and Mortar Walls...were the only thing between the two sworn enemies...

The Mexican Army had arrived to storm the Alamo...As has been handed down by "age-old" stories.

The determined Defenders...were willing to make a stand right there...if that was the last resort...

The Men of the Alamo...let their guns do the talking...and rallied together to stand and give report.

For Texas...they made a stand...and for a decision not to stay under a tyrant's rule...

If Santa Anna wanted to take the Alamo...then each Defender was ready to take him to school.

Approx. 185 Men volunteered to defend the Alamo...which William Travis, Jim Bowie, and Davy Crockett...led

185 Men...who after the final battle of the Alamo...would all be found...dead.

What can I say of you Defenders...your actions speak louder than words...

You defied the odds down to the last man...who stood swinging his rifle stock...against enemy swords.

When hopelessly out-numbered...and no reinforcements...on their way...

Did these Men turn and high-tail it out...No...They stood their ground...and decided to stay.

A line in the sand had been drawn right there...Where Brave Men Stepped Across it to Show...

That even if they're surrounded by an Army...It will take more then that to capture the Alamo.

From deep within every man who walked the confines of that Fort...of an old Spanish Mission...

Came the fortitude to stand and fight...Every man down to the last man...had made that decision.

And if you're on the other side...during that time and place...on the opposite side of the Wall...

It was going to take everything you have and more...to take the Alamo...and make it fall.

Alamo Defenders...What made you give the Alamo Defense...everything that you got?

A Century of time and more...has passed...since what your courageous actions have taught.

Your names have long been recorded...and celebrated along with high praise...

Passed down through generation to generation...passed on forever and always.

Though...It wasn't for any kind of fame that you took your final stand...

You put your life on the line for something that you held dear...that has become a part of this land.

Wanting that each man be his own man...out here...in the Texas territory...

Without being controlled by a ruler...from the Alamo on...have we been able to this story.

That Men...can hold up...and make a lasting statement...that is embedded in our land forever...

You may take out the Alamo Defenders in Battle...But you will not be able to take their Spirit...Not ever!

The determination that each of these brave fighting men have handed down for each of us to see...and know.

Makes known to us to always stand for our beliefs...Like those Defenders who held down the Fort...Called the "Alamo".