Alamo markers #7 (Updated 2x)

This plaque is of the famous Travis Letter, written by the Commander of the Alamo at the beginning of the 13 day seige. It is front and center of the Alamo shrine. https://www.tsl.texas.gov/treasures/republic/alamo/travis-full-text.html

These two are out front of the church.

This one below is on the west side of the Long Barrack.

Below is the keystone of the Honore Grenet building, which was what the Long Barrack was called while it was used as a warehouse and general store by Mr. Grenet. He bought it just after the US Army left in 1877. The property was purchased by the Daughters of the Republic of Texas around 1903. (See the stories of Adina DeZavala and Clara Driscoll.)

Honore Grenet's store

https://digital.utsa.edu/digital/collection/p9020coll008/id/6896
See history of Alamo Plaza

 https://www.sanantonio.gov/historic/historicsites/HistoricDistricts/AlamoPlaza

This is in front near the Long Barrack, under the Masonic plaques.

New Orleans area seminar coming

Karate in the Olympics

This photo is of one  of my Florida black belts, Brad Congress. He and his wife visited the Olympic training facility in Colorado, which they said was impressive.

In my time in the arts, getting Karate into the Olympics was spoken as being impossible, due to the variety of standards and rules between systems and styles. Tae Kwon Do was much tighter and so were able to be included as a demonstration sport in 1988. Arlene Limas of the US won the women's welterweight gold. I knew here when she was a young competitor in Chicago and she was a Chinese stylist. She switched over for the Olympics. 

So, it looks like there has been a shift and that karate is in.  

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Karate_at_the_2020_Summer_Olympics

Alamo markers #6

There are two courtyards North of the Shrine, the Convento and Cavalry. 

This below is in the Cavalry courtyard. It indicates that Travis was killed across what is Houston street today, approximately at the intersection of Alamo and Houston. 

This is in the Convento courtyard. It was given to us by people of Japan, who had their own Alamo.

This comemorates the Immortal 32, the men of the Gonzales Ranging Company who came to reinforce Travis. Can you spot the error?

 Two women, Adina DeZavala and Clara Driscoll spared the Long Barrack from being demolished and replaced by a park and hotel. Adina does not get the credit she deserves. Adina https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fzafg
 Clara https://tshaonline.org/handbook/online/articles/fdr04

There was a tree planted in the Cavalry courtyard, donated by the State of Tennessee to remember their volunteesr who fought there. There were 30, the most of any state or country. The tree is no longer there.

Master's HOF

My thanks to Shawn Knight of Tucson for taking this shot of the award.

Alamo markers #5

This is on the front door of the Shrine. There are some policies visitors are advised of on a sign inside the door, it's right in front of you as you enter. It says no pictures, drinks or food as well as no photography. I am amazed at how many people will take a picture of the sign. In addition, how many will talk on their cell phone, touch the walls (which we tell people not to do when entering) and simply just yak it up. Touching the old limestone causes damage, sometimes unseen. I have witnessed people break part of the wall off, others try to take a piece with them and another recently put his foot on the corner of a pillar and broke off a chunk about the size of a baseball.

Respect the Alamo.

Graham updated

He's out of the hospital and doing ok.