If you grew up in Texas, you had a good dose of Texas history in the 7^th grade.  Even if you forgot most of the names, surely you remember the Alamo, San Jacinto, and also that Texas was once an independent nation.  If you’ve more recently arrived, welcome.  Let me introduce you to a few of our proudest moments, so far.

As said before, Texas was once a free and independent nation, and we declared that independence on March 2, 1836.  Also about that time, from February 23 to March 6, one hundred and eighty nine Texas volunteers under Colonel Travis defended the Alamo against as many as 5000 Mexican soldiers under General Santa Anna.  This heroic defense gave the Texians time to organize their independence effort, and kept Santa Anna’s army from advancing.  On April 21, 1836, the Texian army defeated Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto, finally winning that independence.

In 2016, through the effort of the Texas Nationalist Movement, the Texas Legislature authorized the sale of fireworks for Texas Independence Day and San Jacinto Day.  While an independence referendum is the TNM’s top priority, emphasizing Texas culture and Texas history are also central to the TNM’s mission.  Fireworks sales are now authorized from February 24 through March 2, and from April 16 through April 21, subject to approval by your local county commissioner.  If your county doesn’t allow these sales, your county commissioner’s office deserves a phone call.

Even in these times, when freedom is more often eroded than celebrated, and independence more often stifled than declared, we have the privilege of celebrating our truest independence day, March 2.  Nobody can celebrate Rhode Island independence day, or Montana independence day, but only Texas Independence Day testifies to our unique heritage among the states as a once, and possibly future, independent nation.  I hope that one day soon we’ll have yet another independence day to celebrate, when Texas releases itself of the burdens of the United States and its national debt, overreaching federal government, and the cultural and moral impositions of its unelected judiciary.  For now, I hope you will join Texians everywhere in vigorously celebrating our history and independence on March 2, fireworks and all.