¤ Drums ¤ It's
right here in San Antonio,
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Texas, America. An ancient
cathedral but it's really one of
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the most famous battle sights in
history. A few brave men taking
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on entire army. And what's
amazing is that this disaster
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actually led to the creation of
a new state and a new country.
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This is the very place
where Davy Crockett the famed
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frontiersman and James Bowie
the renowned knife fighter and
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Colonel William Travis took
a stand for freedom and changed
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the course of history. Come with
me and let's take a look at the
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intriguing Battle of the Alamo.
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¤ ¤
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Texas. It's the second largest
American state in both size and
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population, but it's second
to none when it comes to state
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pride. When you visit Texas you
soon find out that everything
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really is bigger in Texas. Texas
produces more crude oil than
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any other state in the U.S. It's
also the leading cattle, cotton
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and wool producer. Texas has the
largest state capital building
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of all the 50 states, the most
airports, the largest ranch, the
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first domed sports stadium and
how about this? The first word
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spoken from the moon was a
Texas location. Texas is the
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only state in the U.S. to have
flown the flag of six separate
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nations throughout its history.
Spain, France, Mexico, the
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Republic of Texas, the
Confederate States of America
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and the United States of America
It's all part of that pride of
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Texas being bigger, stronger,
better, faster, richer. To
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understand this state pride
and history we're going to visit
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where modern Texas actually
began dramatically. Where it
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began quite unexpectedly. In
1519 the Spanish explorer Alonzo
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Alvarez de Pineda was the first
European to reach Texas. Other
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Spanish explorers soon followed.
They claimed the land for Spain.
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The Spanish wanted to protect
their new territory and guard
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against anyone else claiming it.
They decided that the best way
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to do this was to build a chain
of five missions along the San
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Antonio River. The mission
system was developed with three
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major purposes in mind. Firstly
to spread the Christian message
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and convert the native Americans
to the Catholic faith. Secondly
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to extend Spanish civilization
by introducing the Spanish way
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of life to the native Americans
and thirdly to defend the
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norther border of the Spanish
empire in the Americas. So the
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five frontier mission complexes
established along a 12 km
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stretch of the San Antonio River
were the Spanish crown's effort
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to evangelize, colonize and
defend the northern frontier of
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New Spain. If Spain could
recruit the natives to become
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members of the Catholic church
and citizens of Spain it could
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claim and control the
entire region of Texas. Catholic
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missionaries taught the local
natives specific vocations. The
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men learned farming skills,
carpentry, blacksmithing,
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ranching, masonry, stone cutting
and building. The woman were
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taught textile weaving, sewing,
cooking and hand crafts. The
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missionaries introduced the
natives to the Spanish way of
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life. They endeavored to make
life in the mission communities
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similar to that of Spanish
villages. Military forces were
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often located in the vicinity of
each mission to offer protection
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and enforce law and order. This
chain of missions became the
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largest concentration of
Catholic missions in North
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America. The southernmost
mission was San Francisco de la
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Espada. It was established here
in 1731 and was known for its
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beautiful chapel and unique
stone entrance. It was the only
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mission to make bricks and
so the influence of the native
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artisans from this mission is
evident throughout the region.
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Several kilometers upstream
Mission San Juan was established
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in the same year, 1731. It
became the supplier of iron,
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wood, leather, and cloth
products made by the local
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Indians in its worship. It was
also a center for agriculture
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with its rich farm and
pasture lands. It was a regional
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supplier of agricultural
products. The next in the chain
is Mission San Jose
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It was founded in 1720 and is
the largest mission in the area.
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It has an imposing church with
large picturesque arches. The
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size of the complex along with
the unique architecture of the
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church and the richness of its
fields ensured that it became a
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major social center in
the region. Several kilometers
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farther upstream is Mission
Conception. It's considered the
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most attractive of the missions.
It's an imposing cross-shaped
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structure with a beautiful
interior. Of all the missions
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this is the only church building
that has never collapsed. Today
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it's the oldest unrestored stone
church in America. The fifth and
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last of the five mission is the
oldest and unquestionably the
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most famous, San Antonio de
Valero. This building attracts
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people from all over the world.
It has an ornate facade and a
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distinctive architectural _
This complex, the church, this
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shrine was established in 1718.
By the late 1700s the number of
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native converts had dwindled in
most of the Spanish missions and
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the rich lands were coveted by
others. In order to defend its
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land Spain sent soldiers to the
region and in 1903, 100 Spanish
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soldiers and their families from
Mexico moved into the mission.
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The mission's old convent became
an army barrack and the second
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story became a military hospital
the first hospital in Texas.
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Soon people were calling the old
mission the Alamo. But trouble
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was brewing. Mexico's people
grew unhappy with Spanish rule.
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They wanted to govern themselves
In 1821 Mexico finally won its
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independence from Spain and
gained control of Texas. Texas
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became a troubled area for the
new Mexican government. Megav
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Indians who lived here often
fought with the Mexicans who
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moved into the area. The
government decided that the
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solution was to develop the area
Now to do this they needed more
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people, more settlers living
in Texas. So they offered cheap
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land to U.S. citizens
who promised to settle here.
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But then in 1830 Mexico's
President Bustamonte banned
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U.S. citizens from immigrating
to Texas. The land was so cheap
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and plentiful here
and apparently too many
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Americans were coming in and
settling here. In fact, there
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were more Americans than
Mexicans living in Texas and the
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Mexican president saw them as
a threat, so he outlawed them.
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Now this made the American
colonists very angry. They held
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a convention and proposed that
Texas break away and become a
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separate state. This city
of San Antonio, a little colony
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back then, was captured by the
rebellious Texans with Steven
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Austin in 1835. Now Austin was
the commander of the Texan army
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and they fortified this Alamo,
this former mission that was a
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bit like a fortress in the
center of town. In 1836, the
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Texans formerly declared
independence at Washington on
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The Brazos. Now the battles
really began. But this is rather
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odd because General Sam Houston
had felt that holding San
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Antonio and the Alamo was
impossible and unnecessary
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because most of the U.S.
colonists were settled far to
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the east of this city in Texas.
So he sent Jim Bowie, famous
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knife fighter here. Orders were
to destroy the Alamo and return
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with all the men and artillery
stationed here. But Bowie
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decided to ignore Houston's
orders. He felt San Antonio
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should be defended. It seemed
the most important town in Texas
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and these men had accurate
rifles and a handful of canons.
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Maybe this small number
of Texans could hold the city
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indefinitely against all the
odds The official commander here
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was Lieutenant Colonel
William Travis. He had about 200
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defenders and half of them
weren't even enlisted soldiers,
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just volunteers. Technically
they could come and go as they
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pleased. They also wanted
to listen to the famous knife
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fighter and frontiersman
Jim Bowie more than Travis.
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Mexican General Santa Anna came
here with a big army and laid
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siege to the area. The defenders
had to retreat into the relative
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safety of the Alamo. The men
looked out from these walls and
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saw something. A red flag. What
did that mean? Well it meant
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no quarter would be given from
Santa Anna. No life would be
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spared even with surrender.
Everyone was going to die.
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And under siege these men
had to sometimes forage to get
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supplies. Fortunately, they did
have a well the Convento dug in
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the 1700s. Those 200 Alamo
defenders got their water here.
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Sometimes gathered here, but
they needed more. More soldiers
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Colonel Travis busied himself
sending out requests for help.
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And just a few groups managed
to come in through enemy lines.
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Inside the Alamo compound
there's a monument just outside
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the long barrack to 32 brave men
who made their way somehow from
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the nearby settlement of
Gonzales. And yes, they would
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perish like the others. Now
here's where legend begins. This
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plaque commemorates the William
Travis line. Colonel Travis
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realized that the situation of
the Alamo defenders was hopeless
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They were all going to die. And
so on the night of March 5, he
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took his sword and he drew a
line in the sand. He challenged
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his battle-weary men this
way as the plaque says. Those
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Every man stepped across
that line. Well it seemed like
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everyone. One man actually
fled the Alamo that night. Now
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by then Jim Bowie was sick in
bed with a debilitating illness,
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but he asked his men to carry
him across the line. He just had
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to still be one of the defenders
Those defenders made a statement
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They took a stand. They
were committed to the cause of
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independence. They wanted
freedom and they were willing to
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die for it. Now let's look at
the actual Alamo battle. In 1836
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this building saw the battle
begin and get more and more
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brutal. The people inside
the Alamo were surrounded. The
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defenders had to retreat inside
once the outer walls had been
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breached. They held off the
Mexican forces for 13 days. Then
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early in the morning on March
6, Santa Anna's soldiers fully
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attacked from their siege. They
attacked the Alamo walls from
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all sides. These 200 Alamo men
put up quite a fight. They had
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rifles, they had canons. They
blazed out from these walls and
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cut down many enemy soldiers,
but more and more kept coming
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and soon the Mexican soldiers
had succeeded in climbing the
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walls. In the end there were
just too many soldiers in that
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enemy army. In 90 minutes they
had broken into the Alamo. They
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had broken through the gates on
the north side, broken through
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the stone walls. The Mexicans
poured into the compound. The
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Texans retreated to the
long barracks to make a stand.
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They piled mattresses up against
the doors. The Mexicans simply
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rolled canons up to the doors
and fired killing just about all
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the defenders. Only a handful
were taken as prisoners, but
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they were quickly executed. Just
some women and children in this
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compound were spared. Now this
seems like a disaster, right?
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Many didn't actually need to be
here, half of them volunteers,
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putting up a hopeless fight,
all of them killed. The Alamo
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was indeed a tragedy.
And yet, it would lead to the
00:14:40.11\00:14:44.11
independence of this state.
It would lead to Texas becoming
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essentially a nation. It would
lead to freedom. Yes, Texas made
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quite a stand here for freedom.
And I believe there's a way that
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each one of us can identify with
another stand that creates a
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remarkable kind of freedom.
Do you realize that God actually
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made a stand in the person
of Jesus Christ? He came into a
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world of cruelty and bloodshed.
He came into a world of constant
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war and endless conflicts in the
human heart. And he gave himself
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up at a certain spot, a hill
called Golgotha. He laid his
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body down on the cross. Yes, the
battle of the Alamo strikingly
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pictures the stand made by Jesus
Christ at Golgotha. That Messiah
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that hero enables each of us no
matter what our losses, what our
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problems to get into a new
kingdom, a new kingdom of heaven
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This is what Jesus proclaimed
in Mark chapter 1 and verse 15:
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Accepting Christ, accepting
his sacrifice in our place does
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create a new kingdom for us.
We belong as beloved sons and
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daughters to this Divine Royalty
We have an identity in heaven.
00:16:17.34\00:16:21.24
We have a place where we can
find peace and be secure. Yes,
00:16:23.11\00:16:27.12
it can come to us in the midst
of our worst troubles. When
00:16:28.62\00:16:32.62
Jesus freed individuals from
oppression, when he brought them
00:16:33.15\00:16:37.16
peace he said in Luke
chapter 11 and verse 20:
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The stand that Jesus Christ made
on that hill did indeed create a
00:16:46.40\00:16:50.41
new nation. And each of us can
be citizens of his kingdom. Let
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me tell you specifically how
the battle of the Alamo led to
00:16:58.78\00:17:02.78
freedom. That fight actually
proved quite costly for Santa
00:17:03.89\00:17:07.89
Anna the Mexican general He lost
about 600 soldiers that day and
00:17:08.92\00:17:12.93
several of his officers were
appalled that he didn't wait for
00:17:13.46\00:17:17.47
some canons being brought to
the battlefield, wait for a much
00:17:17.93\00:17:21.90
better bombardment. But here's
what made a real impact in Texas
00:17:22.64\00:17:26.64
the martyrdom of those inside
this Alamo. Word got out about
00:17:27.28\00:17:31.25
the heroic defense mounted by
200 outnumbered men. It spread.
00:17:32.01\00:17:36.02
it inspired many new recruits
to flock to the cause. The ranks
00:17:37.02\00:17:41.02
of the Texan army swelled. In
less than two months General Sam
00:17:42.69\00:17:46.70
Houston would crush the Mexicans
in the battle of San Jacinto. He
00:17:47.26\00:17:51.23
He destroyed a large part of
the Mexican army and captured
00:17:51.77\00:17:55.77
General Santa Anna himself. And
as they ran into battle, those
00:17:56.60\00:18:00.61
Texans shouted, Remember
the Alamo! as a battle cry. That
00:18:02.04\00:18:06.05
battle ended the war and gave
birth to the Republic of Texas
00:18:06.88\00:18:10.89
on April 21, 1836. So the Alamo
played an important part in the
00:18:12.72\00:18:18.56
formation of America and
impacted world history. It led
00:18:18.59\00:18:22.50
to the annexation of Texas by
the United States and ultimately
00:18:22.86\00:18:26.87
to America expanding its borders
to the Pacific Ocean. It gave
00:18:27.50\00:18:31.47
the United States vast new
territories, full of wealth and
00:18:32.11\00:18:36.11
promise that contributed to its
role as a world power that has
00:18:36.64\00:18:40.62
played a major role in world
affairs. This tower celebrates
00:18:41.92\00:18:45.92
that. It's the Spirit of
Sacrifice Cenotaph Sculpted from
00:18:47.09\00:18:51.09
Georgia marble it stands on a
base of pink Texas granite. You
00:18:52.23\00:18:56.23
see sculptures around it paying
tribute to the men who died
00:18:56.56\00:19:00.57
rather than surrender to
overwhelming odds. According to
00:19:01.04\00:19:05.04
tradition this Alamo Cenotaph
marks the very spot where the
00:19:05.97\00:19:09.98
slain defenders of the fortified
mission were piled after the
00:19:10.85\00:19:14.85
battle and burned in great
funeral piles. Their remains
00:19:15.12\00:19:19.12
were later collected by located
by local citizens and today are
00:19:19.79\00:19:23.79
located in a model
casket at nearby San
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Fernando Cathedral. And here's
what it says: They chose never
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to surrender nor retreat. These
brave hearts with flags still
00:19:32.73\00:19:36.34
proudly waving, perished in the
flames of immortality that their
00:19:37.61\00:19:41.61
high sacrifice might lead to
the founding of this Texas. Yes,
00:19:42.94\00:19:46.95
today the battle of the Alamo
has achieved legendary status
00:19:50.59\00:19:53.76
particularly in Texas. The
defenders are remembered as
00:19:53.79\00:19:57.73
great heroes, Bowie and Travis
and others all have things named
00:19:58.23\00:20:02.23
after them including cities,
counties, parks, schools and
00:20:03.00\00:20:07.00
more. Well, what about
that other stand, that stand of
00:20:07.60\00:20:11.61
Christ on a hill called
Golgotha I believe each of us
00:20:12.64\00:20:16.95
has a choice
00:20:16.98\00:20:18.31
to make when we're confronted
with this remarkable life that
00:20:18.35\00:20:22.48
spilled out before us at the
cross. What are we going to do
00:20:22.78\00:20:26.76
with this God who sacrifices
himself, with this God who takes
00:20:26.79\00:20:30.73
on the penalty of our sins, with
this God who takes a stand for
00:20:31.86\00:20:35.86
our freedom? You see the Bible
says that we're all sinners,
00:20:36.83\00:20:40.84
that we've all made mistakes and
rebelled against God and deep
00:20:41.37\00:20:45.37
down we know that's true.
The Bible also tells us that the
00:20:45.94\00:20:49.94
penalty for sin, for rebellion
against God, is death. But God
00:20:50.55\00:20:54.55
is love and he couldn't bear the
thought of us dying for our sins
00:20:55.45\00:20:59.45
and so he took a stand against
sin and evil and he gave his Son
00:21:00.06\00:21:04.06
Jesus to die in our place and
pay the penalty for our sins.
00:21:05.13\00:21:09.06
And now he offers us the
gift of forgiveness and gives us
00:21:09.10\00:21:13.07
freedom. Please notice what
the Bible says here in Romans
00:21:14.20\00:21:18.17
chapter 6 and verse 23:
00:21:18.77\00:21:20.68
So how can we respond to God and
his offer? Well, I believe we
00:21:30.05\00:21:33.96
have to take a stand ourselves.
Each of us must choose this
00:21:33.99\00:21:37.93
place as our starting point.
Here where Christ poured out his
00:21:38.09\00:21:42.10
life I'm going to begin my life.
It's true. If you don't stand
00:21:45.10\00:21:49.10
for something you'll fall for
anything. And plenty of people
00:21:49.17\00:21:53.17
are falling in our world today.
They're falling into animosity
00:21:53.98\00:21:57.95
into conflict and we can make a
stand and the cross is the place
00:21:58.48\00:22:02.48
to make it. It's where we
stand for freedom. It's where we
00:22:04.32\00:22:08.32
accept our responsibility for
our problems. It's where we find
00:22:08.66\00:22:12.66
forgiveness. It's where we can
stake a claim to the love the
00:22:12.93\00:22:16.93
heavenly Father offers his lost
children. Let me show you one of
00:22:17.27\00:22:21.27
the most fascinating stands in
San Antonio. This is the tower
00:22:21.94\00:22:25.94
of the Americas, a 250 meter
observation town and restaurant
00:22:28.34\00:22:32.35
located in downtown San Antonio.
Looking out these windows you
00:22:33.45\00:22:39.52
get a very clear view of how
much Texas has grown since that
00:22:39.55\00:22:43.26
battle of the Alamo, how much
it has taken in through freedom.
00:22:43.83\00:22:47.83
And the tower of the Americas
also reflects the tower of
00:22:49.50\00:22:52.53
Golgotha, that cross of Christ.
So much can come our way when
00:22:52.57\00:22:56.54
we stand fast in the true grace
that comes to us from the cross.
00:22:57.64\00:23:01.54
The cross is where peace begins.
It's where grace begins. It's
00:23:01.58\00:23:08.28
where freedom spreads out.
Listen to Paul's great challenge
00:23:08.32\00:23:12.19
in Galatians
chapter five and verse one:
00:23:12.69\00:23:15.59
Christ paid the ultimate price
for our freedom. He made a stand
00:23:27.57\00:23:31.57
He carried the cross to Calvary.
He hung alone there between
00:23:32.91\00:23:36.91
heaven and earth. So please make
a stand there. Don't go back to
00:23:37.65\00:23:41.62
a life of bondage. Rather focus
on Jesus and a life that speaks
00:23:43.65\00:23:49.59
to you at Calvary. When
Christ gave up his life he was
00:23:49.62\00:23:54.10
stretching out his arms to the
end. Not just because they were
00:23:55.56\00:23:59.57
nailed to the wood. No, he was
stretched out in forgiveness.
00:23:59.77\00:24:03.77
They know not what they do. He
was stretched out in acceptance.
00:24:05.27\00:24:09.28
You will be with me in Paradise.
That's the kind of stand he made
00:24:09.91\00:24:15.28
and we need to make a stand with
the one who gave himself up who
00:24:15.32\00:24:19.49
stands for freedom. Are you
ready to go to that place? Are
00:24:20.69\00:24:26.83
you ready to bring your life to
a hill called Calvary? Are you
00:24:26.86\00:24:30.70
ready to confess your sins? Are
you ready to look the crucified
00:24:30.80\00:24:34.70
Christ in the eye and say, Here
I am. I invite you to make your
00:24:34.74\00:24:40.68
stand right now with the God of
grace and freedom. I invite you
00:24:40.71\00:24:44.78
to place your trust entirely
in the one who takes on all your
00:24:45.91\00:24:49.92
burdens and gives you
freedom right now as we pray.
00:24:50.09\00:24:54.09
Dear Father, we come just as we
are to the cross of Jesus Christ
00:24:55.12\00:25:02.46
We come not because we're good
enough but because we need the
00:25:02.50\00:25:06.53
life that is poured out there
for each one of us. We need
00:25:07.44\00:25:11.44
your forgiveness. We need
your accepting us as sons and
00:25:11.57\00:25:15.38
daughters of God. Thank you for
making a sacrificial stand at
00:25:15.41\00:25:19.38
Calvary. Thank you for dying in
our place and laying down your
00:25:21.38\00:25:24.79
life for our redemption.
We accept this gladly and
00:25:24.82\00:25:29.59
gratefully in the name
of our Savior Jesus, Amen.
00:25:29.62\00:25:36.36
The battle of the Alamo where
200 brave men took a stand for
00:25:36.40\00:25:43.07
freedom and changed the course
of history continues to inspire
00:25:43.10\00:25:46.94
people around the world. Their
story resonates with us because
00:25:46.98\00:25:51.61
we value freedom and understand
its importance. Freedom allows
00:25:51.65\00:25:55.75
us to speak, act, pursue
happiness and live life as we
00:25:55.78\00:26:00.39
choose. God intends that we
should be free and happy and has
00:26:00.42\00:26:05.79
placed the desire for freedom
in our hearts. That's his plan
00:26:05.83\00:26:09.40
for our lives. And in the Bible
he shares the secrets of freedom
00:26:09.43\00:26:14.37
and true happiness. If you
would like to know more about
00:26:14.40\00:26:17.54
God's plan for your life and the
freedom that he offers then I'd
00:26:17.57\00:26:21.98
like to recommend a free gift we
have for all our viewers today.
00:26:22.01\00:26:25.61
It's a booklet called The
Secrets of Freedom: Worth the
00:26:25.65\00:26:30.59
Sacrifice. This booklet is our
gift to you and is absolutely
00:26:30.62\00:26:35.56
free. There are no costs or
obligations whatsoever. This
00:26:35.59\00:26:40.33
booklet will provide you with a
new insight into the importance
00:26:40.36\00:26:44.43
of true freedom and happiness
and how to find it. So please
00:26:44.47\00:26:49.50
don't miss this wonderful
opportunity to receive the free
00:26:49.54\00:26:53.07
gift we have for you today.
Here's the information you need:
00:26:53.11\00:26:57.71
Phone us now on 0481315101 or
text us on 0491222999 or visit
00:26:57.75\00:27:12.69
our website:
theincrediblejourney.tv to
00:27:12.73\00:27:17.23
request today's free offer.
So don't delay. Contact us right
00:27:17.27\00:27:21.67
now. ¤ ¤
00:27:21.70\00:27:31.95
If you've enjoyed today's
journey, be sure to join us
00:27:31.98\00:27:35.08
again next week when we
will share another of life's
00:27:35.12\00:27:38.12
life's journeys together
and experience another new and
00:27:38.15\00:27:41.66
thought provoking perspective
on the peace, insight,
00:27:41.69\00:27:45.43
understanding and hope that
only the Bible can give us. The
00:27:45.46\00:27:52.03
Incredible Journey truly is
television that changes lives.
00:27:52.07\00:27:55.00
Until next week, remember the
ultimate destination of life's
00:27:55.04\00:28:00.01
journey. Now I saw a new heaven
and a new earth. And God will
00:28:00.04\00:28:04.98
wipe away every tear from their
eyes. There shall be no more
00:28:05.01\00:28:09.78
death nor sorrow nor crying.
There shall be no more pain for
00:28:09.82\00:28:13.09
the former
things have passed away.
00:28:13.12\00:28:15.39
¤ ¤
00:28:15.42\00:28:30.11