D-Day Order Speech by Dwight Eisenhower

D-Day Order speech by Dwight Eisenhower

You will bring about the destruction of the German war machine, the elimination of Nazi tyranny over the oppressed peoples of Europe, and security for ourselves in a free world.

Your task will not be an easy one. Your enemy is well trained, well equipped, and battle-hardened. He will fight savagely.

But this is the year 1944. Much has happened since the Nazi triumphs of 1940-41.

The United Nations have inflicted upon the Germans great defeat in open battle man to man. Our air offensive has seriously reduced their strength in the air and their capacity to wage war on the ground.

Our home fronts have given us an overwhelming superiority in weapons and munitions of war and placed at our disposal great reserves of trained fighting men.

The tide has turned.

The free men of the world are marching together to victory. I have full confidence in your courage, devotion to duty, and skill in battle.

We will accept nothing less than full victory.

Good luck, and let us all beseech the blessings of Almighty God upon this great and noble undertaking.

Old River-Winfree Founders Day

I haven’t posted in a while, but I did win the election. I was disappointed at the low turnout. Even though Old River-Winfree is only 1364 citizens at last census, only 70 +/- people vote? Well, the only thing is, you can’t complain when things don’t go your way with the town.

I will continue to work hard to make Old River-Winfree a Prettier, Safer, and profitable place to live. I continue working on the River Project, which has been a dream of mine for the town.

Founders Day is picking up steam as we get closer to the date.

The Costume Ball is finalized on July 18. On Friday, July 24, we will have a HUGE water slide for the kids from 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Go to the website at www.orwfoundersday.com for all the information. Vendors will be there, so mom and dad can shop while the kids are having fun!

July 25th is the big day of events! Something for everyone!

I’ll be posting more, so be sure and come back often!

Some things will forever stir your heart!

Letter from Travis at the Alamo

Commander of the Alamo -
Bejar, Feby 24th 1836 -

To the people of Texas & all Americans in the world – Fellow citizens & compatriots -

I am besieged, by a thousand or more of the Mexicans under Santa Anna – I have sustained continual bombardment and cannonade for 24 hours & have not lost a man – The enemy has demanded a surrender at discretion, otherwise, the garrison are to be put to the sword, if the fort is taken – I have answered the demand with a cannon shot, & our flag still waves proudly from the walls – I shall never surrender or retreat. Then, I call on you in the name of Liberty, of patriotism & everything dear to the American character, to come to our aid, with all dispatch – The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily & will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible & die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor & that of his country – Victory or Death.

P.S. The Lord is on our side – When the enemy appeared in sight we had not three bushels of corn – We have since found in deserted houses 80 or 90 bushels and got into the walls 20 or 30 head of Beeves.

William Barret Travis
Lt. Col. Comdt.

 

William Barret Travis
(1809-1836)

27 Years Old

 

Little help came. Santa Anna’s troops broke through on March 6. All of the defenders of the Alamo died.

This historic letter was carried from the Alamo by 30-year-old Captain Albert Martin of Gonzales, a native of Rhode Island. The next day, en route to his hometown, Martin heard the distant rumble of artillery fire. At the first opportunity he stopped and added a postscript:

Since the above was written I heard a very heavy Cannonade during the whole day. think there must have been an attack made upon the alamo. We were short of Ammunition when I left Hurry on all the men you can in haste…

When I left there was but 150 determined to do or die tomorrow I leave for Bejar with what men I can raise & will be there Monday [a?] at all events – -

Col Almonte is there the troops are under the Command of Gen. Seisma.

Martin arrived at Gonzales on the afternoon of the 25th. He passed the dispatch to Lancelot Smither, who had arrived from the Alamo the day before with an estimate of Mexican troop strength. Smither felt obliged to add his own emphatic note to the back of Travis’ letter:

N. [B ?] I hope Every One will Rendevu at gonzales as soon as poseble as the Brave Solders are suffereing do not deglect the powder. is very scarce and should not be delad one moment

There is evidence that Smither extracted the essence of the letter and deposited this copy with Judge Andrew Ponton before he departed Gonzales. Ponton prepared other copies and forwarded these to Nacogdoches and other population centers in the province. One such copy existed in the C.H. Raguet Papers in Marshall and was reproduced in full by Amelia Williams in her “Critical Study of the Siege of the Alamo.”

Back to Letter Front

 

Back of Letter

Historical Museums

I’ve been busy, but went over to the forum that West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce put on last Monday.  I was allowed three (3) minutes to speak and let me tell you, that is only 180 seconds.  Anyone that knows me, I’m just getting wound up in five minutes, so you can imagine I didn’t get to say everything I wanted to about my town and my platform.

But, I did tell about Old River Baptist and the Historic Little Rock Baptist church, both are a great part of our community.  I told about the Floating Capital of Texas, The Cayuga, that came up our Old River and was eventually bought by one of the original settlers, Robert Wiseman.  (see the story on the ORW History pages at www.orwfoundersday.com

They asked me what did I think my duty was as City Council Woman.  I said it was making hard decisions, such as dissolving the police department before the town went bankrupt.  There are other reasons,but I won’t give them at this time.

I was invited to go to the Chambers County Historical Commission meeting and found a great attendance of members and guests that are interested in saving and preserving the History of Chambers County.  There is also a page on that at the website.

I then received a call to attend the Dayton Historical Commission on Monday Night coming and I accepted on behalf of our town.  They will help us in our founders day endeavor.  I am looking forward to that.  I will try to put links on the website for their museum, too.

You don’t have to spend money and travel way off to have a vacation.  Make your home your headquarters and drive to a different museum every day for a week.

On the website is information about ones that I am discovering as I put the historical pages together.

I’m giving out more of the Ambassador and T-Shirt sponsor T-Shirts today, so I will write later on this week.

Who Knew?

Russian Memorial to 9-11

Did you know about this?  It wasn’t on any of the news stations.

Read on about it!

September 11, 2006 – Dedication of the memorial “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism”

Time cures everything, but there are things we cannot and must not forget. Standing more than 100 feet tall, “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism” honors victims of 9/11 and the 1993 World Trade Center bombings and serves a symbol of solidarity in the fight against world terrorism. Created by Russian sculptor Zurab Tsereteli, the memorial was a gift from the Russian people. 

The Memorial was dedicated on the fifth anniversary of 9/11, in a ceremony attended by President Bill Clinton, Secretary of the Department of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff, Governor Jon Corzine, Senator Frank Lautenberg, Senator Robert Menendez and family members of World Trade Center victims. Grammy award winner, Leann Rimes, sang the National Anthem.  

By day, or nighttime when it is lit, the Memorial is clearly visible from lower Manhattan, the Staten Island Ferry, ships passing through New York Harbor and airplanes approaching Newark Airport. 

In October, Harbor View Park officially opened to the public. Harbor View Park was built by the BLRA and funded in part by the Hudson County Open Space Trust Fund and a contribution from Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. Its centerpiece is the 9/11 memorial “To the Struggle Against World Terrorism.” With $600,000 in Green Acres funding from New Jersey’s Department of Environmental Protection, the BLRA will construct a new bulkhead along Harbor View Park’s eastern boundary, stabilize the shoreline, and extend the park all the way to river’s edge.

Visit the Bayonne, New Jersey Website:  http://www.bayonnelra.com/events.htm

Truth or Fiction with more pictures:  http://www.truthorfiction.com/rumors/r/russian-911-memorial.htm

 

Ask me a question!

Old River Diva

On Tuesday,  April 28th  7:00 p.m. Barbers Hill Middle School Auditorium, the West Chambers County Chamber of Commerce will facilitate an opportunity for the votes of WCC to hear the candidates running in the upcomeing municipal and school board races.

Each candidate will be allowed three minutes to introduce themselves and present their view.  After introductions, the candidates will be asked questions by members of the audience.  Each candidate will be allowed one minute to answer the question.

NOW………

I don’t know how I can introduce myself in three minutes!  It takes me that long to clear my throat! Ha, Ha!

But I will talk about my Platform and about my beloved town of Old River-Winfree and the River That Runs Through It, Old River!

Ya’ll come!!

Old River Diva (Colleen)

Founders Day Meeting on Monday

Monday, April 20th at the Old River-Winfree Community Building the ORW Founders Day Committee is meeting!

All interested citizens are urged to come. We will have Billy Wallace, who is in charge of the Historical Reenactment, Chuck Chandler, Historical Musician that will be playing at the Costume Ball, and Boyce Morris, Historical artifacts, plus all Ambassadors.

Ya’ll Come!!

Today I met History

This morning I went over to meet with Boyce Morris and his lovely wife. What a treat it was!! Boyce has hundreds of historical items of the Old River Area that are stunning to see.

Boyce will be at our Old River-Winfree Founders Day inside the Community Building at the Fairgrounds. On display will be his artifacts that will remind you and our youngins’ of the history of the Old River.

Boyce has the same idea that I have and that is to have and Old River-Winfree museum to store and showcase all the artifacts and historical letter, pictures and such of our Proud Old Town!

Did you know there used to be a town name Archer south of the River Bridge and a town by the name of Stradler north of the River Bridge.

The area was once a go-to spot for settlers from far and wide. They would come and camp out for the night and then stock up and leave the next day. There was even a post office north of the Bridge.

So much history that will be lost to our area if we don’t stand up and sponsor a place to house our history.

We are getting there!

God Bless,

Neighborhood Watch

We are adding more citizens daily to the Neighborhood Watch Program in Old River-Winfree.

We have our Commander, Sandra Wilson, Coordinator, Me (Colleen Fontenot), and lots of citizens in Old River-Winfree and Timber Ridge Subdivision.

Join up and make a difference. We just need your e-mail address, phone number and street address.

The Great State of Texas