Blessings from Texas

Mar. 1—Some 50 non-Texas born individuals have registered for Thursday's baptism to become Texan during the 42nd Annual Texas Independence Day and General Sam Houston Birthday Celebration. Liz Patton will be assuming the role of her late husband, James Patton, as participants are "baptized" Texan with spring water as they have been for years.

The annual tradition, attended by natives of other states and sometimes other countries, includes water collected from Sam Houston Spring, which is dotted on registrants heads. James Patton was an archivist for the Walker County Historical Commission and performed the ceremony before his passing last year. Patton would bless guests in the name of Crockett, Fannin, Bowie and Seguin, declaring them native Texans.

"We give them a certificate, they get a gift bag and a t-shirt, and they're a native Texan. People enjoy it. They come from near and far to participate. ... It's not a boring ceremony by any means. It's always fun and people enjoy coming," said Patton in 2020.

The Historical Commission President Scott Collier will carry on the tradition by reading the names of the newly-blessed Texans.

The Walker County Historical Commission, the Sam Houston Statue and Visitors Center, and the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library have been working together for years to celebrate Houston and Texas Independence Day.

The annual festivities will begin with a reception from 9:15 to 10:15 a.m. at the Walker County Museum-Gibbs Powell Home, located at 1228 11th Street.

At 10:15 a.m., the traditional march to Sam Houston's gravesite at Oakwood Cemetery will commence at Old Main Pit, adjacent to Austin Hall, located on the campus of Sam Houston State University (SHSU) and proceed to Sam Houston's grave by means of University Avenue led by the SHSU ROTC, with the support of the Department of Student Activities, the Bearkat History Club, and members of the student body, faculty, staff, and administration.

The "March to the Grave" tradition goes back to at least 1889 when students from the Sam Houston Normal Institute marched to General Sam Houston's grave in celebration of his birthday. A special ceremony to honor General Sam Houston will take place at 11 a.m. at his gravesite in Oakwood Cemetery, located at Avenue I and 9th Street.

This year's featured speaker is author Dr. Gregg Dimmick, who will be giving a presentation titled, "Come and Take It: The Tale of Two Cannons." Honored guests will include a number of General Sam Houston and Margaret Houston's descendants.

The gravesite ceremony will also include the SHSU ROTC Color Guard and Firing Team, the laying of wreaths, and a "Baptized Texan Ceremony". Registration for the blessing is required. In case of inclement weather, the ceremony will be held at the Katy & E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center, located at 1402 19th Street.

Immediately following the ceremony is a luncheon at 12:30 p.m. in the W.S. Gibbs Conference Hall on the lower level of the Katy & E. Don Walker, Sr. Education Center. During lunch, Dr. Dimmick will discuss the research and archaeology that informed his book Sea of Mud: The Retreat of the Mexican Army after San Jacinto, An Archeological Investigation.

Following the luncheon, in the same location, the celebration continues with a "Toast to Texas" and birthday cake.

Additionally, the exhibit, "Ladies of Influence: Significant Women in the Life of Sam Houston" will be on display in the north gallery of the Sam Houston Memorial Museum and Republic of Texas Presidential Library, to which the museum is offering free admission on March 2.

For reservations and payment, visit http://www.huntsvilletexas.com/236/Tx-Independence-Day.

For more information, contact Tracy Rikard at trikard@huntsvilletx.gov or by calling (936) 291-5932, or contact the Walker County Historical Commission at (936) 435-2497.