Why do Tejanos like Independence Day so much?
Because they have FOUR of them. (l) September 16, 1810, (2) April 6, 1813, (3) March 2, 1836, and (4) July 4, 1776. (l) September 16, 1810. This is the mother of all Texas independence days. On this day, “El Diezyseis de Septiembre” Father Miguel Hidalgo proclaimed in his “Grito de Dolores” that Mexico was an independent country. In Texas, Don Bernardo Gutierrez de Lara answered Father Hidalgo’s call and lit the spark of the independence movement in Texas. He was the first person to envision an independent Texas. (2) April 6, 1813. Lt. Col Gutierrez de Lara led his army from Louisiana to Texas and took possession of San Fernando (San Antonio) and the Presidio of the Alamo on April 1, 1813. On April 6, Don Bernardo declared that Texas was independent. He established the First Republic of Texas, becoming its first President. This is the most glorious independence days for Tejanos for it was on this day that Texas became independent for the first time. Don Bernardo read the words from the
