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On Wednesday, the Tom Green County Historical Commission held a formal flag-raising ceremony on the courthouse lawn, followed by exhibits and programs inside the nearby Edd B. Keyes building.
On Saturday, the Republic of Texas Independence Committee, headed by John Luce and Bill Hill, will hold a less formal party at El Paseo de Santa Angela for the 175th anniversary of independence. The Paseo celebration, which will take place all day Saturday, includes barbecue and chili cook-offs, a car show and various vendors. Spectators may want to come out around noon Saturday or later, when the celebration is in full swing, John told me. There's no admission charge, he added.
And True Texans won't want to miss the closing ceremony about 5 p.m. Saturday. A Confederate color guard will march; Golda Foster, chairwoman of the local historical commission, will give a brief talk about Alamo survivor Susanna Dickinson; and San Angelo cowboy poet Monte Jones ("Biscuits O'Bryan") will read Col. William B. Travis' famous "last letter" from the Alamo.
Last year when Biscuits read the letter there were few dry eyes left in the crowd, John told me. Cook-off awards will be presented following the ceremony.
Another celebration of the 175th anniversary of Texas independence has been on quiet display on the courthouse lawn since October.
The "14 recognized flags of the Texas Revolution" have been flown, one after another, from the Veterans Flagpole on the southeast corner of the courthouse lawn.
On Wednesday, the Dodson flag — three vertical blue, white and red stripes with a single star in the blue field — flapped in the warm breeze.
Other flags will fly through April 22, Golda, an expert on state as well as county history, told me.
Why celebrate?
"It's important to remember Independence Day," she told me. "We're honoring not only fallen heroes, but also the citizens who made the commitment to freedom and stuck with it. They built a great legacy.
"Some of those people gave their lives — gave everything — for the creation of the Republic of Texas and the great state we live in now," she said.
"It wasn't just Bowie, Travis, Crockett, Houston and Stephen F. Austin," she added. "It also was private citizens, the farmer's wife, children."
Golda said a popular part of Wednesday's celebrations was a bagpiper.
"It's one thing to see the honor guard present the colors and military salutes, but when Chris Morgan plays his bagpipes in the ceremony, a chill goes down the back of every patriotic American. We all stand a little taller."
Philia club celebrates 50th year
A different kind of celebration will take place Saturday when a local club celebrates its anniversary.
Mrs. Richard Mayer, president of the Philia Club, told me the 22-member women's club has continued its good work in San Angelo for 50 years.
The group will celebrate with a tea Saturday at Mrs. Mayer's home. All present and past members are invited.
Many of us don't realize the good work local groups like the Philia Club do. Since its beginning in 1960, the local group has been heavily involved in the creation and support for the Concho Valley Home for Girls and the home's Children's Emergency Shelter.
Current projects include support for the Wesley Daily Bread (Soup Kitchen), Texas Hunger Initiative, Meals for the Elderly and the Central Freshman Campus Student Fund.
A 1960 story in the Standard-Times tells the origin of the club, which evolved from an earlier group called the '48 Club, which was formed in 1948. (The '48 Club, in turn, came out of the San Angelo Woman's Club, founded in 1902.) Former Standard-Times Publisher Houston Harte suggested the Philia Club's name, which is Greek for "friendship."
The first officers included Mrs. Glenn W. Lewis, president; Mrs. Harold Hardy, first vice president; and Mrs. Ken Pierce, second vice president.
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