LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/wires/20010704/tCB00V6080.html

Wednesday, July 4, 2001

Texas Towns Mark Independence Day

Associated Press Writer

    In the supremely patriotic Texas towns of Old Glory, Independence and
Liberty, celebrating the Fourth of July is as much a responsibility as a
holiday.
    "We are the only town in the U.S. with the name Old Glory," said Joe
Castro, vice president of the Old Glory Days committee. "With a name like
that, we had to have a celebration."
    Old Glory, with a population of 70 northwest of Dallas, was
predominantly a German town in the late 1800s called Brandenburg.
Residents voted to change the name in 1918 to show patriotism during World
War I.
    Motorcycle shows, arts and crafts and a car show will be part of the
three-day festivities to celebrate the nation's 225th birthday.
    Texas isn't the only state dotted with patriotically named places.
They stretch from Freedom, Maine, to Independence, Ore. But Texans take
their freedom seriously, even celebrating March 2, the day Texas signed
its Declaration of Independence from Mexico in 1836.
    "Texans are known for doing things in a grand style," said Nancy
Nesbitt of the Texas Historical Commission. "Texans may identify with the
national holiday in a unique way since no period in Texas history is as
distinctive as the state's own struggle for independence."
    Nothing could be truer for the residents of Independence and
Washington.
    Many of Independence's 140 residents make their way to nearby
Washington for holiday celebrations.
    It was on March 1, 1836, in Washington, about 85 miles northwest of
Houston, that delegates elected from each Texas municipality convened to
declare Texas independent from Mexico and write a constitution that
established the Republic of Texas.
    An estimated 6,500 people are expected to participate in the
festivities. Adults tour Independence Hall as the children make yarn
dolls. The night is capped with a fireworks show.
    "It's a full day of activities," said Stefani Holtsclaw, director of
tourism for Washington County.
    Independence was one of the original settlements of Stephen F.
Austin, the "Father of Texas," who brought the first 297 families to
colonize Texas under a contract with the Mexican Government.
    "It's special and unique," Holtsclaw said. "You are celebrating the
nation's independence where Texas celebrated its independence."
    With a 120 -foot flag pole and 30 -by-60 -foot American flag at its
entrance on U.S. 90, Liberty is hard to miss.
    In Liberty, a city of about 8,000 people 60 miles northeast of
Houston, residents and businesses make $25 donations to the Evening Lions
Club, which buys the U.S. flags that get planted around town July 4.
    "We're nicknamed the flag city," City Manager Kerry Lacy said. "We go
around and put out flags in people's homes and around the downtown area."
   
- - -
    On the Net:
    Independence Day: http://www.holidays.net/independence
    Liberty, Texas: http://www.libertytoday.com/index.htm
    Washington on the Brazos State Historical Park:
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/park/washingt/washingt.htm

Copyright 2001 Los Angeles Times

My family was not originally from Texas, BUT WE GOT HERE AS FAST AS WE COULD! [b]1848![/b]

Eric The(YeeHa!)Hun[>]:)]