Letter to the editor

Remember the Alamo before it’s too late

Posted

Now is the time to act before it’s too late.

The mayor of San Antonio Ron Nirenberg, Texas Land Commissioner George P. Bush and the San Antonio city council have been pushing through their agenda to make many changes at the Alamo. There are many repairs that need to be made on the Alamo and the Cenotaph which stands in front of the Alamo.

The Cenotaph was commissioned by a great Italian sculptor Coppini and completed in the late 1930s to commemorate the Texas Centennial. It was placed in footprint of the place where many of the Alamo defenders died fighting Texas independence.

The sculptor positioned the statue in this place with great detail. Now, the planners are wanting to move this statue 500 feet to the area of the old Band Stand.

One of the reasons that the site was in the Alamo garrison was not chosen because it had been the site of a latrine. The planners also want to rotate the Cenotaph 180 degrees to face toward Mexico.

I have attended meetings of the Historical Design and Review Committee on both Dec. 4 and Dec. 18 and the overwhelming testimony of many loyal Texans fell on deaf ears of many of the committee members who answer to the mayor and city council of San Antonio.

This move could possible cause irreparable damage to the statue. The Re-Imagine Alamo plan is going to cost the state of Texas millions of our tax money. There will be no more Alamo Plaza as we know it. There will also be unnecessary adjustments made along with some that are needed. Entrance to the shrine will be through a controlled entrance.

This is the Alamo, Texas’ most sacred shrine. I need to ask all loyal Texans to contact the governor’s office (512-463-2000). Let our state representative John P. Cyrier (512-463-0682) know how you feel about this important issue.

Always remember to “Remember the Alamo” before we HAVE to Remember the Alamo.

Allen Gescheidle

Seguin, Texas

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