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Cannon blasts echo in the morning downtown in Alamo Plaza. The cannon is real, but the act of firing it is not aggressive; it is a demonstration by the San Antonio Living History Association. March 6, 1836, is when the Mexican Army, led by Gen. Santa Anna, captured the Alamo and killed its defenders after a bloody 13-day siege.
Every year, on the anniversary of the fall of the Alamo, the association sponsors "Dawn at the Alamo," to honor the sacrifices made by both sides during the Battle of the Alamo.
Saturday and Sunday, the association sponsored "Remembering the Alamo" weekend, a day of historic re-enactments and educational demonstrations.
"The whole purpose of the organization is to teach and show the public historic events and show both viewpoints and let the public decide what's right," President John Potter said. "We try to do it in a way that is exciting and fun for the public."
Potter, 57, is a seventh-generation Texan and wears the uniform of the 1835 New Orleans Grays, a volunteer militia instrumental in the Battle of Bejar and in the defense of the Alamo.
Events for the day included cannon and musket demonstrations, flintlock arms and tactics demonstrations, and interactive marching drills.
Re-enactments included "Santa Anna's Council of War," a meeting of the general's advisers to discuss the dawn attack of the Alamo, and "For God and Texas! ¡Dios y Libertad!," a narrated living history dramatization of the two days before the fall of the Alamo; Santa Anna's decision to attack at dawn and the use of the midnight darkness to get in position for the attack.
Period music for the event included bagpipers and a Celtaire string band.
Volunteers for the event wore period costumes, and when they were not taking part in demonstrations or re-enactments, answered questions and posed for photographs with the audience.
Daniel Phillips has participated in the re-enactments for the past 20 years. He wore the outfit of Cpt. William Harrison of the Tennessee Volunteers.
Phillips wore a brown-fringed hunting jacket and leather leg protectors to keep his clothing from being ripped. He carried a musket and all the tools and materials for his weapon around his neck and right side; on his left side was a haversack where he stored other essentials such as food, a tin plate, utensils and flint steal.
"People save up their vacation time to come here and perform," Phillips said.
The event attracts volunteers from all over the country. This year, two volunteers from England came to perform.
The battle of the Alamo was a key factor in the Texas revolution. Though it was a defeat, 189 men kept Santa Anna's army at bay for 13 days, and they are credited for giving Gen. Sam Houston enough time to gather forces and plan an attack.
"San Antonio College students and staff are invited to volunteer their time and talents to help these living history events continue in San Antonio," Robert Benavides, director of the association, said in an e-mail.
Among the many talents the association is in need of are theater and drama, sound and video, event planning, marketing and public relations, history majors, period fashion and set design, drummers and buglers, publications and computer expertise.
For more information, call Benavides at 273-1730 or e-mail salha8@yahoo.com.
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