Brothers-Friends

Hotel and County Building

Honky Tonks

Bandura, Texas

Spent an afternoon wandering around Bandura, Texas, which calls itself, "The Cowboy Capital City."

Elvis Sighting

Alamo Ceremony Protest

Not everyone at the Wreath Laying Ceremony was there to honor the dead at the Alamo and the Battle at San Jincento as can be seen by these banners. Some controversy still remains.

Results of Wreath laying

Sons of the Republic of Texas

Not sure what the SRT does, other than assist the DRT. The SRT has no formal authority at the Alamo.

Daughters and Zulu Society

More wreath laying

Alamo Wreaths

Some people involved in laying wreaths at the Alamo.

Wreath Ceremony at Alamo

As part of Fiesta celebrating the victory over Santa Anna at the battle of San Jacinto, the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT) wreath laying ceremony honors the dead at the Alamo and San Jacinto. The DRT are the only ones allowed to hold ceremonies at the Alamo. To be a member they must trace their family back to the war for Texas Independence from Mexico. The Texas legislature granted the DRT complete control of the Alamo, and it's history, so long as no state dollars were used in it's maintenance or operation. This gives them control over a National Park, a unique relationship. There are a number of different chapters of the DRT. Perhaps there is a status difference among the different chapters. Men are involved as Sons of the Republic of Texas, and in an organization known as the Texas Cavaliers who run the River Walk Parade. These men are likely the husbands and fathers of DRT members, but they have no formal authority at the Alamo.

Battleship South Dakota

Came across this very large model of the Battleship South Dakota. The South Dakota became a class of four fast battleships replacing the South Carolina class. World War II in the Pacific was the end of the era for battleships with huge guns. They were replaced by aircraft carriers as the major Naval ships. The State of South Dakota was proud to have a major capital ship named for it, and there is an outline of it in a park in Sioux Falls along with a gun barrel and a propeller from the ship. For a brief history of the South Dakota see: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_Dakota_class_battleship_(1939)#South_Dakota

Sailboats and Door

No mistaking this door.



Corpus Christi docks contained some beautiful sailboats, many which looked to be fitted to cruise the world's oceans. Here are only two of them.

Lexington Planes

Flight on Lexington

Aircraft carriers are all about the aircraft. From biplane trainers to F-4 Phantoms used in Vietnam, the Lexington has served as an airport for them all.

USS Lexington

The aircraft carrier Lexington is now a museum permanently anchored in Corpus Christi. This is a ship with a history of many major pacific island battles in WW II, and then later as a training ship for navy fliers. It spanned the history of aviation from the biplane, used mostly as trainers, to the modern jet era. In the 1960s it's decks were rebuilt in the contemporary pattern of an angled landing deck so both take offs and landings can happen at the same time. As a museum the Lexington stands as a monument to war, but as a ship it is impressive in it's massive complexity. On the one hand it was capable of dealing death on a large scale, but on the other is a thing of beauty. It is a bit like an auto accident. It is horrifying, but we just can't help but look and be fascinated.

On the water

Brisk breeze in her sails