Remembering West, Boston on San Jacinto Day

After a long week that tested us all, I am thankful to celebrate San Jacinto Day and the power of the American spirit.

This past week we as a nation came together to offer support and take action in the face of danger and tragedy. I think about the first-responders in West and Boston and how they put their own lives in peril to save the lives of others. In the aftermath, one thing is clear: Texans and Americans pull together and overcome.

On the eve of the battle of San Jacinto, as the Texas army chased Santa Anna’s troops, they still held onto the memories of their fallen patriots at The Alamo and Goliad. This San Jacinto Day, my hope is that we, as a nation and as a state, move forward, not in vengeance but resilience. Together we can help our fellow Americans and Texans heal from tragedy.

“Measured by its results, San Jacinto was one of the decisive battles of the world,” is inscribed on the base of the San Jacinto Monument that marks the place where Texas secured its freedom. The events of this past week will also be measured by results, by how we deal with adversity. Relying on fierce Texas grit and the unyielding American spirit, I am confident that we will overcome and continue to lead the way.