SAN ANTONIO – State Senator Donna Campbell sent a letter to the Alamo Plaza Advisory Committee expressing concerns she shares with other Texans over potential changes to the cenotaph’s location and public access to the state’s most important historical site. Copies of the letter were also sent to Commissioner George P. Bush and San Antonio Mayor Ron Nirenberg.
The full text of the letter is included below:
Dear Members of the Committee,
Thank you for your earnest effort to preserve and restore our state’s most visited historic site and treasured symbol of freedom. The Alamo’s significance transcends history, uniting Texans both past and present. Visitors who make the pilgrimage to the Alamo do so out of reverence for those who fought and died there for liberty.
With this in mind, our epic struggle for freedom is the grand idea that should receive the highest consideration in any new Alamo Master Plan. The brave freedom fighters memorialized forever on the Cenotaph deserve the highest honor we can give them, because they earned it with their sacrifice.
For 80 years, the Spirit of Sacrifice has stood across from the mission, providing visitors a solemn reminder of the high price paid for freedom. Relocating the Cenotaph would be a disservice to the memory of those who died there for Texas Independence. These heroes should remain the focal point of any visit to the Alamo.
Additionally, the Alamo is one of the most publically accessible historical sites in the world. Altering public access in any way would be a mistake that blocks Texans’ access to their history and infringes upon the freedom for which the defenders of the Alamo gave their lives.
Because you are in the process of collecting citizen feedback, I write to express these thoughts for countless Texans, including veterans, who have contacted my office concerned about the Alamo’s Master Plan. Thank you for your consideration and please don’t hesitate to contact me with questions.
Sincerely,
Senator Donna Campbell, M.D.
Chair – Veteran Affairs and Border Security
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