AUSTIN — Gov. Greg Abbott joined the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution to unveil a monument honoring American Revolutionary War patriots with ties to Texas during a ceremony at the Texas State Cemetery.
Abbott was also inducted into the Sons of the American Revolution and received the organization’s Silver Good Citizenship Medal, which recognizes patriotic achievements at the state and regional levels.
“We must educate every generation about why America grew from a tenuous 13 colonies into the most powerful country in the history of the world,” Abbott said. “This monument is an enduring testament to the heroes who fought for the freedom that is unique to America.”
Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution President Mel Oller said the monument comes as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution.
“This year marks the 250th anniversary of the American Revolution, which not only gave freedom to the British colonies of North America, but inspired movements for freedom and liberty all over the world,” Oller said. “Texans played a role in the war too, and it’s important to recognize them and the sacrifices they made.”
The monument honors 69 Revolutionary War patriots who later settled in Texas, including Tejanos who supported the cause of independence, as the United States nears the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
Among those recognized at the ceremony were José Santiago Seguín, grandfather of Texas Revolutionary figure Juan Seguín; Peter Sides, who served in the 2nd Battalion of the North Carolina Regiment and later died in the 1813 Battle of Medina; Antonio Gil Y’Barbo, founder of Nacogdoches; and William Sparks, a mounted rifleman in the American Revolution whose descendants later fought in the Texas Revolution.
Abbott also spoke about his family history, noting that his ancestry dates to 1755 and includes relatives who fought in the American Revolution.
Because of documentation showing Abbott is a direct descendant of a patriot who supported American independence, he was formally inducted into the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The Texas America250 Commission, which supported the effort, aims to promote a deeper understanding of the nation’s founding and the contributions of Texans ahead of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence.
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