Dear Principals, Curriculum Directors and Seventh Grade History Teachers, The Battle of Flowers Association announces its 22sndAnnual Texas History Essay Contest for all seventh grade students from San Antonio area schools. Please encourage your students to compete for the honor of representing their school in this contest by writing an original 350 to 700 word historical essay on the topic: Faces of Texas Independence In 1891, one hundred and twenty-five years ago, a group of women in San Antonio decided to have a parade that would honor the heroes of the Alamo and the anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. What began as a small affair of finely-dressed ladies in horse-drawn carriages pelting each other with fresh flowers on Alamo Plaza has grown into one of the oldest and largest parades in the United States. And while the Parade is always a fun and festive event, all participants are asked to bring floral tributes which are laid on the front lawn of the Alamo to honor and remember our forefathers whose lives paid for our liberty. The mission of the Battle of Flowers Association is charged with “teaching the history of our state and keeping alive the patriotic traditions of Texas and San Antonio”. We ask you to reflect upon those storied individuals in whose honor our historic women’s association was first founded. The official seal of the Battle of Flowers Association includes artistic ribbons with the words “Alamo”, “Goliad” and “San Jacinto” on it. Yet, who were the extraordinary people who were engaged in these battles and others that changed the course of history forever? Some of the faces of the many men and the few women whose names are synonymous with these battles are famous while others are not. By most historical analyses, the settler Texans who organized and fought had no more than a prayer of a chance of victory; some had previous military training and or political experience or perhaps the privilege of higher education, but most of them had none of these backgrounds upon which to rely. Their mostly rag-tag armies were small, minimally supplied and always outnumbered. But their determination and passion for liberty at all costs allowed them to finally emerge victorious in their dream of an independent republic. Next year, 2016, will mark one hundred and eighty years since these Texans fought for independence. As benefactors of their many sacrifices, we Texans of today should endeavor to learn more about those who were the “Faces of Texas Independence”. Please select your school’s two best essays and submit them to contest chair Carol Hebdon at the address below. The deadline is Friday January 15, 2016. Include the attached statement of originality, signed by students whose essays you select. Entries will be judged on content, creativity, the interest generated, accuracy and appropriateness of topic (70%), and on neatness of presentation, grammar, spelling and quality of research (30%). Resource materials should be listed in standard bibliographic form on a separate page (not counted toward the length of the essay). References will be checked for accuracy. Please note that essays must fall within the 350 to 700 word length to qualify for the contest. Please make sure your essays are titled! The first place winner of the Essay Contest will be invited to ride in the 2016 Battle of Flowers Parade! The Texas History Essay Contest is held in conjunction with the Battle Flowers Annual Oratorical Contest in which Texas college students research, write and deliver original speeches on a similar topic. Winning Essay Contest authors will be honored at the Oratorical Contest, which begins at 9 a.m. on Friday, February 26, 2016 at the Witte Museum in San Antonio. PROMPTLY AT 1:00 p.m., the first, second and third place winners of the Essay Contest will receive plaques and awards for their accomplishments. Winning essays will be displayed and Participation Certificates will also be presented. The first place essay will be published in the Battle of Flowers Parade program. Each school submitting entries will receive participation recognition. We invite winners and their teachers to attend the luncheon as guests of the Battle of Flowers Association. Essay guests check in at 11:45 and have lunch. We invite other interested students, parents and teachers to attend the Oratorical Contest and Essay Contest Awards (open to the public) and, if they choose, to make a paid reservation for lunch ($25.00) by mailing a check to Mrs. Pauline Netting, 55 Longsford, San Antonio, Texas 78209. Oratorical Contest finalists repeat their speeches to a new set of judges in the afternoon session, which begins at 1:15 after the Essay Awards and everyone is invited to attend. We hope that you will encourage your students to compete! Please complete the attached participation form and send it to the address below if you plan to participate. To help you publicize the Essay Contest, we have enclosed a flyer for you to copy, post and distribute. Please contact me if you have questions or need more information. Sincerely, Carol Hebdon Essay Contest Chair 8102 Nufy Ridge San Antonio, Texas 78209 Email: [email protected] Phone: (210) 826-3604 SUGGESTED LIST OF “FACES OF TEXAS INDEPENDENCE” (Alphabetical Order) Stephen F. Austin James Bonham James Bowie Edward Burleson Col. Davey Crockett Susannah Dickinson James Fannin John Mims Hays Sam Houston Mirabeau Lamar Samuel Maverick Ben McCulloch Col. Ben Milam Jose Antonio Navarro Juan Seguin Sidney Sherman Erasmus “Deaf” Smith Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis William Harris Wharton .