Participants and spectators came from miles around to celebrate Menard’s rich Spanish history at the Presidio de San Saba’s Spanish Colonial Heritage Day, Saturday, September 11.
The day began with a moving tribute to those who lost their lives twenty years ago on 9-11-2001. The original mission bell was struck 20 times by Menard Historical Society member Bob Brown, then the cannons were fired by the Sons of the Texas Confederacy. Local law enforcement, MV fire department, EMS, the Menard Mission Team, and the Emergency Management Coordinator were on site with their emergency response vehicles, to be honored along with the 9-11 tribute.
The festivities that followed included a shortened theatrical versions of “A Walk Through Time” and “A Day in the Life of the Presidio and at the Mission in 1757.” There were musical performances varying from opera and violins, to musical stylings by the Honorary Spanish Consul Martha Vera and Cynthia Jordan with songs about the presidio and the ever famous hit “Jose Cuervo.” Vendors dotted the presidio grounds offering patrons opportunities to purchase a variety of handmade goods. Two longhorns from the Texas State Herd at Fort Griffith were on site, as well as, A Texas Wine Festival wine tasting hosted by the Texas Forts Trail. There will be a full article written by Colonel Terrell Kelley in next week’s paper.