By Race Taylor, Special to Hood County News
The Texas Heroes Foundation hosted its 14th annual Texas History Walk event May 17-19 at the historic Acton Cemetery on Fall Creek Highway, a local event held at the cemetery the third weekend of May each year. The walk allows students and families from Hood County and the surrounding area to experience live interactions and re-enactments depicting different places and heroes from Texas’ colorful history.
The event is hosted by the Texas Heroes Foundation, “a nonprofit that was founded in 2012,” says board member Errol Flannery. “Our goal is to teach Texas history to people of all ages, especially fourth and seventh graders in schools that are studying Texas history.” The highlight of the event is live demonstrations and re-enactments by volunteers.
When asked what people can expect if they come for a walk, Flannery replied, “There will be Tejanos explaining Tejano history. There will be Native Americans. There will be Civil War reenactors and black powder demonstrations. There will be a group called the Texas Army of 1836 talking about the history of the Texas Revolution. There will also be a group of Texas Rangers reenactors who will talk about the history of the Rangers and their weapons.”
In addition to the events mentioned by Flannery, this year the festival also featured a working chuck wagon, tastings and displays of food made the traditional chuck wagon way. Not only did it provide a fun and unique way for families to learn about Texas’ rich and vibrant history, the weekend also featured live performances of traditional period cowboy music from singers, guitar players and young fiddle players.
The walk’s location at Acton Cemetery is also deeply rooted in Texas history. “I’m the fourth-generation great-granddaughter of David and Elizabeth Crockett,” Flannery said. “Elizabeth Crockett came to the area and settled in 1854 with her three children. We’re located just outside of Acton Cemetery. Burials at this cemetery began in the early 1850s. Elizabeth Patton Crockett died in 1860 and was buried here,” Flannery said of the event’s location.
According to the Texas State Historical Association, in 1911, Senators Offa Shivers Lattimore and Pierce Ward introduced a bill in the Texas Legislature to allocate $2,000 to erect a monument at Elizabeth Crockett’s grave. In 1913, a 28-foot-tall statue depicting a pioneer woman facing west was unveiled to represent Elizabeth Crockett. It is now known as the Acton State Historic District. Once the smallest state park in Texas, it is no longer managed by the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department, but has been under the management of the Texas Historical Commission since 2008.
Mark your calendar for the third weekend in May next year and bring your family on a Texas History Walk with the Texas Heroes Foundation to learn about and have fun with Texas history. For more information about the event and the Texas Heroes Foundation, visit texasheroesfoundation.org.
