The designation of Tartan Day recognized the invaluable role that Scottish-Americans have played in American history. It is certainly significant that one half of the signers of the U. S. Declaration of Independence and three-fourths of all U.S. presidents have been of Scottish ancestry. We wish to remember that four native-born Scots and numerous Americans of Scottish heritage fought and died defending the Alamo. While we gather to honor those defenders of Scottish heritage specifically, we honor all who fought and died at the siege. We should remember that almost half of the 254 counties in Texas are named after Scots and that Scots helped finance and Scottish stone masons partially built, our Capitol in Austin. Tartan Day is a ceremony to honor those men who died at the Alamo who were of Scottish and Scot-Irish decent.
The date, April 6, 2020 marked the 700th anniversary of the Declaration of Arbroath: "As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself". These are the best known words in the Declaration of Arbroath. The Declaration is a letter written in 1320 by the barons and whole community of the kingdom of Scotland to the pope, asking him to recognize Scotland's independence and acknowledge Robert the Bruce as the country's lawful king. Our own Declaration of Independence and Preamble to the Constitution were influenced by the Declaration of Arbroath; Thomas Jefferson was a direct descendant of one of the signers of the Scottish Declaration. Not only were there four Scotsmen there, but it is said that over 80% of the defenders had Scottish roots. Which just proves, you don’t want to mess with a Scot.
Tartan Day 2024
This year, Tartan Day at the Alamo will be hosted by the Scottish Society of San Antonio. You can find more information on their website below, or reach out to them at scottishsocietysanantonio@gmail.com.
https://scottishsociety-sa.org