Betty Edwards and Carol Steakly of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas along with Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman and Recreation Manager Jes Jolly unveil the marker for the boundary of the Republic of Texas in Cole Park in Alamosa on Tuesday./Courier photos by Helen Smith

ALAMOSA — A historic dedication took place at Cole Park in Alamosa on Tuesday. The City of Alamosa along with the Daughters of the Republic of Texas unveiled a marker that notes the western boundary of the Republic of Texas (1836-1846).

The project is the result of two years worth of planning when The Daughters of the Republic Texas (DRT) launched a project to commemorate the borders of the Republic. The DRT hoped to have a marker along the Rio Grande. Dr. Betty Edwards of the DRT was directed to the City of Alamosa and began working with Jes Jolly, the Recreation Division Manager for the City of Alamosa who brought the proposal for the project before the Alamosa City Council. The proposal was approved.

During the dedication ceremony for the marker in Cole Park, Alamosa Mayor Ty Coleman thanked the Daughters of the Republic of Texas for their dedication to the preservation of the history of Texas. He was glad to be a part of the event as a proud Texan himself.

There were local members of the DRT present for the ceremony as well as those who had travelled a great distance to be part of the festivities. Dr. Betty Edwards and Arlene Garey of the DRT expressed gratitude to the State of Colorado and the City of Alamosa for their willingness to be part of the project. The sacrifice of those who established the Republic of Texas was also recognized during the ceremony. Mayor Coleman and Jolly were both recognized for their contributions to the project. Once the dedication concluded, a reception was held at Calvillo’s Restaurant.

The land that comprised the Republic of Texas came from the treaty of Velasco that Mexican President Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna signed on May 14th, 1836 after his defeat at the hands of General Sam Houston and his army. This is the day on which Texas commemorates its independence. The boundaries of the newly formed republic encompassed all of the present State of Texas along with parts of Colorado, New Mexico, Kansas, Wyoming and Oklahoma.

The Daughters of the Republic of Texas is an organization dedicated to the preservation of the history of Texas and educating the next generation about the story of Texas’ struggle for independence. The boundary project is ongoing and the DRT hopes to establish markers in all states that the republic encompassed.