The Alamo Flag™ Vexillology

"I am besieged by a thousand or more Mexicans under Santa Anna. I have sustained a continual bombardment for 24 hours and have not lost a man. The enemy has demanded surrender or the garrison will be put to the sword if the fort is taken. I have answered the demand with a cannon shot and our flag still waves proudly from the walls. I shall never surrender or retreat. I call on you in the name of liberty, patriotism and everything dear to the American character to come to our aid with all dispatch. The enemy is receiving reinforcements daily and will no doubt increase to three or four thousand in four or five days. If this call is neglected, I am determined to sustain myself as long as possible and die like a soldier who never forgets what is due to his own honor and that of his country — Victory or Death."

- LTC William B. Travis

Commander, Alamo Garrison

Battle of the Alamo, 24 February 1836

While preparing for Officer Candidate School, I stumbled across a surprising mystery while studying Texas Military history:

The Alamo's last stand echoes in eternity, but lost to history is the flag 26 year old Lieutenant Colonel William Travis was referring to in his legendary call to arms. I created "The Alamo Flag" to offer a solution and honor the 213 Alamo Defenders that gave their last full measure of devotion.

The Alamo Flag is a modern creation infused with history. Its’ design is a pastiche of the "Old Cannon Flag" (Come and Take It), which was conceived by Colonel John Henry Moore and designed by Evaline DeWitt using her daughter's wedding dress during the Battle of Gonzales. Its’ emblem is the terraced campanulate added to the Alamo ruins by the U.S. Army in 1850. Below the emblem is the "Remember the Alamo!" war-cry uttered by Colonel Sidney Sherman (Commander of the 2nd Regiment, Texian Army) during the Battle of San Jacinto.

In a remarkable twist of history, I had the privilege of serving with Davy Crockett’s cousin, Private Stephen Crockett, while commanding Alpha Company, 2nd Special Troops Battalion, 6th Brigade.

- 2LT Thomas M. Marriøtt

Designer, The Alamo Flag

Marriøtt Expeditions, 16 May 2018