(Seguin) – Seguin will again join Texans around the world in celebration of Texas Independence Day. Wednesday, March 2 is the day Texas will observe its mark in history when it won its independence from Mexico in 1836. Fifty-nine delegates, 186 years ago, gathered at Washington on the Brazos to sign the Texas’ Declaration of Independence.
Since 1986, The Daughters of the Republic of Texas Abishai Mercer Dickson-Seguin Chapter and the City of Seguin Parks and Recreation Department have helped to bring that celebration to Seguin with the annual Toast to Texas held on the steps of the Sebastopol Historic Site located at 704 Zorn St.
Julie Sheldon, the president of the local DRT, says the ceremony begins at 1:30 pm. followed with the toast at 2 p.m. along with the ringing of area church bells.
“It starts at 1:30 p.m. The posse will bring in a proclamation for Mayor (Donna) Dodgen to read and dignitaries and then (County) Judge Kyle Kutscher will do the Toast. Our master of ceremonies is our Representative John Kuempel and we do have music entertainment. Dottsy (Dwyer) will be singing. Clint Taft will have some musical selections so it’s just something that is nice, and everyone will be given a little Texas flag to raise and some spring water so that everybody who is there will raise their bottle of water and flag. It’s just a very moving event,” said Sheldon.
Sheldon says this year will also be the second year in which the Toast to Texas program will be broadcasted by Seguin Radio KWED. She says last year, the program was enjoyed over the airwaves due to COVID. However, due to its success, the group wanted to continue the tradition.
“We had a lot of positive feedback that it worked really well, and we asked how we can incorporate it again. So, what we did is members who are participating in the event that will be live – we went in and taped our portions so that KWED at the same time that the live event is happening will have the event being aired on KWED and then we just ask that they have a glass of water or something with them at the time and when they are ready because they will be able to hear the toast being said and so they can kind of just be a part of the event also. What is happening there will be on radio,” said Sheldon.
The radio broadcast can be heard on AM 1580 KWED or online at SeguinToday.com. The program is free and open to the public. Schools, businesses and community members are encouraged to also toast to Texas wherever they are at 2 p.m. Wednesday.