My husband and I went on a little trip a few years ago. We both love history, so we like to go to historical sites. We’ve always wanted to go to Goliad, Texas, in order to see another memorial to the brave people who fought for Texas Independence.

We stayed at Presidio La Bahia, which is owned and operated by Catholic Diocese of Victoria. Not only is it a museum, a fort, and a chapel, it is a place to spend the night. We stayed in the old quarters that have been set up with living room, bath, kitchen, and two bedrooms. After the Presidio closed at the end of the day, the whole place was available only to us. It was so peaceful, but also a little eerie as we could almost feel the spirits of those who died there.

But my writings are not really about our trip, but about the discovery of “The Angel of Goliad”. When we arrived at the Presidio, we decided to go to the Fannin Memorial Monument where the bodies of the massacred soldiers are buried. As we walked around the area, we noticed a statue of a woman across from the Fannin Monument. That’s where we discovered The Angel of Goliad. Have you ever heard of her? Well, we had not. That’s a shame if you haven’t and it’s my purpose in writing today. I recently read an article about her in TEXAS PARKS AND WILDLIFE and I was reminded that I meant to write about her ever since I saw her statue.

Her name was Francisca Alavez. During the Texas Revolution, she traveled with a Mexican officer. Instead of turning her back on the revolutionary prisoners (her “enemies”), she gave them water, food, and medical aid. She pleaded for better treatment of the prisoners. She even begged for mercy for those prisoners at Goliad-asking that they not be executed. She was able to help some prisoners escape and even tended to some who escaped. This has been verified by surviving soldiers, who wrote about her mercy and kindness to those who were considered her enemy. She definitely deserved this statue and all other tributes to her.

Her story sparked my respect and my admiration for her. Her story needs to be told for it is an inspiration for what women can do to influence the world around them.

To learn more about her bravery, read HEROINE OF THE TEXAS REVOLUTION: FRANCISCA ALAVEZ THE ANGEL OF GOLIAD by Patsy Pittman Light. Also, read “The Angel of Goliad” by Louie Bond in Texas Parks and Wildlife online: https://tpwmagazine.com/archive/2021/dec/scout10_trailblazers/index.phtml