David Vickers (straw hat) a fort re-enactor and seventh grade social studies teacher and fellow re-enactors duck after firing the recently acquired 250-year-old bonze cannon used to salute the event. Re-actors and financial transportation grants are features of the new school program announced.

(GOLIAD) The blast of an ancient cannon was heard once again at Presidio La Bahia (the Fort of the Bay) but this time as a salute to good news. The newly renovated museum of the Presidio was formally blessed by Bishop David Fellhauer, bishop of the Diocese of Victoria, and a new program for school children was announced on June 8 in Goliad.

The Presidio is a National Historic Landmark. Originally a Spanish fort it was built in 1749. During the Texas Revolution it became Fort Defiance. It was the site of the Goliad massacre where on Palm Sunday 1836 James Walker Fannin’s command came to its tragic end.

While the Diocese of Victoria is the legal owner of the site, ”The blessing today signifies God’s ownership of it.” Said Bishop Fellhauer. ”As we believe God is the Lord of history. History is a part of creation in which all things move toward God. In looking at the site we can see the working out of God’s plan.” He said. Referring to St. Paul’s letter to the Romans, he said, ”all creation moves toward God.”

The site has existed under the six flags of Texas. Bishop Fellhauer thanked among others Newton Warzecha, who serves as Director of the Presidio and President of the Presidio La Bahia Foundation; Drew Patterson who developed the story line and designed the exhibit cases now in the renovated museum; and the Kathryn Stoner O’Connor Foundation.

O’Connor was the driving force behind the restoration of the fort in the 1960’s. Warzecha spoke and added, ”Thanks to the generosity of members of the Presidio La Bahia Foundation, its advisory Board, the Friends of the Fort and the numerous individuals and area foundations the Presidio, museum and portions of Our Lady of Loreto Chapel have undergone the most extensive refurbishing in more than half a century. Over $500,000 was spent in the last 3 ½ years. The Museum exhibits have been re-designed and are now displayed high quality cases. The soldiers’ barracks have been upgraded. The quarters, which formally housed officers and later priests can accommodate four persons for overnight stays in one of the most historic and eerie lodgings in America,” he said.

On hand for the event was the granddaughter of Kathryn O’Connor, Louise O’Connor who herself is an author. She worked closely with museum designer Patterson researching the storyline, which is the foundation of the exhibits. ”We wanted to be certain that all sides were accurately told,” she said. The monumental work of Catholic historian Carlos Castaneda was one of the main sources for the research.

” Our job here is education, we have been concerned for some time that our young students were not learning about the rich Spanish, Mexican and Texas history here at Presidio La Bahia and we are going to do something about that.” Warzecha said during remarks at the barbeque luncheon served on the Quadrangle grounds. ”In order to facilitate school field trips, the Presidio will offer free admission to all 4th and 7th grade social studies students and their teachers. Re-enactors will be here whenever we have school groups,” he said, ”They add to the experience that the students receive while here.”

David Vickers, a fort re-enactor and seventh grade social studies teacher in Beeville is developing the lesson plans to be used for the thousands of fourth and seventh graders who visit the site each year during March April and May. Grants to the schools to help pay the cost of transportation will also be offered. The grant will be based on the student miles traveled and typically, will cover about one half of the cost of transportation. Grants are funded through the Mary Hobbs Griffith Foundation.

For more information Contact Newton Warzecha, Director, 361-645-3752; presidiolabahia@goliad.net; http://www.presidiolabahia.org/index.html or Preston Kirk, APR, Kirk Public Relations, Spicewood, TX 830-693-4447, kirk@tstar.net