Tartan Day 2008

                         This year's Tartan Day Ceremony will be held at the Alamo April 4, 2008 at 6:00 pm.

Each year, on the Friday, before the San Antonio Highland Games and Celtic Festival, the clans gather at the Alamo, for a Tartan Day Ceremony. The Mayor of San Antonio, issues a proclamation declaring this day Tartan Day in San Antonio. This Ceremony is held in honor of the brave men that fell at the Alamo. The Alamo is the seat of Texas independence and liberty. On a cold, frosty morning, March 6, 1836, 186 brave men died to give Texas freedom from Mexico. These brave men held out against an army of over 4000 soldiers for 13 days, before falling. Legends tell us piper John MacGregor died playing the Bagpipes on the walls of the mission. Over one hundred of those men had Scottish surnames. Four were from Scotland. Most Americans have heard the battle cry, "Remember the Alamo". All have heard of Davy Crockett, James Bowie, Sam Houston, and Stephen F. Austin, William Travis, but few have heard the other names, Buchanan, Scott, Bonham, Burns, Campbell, Elliott, McGregor, and Wilson to name but a few. These are the men we honor with the Tartan Ceremony’s roll call of the clans. The clan representatives will lay their floral tribute by the door of the Alamo. A representative of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT), guardians of the Alamo, will be present to receive the flowers. All members of the DRT are descendant from one of the men that fell at the Alamo or one of the first brave Texas pioneers that struggled so hard to insure freedom for Texas.

Lea Buchanan is the chairman for the Tartan Day Committee and the Master of Ceremonies at the Alamo Ceremony. Lea is a member of the Board of Directors for The San Antonio Highland Games Association (SAHGA) and a member of the Scottish Society of San Antonio (SSSA), and Secretary of the Clan Buchanan Society International. (CBSI) and CBSI regent for Southern Texas. Lea’s husband, Ellis Buchanan’s Great-Grandfather’s older brother, James Buchanan, was one of the brave men that died at the Alamo.

It will be a ceremony of tradition, heritage, history, and honor. It is a very moving experience for all that come to see it, and for those that take part. It is a great honor to present the Tartans at the "Cradle of Texas Liberty". We look forward to your clan’s participation in this moving experience, honoring our historical heritage and the brave souls of the Alamo.

I would like to invite any member of SSSA that wishes to buy a bouquet to honor their clan, and take part in the ceremony to send their information and a check (made out to SSSA) to:

Lea Buchanan
7738 Crooked Road
San Antonio, Texas 78254

Please include the name of the clan you are honoring and the name of the person presenting the bouquet.

The cost of each bouquet is $18.00 and wreaths are $60.00. We are looking forward to another memorable and enjoyable Tartan Day Ceremony.

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