‘I shall never surrender or retreat.’ Plaque commemorating famous Alamo letter coming to Erath County Courthouse.

Special to Beneath the Surface News

Erath County officials are inviting the public to attend the dedication of a permanent plaque commemorating the most famous letter in Texas History - the “Alamo letter” - written by Lt. Col. William Barrett Travis.

The ceremony will be held at 10 a.m. March 6 at the Erath County Courthouse.

The dedication of the 203-pound bronze "victory or death" Alamo plaque is part of the mission of the Alamo Letter Society.

Inspired by a visit to the Alamo, Slone McNutt catalyzed the founding of the Alamo Letter Society with a simple yet profound question: Why do people have to travel to the historic site to witness the significance of the Travis letter?

From that moment, the society was born, with a mission to install bronze replicas of the Travis letter in all 254 county seats across Texas.

The words of Lt. Col. William B. Travis echo through history: "I shall never surrender or retreat... Victory or death!"

These words encapsulate the unwavering spirit of Texans and serve as a reminder of the sacrifices made during the Texas Revolution.

Established on Veterans Day 2023, the Alamo Letter Society is committed to educating current and future Texans about their forefathers' valiant struggle for freedom and liberty.

The Travis Letter, written on Feb. 24, 1836, embodies the ideals of liberty and patriotism and holds a place of honor alongside the U.S. Constitution and the Magna Carta.

The Erath County Commissioners Court accepted the donation of the Alamo letter plaque in 2024.

“We are honored to have this monument to Texas Independence at our courthouse,” said Erath County Judge Brandon Huckabee.

"This Alamo victory or death letter plaque will serve as another reminder to future generations that freedom is not free, and the price of liberty does not come cheaply."

Erath County is poised to become the 20th county in Texas to dedicate its Alamo plaque.

For more information, visit www.alamoletter.com.