The statue of Juan N. Seguin has become an instant landmark in our historic downtown district. Every day, and at all hours, people can be seen around the impressive monument in Central Park. They admire the equestrian figure of bronze and read the inscriptions engraved in the granite base. And Gene Vivroux says he often sees people at the statue who then walk over to visit the nearby stores.

The new statue was unveiled in a ceremony held Saturday, October 28, 2000. Many hundreds of people, both local citizens and visitors from out of town, attended the dedication. Viewers filled the seatsset up for the service, spilling over to sit on park benches and around the newly restored fountain. A cloudy sky and a breeze kept spectators comfortable.

The Master of Ceremonies for the two-hour program was James William Seguin, of New Braunfels, assisted by Albert Seguin Gonzales, of Texas City.

The featured speakers were Jack C. Ramsey, a historian, and J. Frank de la Teja, a Professor at Southwest Texas State University.

Dr. De la Teja is a leading authority on Juan Seguin's life and career.

Professor De la Teja edited and annotated A Revolution Remembered, the Memoirs and Selected Correspondence of Juan N. Seguin (1991), which includes a short biography that he wrote. The book, first published by State House Press of Austin won the 1991 Summerfield G. Roberts Award for the Best Book on the Republic of Texas. (An updated and expaned paperback edition has been reissued and can be ordered at any bookstore or online.)

Darlene Seguin Lehman was introduced to deliver two songs. She also gave a few personal comments, observing, "It is for our children that we need heroes." That was the theme for the day, as others noted that the role of patriotic Tejanos has been too often overlooked in telling of the fight for freedom in the Texas Revolution.

The sculptor, Erik Christianson, of Bulverde, was introduced by Juries Anne Seguin, of San Antonio.

Some two or three hundred other descendants of Juan Seguin were in attendance, and many were among the contributors. The Seguin Family Historical Association sold commemorative key rings that could be worn as medals, bearing an enameled reproduction of a portrait of Juan N. Seguin. The handsome medallions seem destined to become collector's items.

Many of the distinguished speakers and guests on the podium and in the crowd traveled some distance to attend the ceremonies. They included Sam Houston IV; Helen Burleson Kelso, President General of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas; Charles P. Briggs, President General of the Sons of the Republic of Texas; Loretta Williams of the Tejano Association for Historical Preservation; Elizabeth Whitlow, from the San Jacinto Museum of History; and others.

State Senator Judith Zaffirini read the proclamations from the State Senate and from Governor George W. Bush.

Members in period costume represented several organizations,including the Canary Islands Descendants, the Alamo Legacy and Mission Association, and the New Army of the Republic of Texas.

Entertainment was provided by the Ballet Folklorico De La Rosa/Teatro de Artes de Juan Seguin, the Mariachi Michoacan, the San Antonio Bag Pipes and Drums, and the A.J. Briesemeister Middle School band. Dottsy Dwyer, our hometown troubadour, sang two of her compositions, "Seguin Loves Texas" and "True Women."

A fanfare by William Klem opened and closed the tribute.

Mayor Mark Stautzenberger gave welcoming remarks. Along with City Secretary Kathy Contreras, he also accepted the statue on behalf of this citythat was named in honor of Juan N. Seguin.

State Representative Edmund Kuempel and several local officials were present. Also in the crowd were local historian Joe Comingore, curator of the Los Nogales Museum: Don Keil, President of the Seguin Conservation Society: and Robin Dwyer, head of the Main StreetAdvisory Board.

The night before, Seguin Main Street had sponsored an Art Walk and Hoity Toity Hat Parade. And on the day of the event, Main Street held a Trade Days arts & crafts market as part of the weekend's celebration of Juan Seguin's birthday, October 27, 1806.

John Taylor, former editor-publisher of the Seguin Gazette-Enterprise, made a short speech. "At last a fitting tribute is being paid to this man who gave so much for the freedom of Texas," he said. Taylor wasa leader of the local Bicentennial observances that included the repatriation and reburial of Juan Seguin's remains here in a ceremony held on July 4, 1976.Longtime City Councilman Sam Flores, who can be called "the father of the Juan Seguin statue," delivered his speech first in English, and again in Spanish as the statue was being unveiled

It was a truly dramatic moment when the black sheeting over the statue was pulled away. With the sonorous voice of Flores as background, a gust suddenly revealed an impressive monument of glowing bronze atop a polished granite pedestal. The crowd broke into spontaneous applause at the sight of the handsome figure mounted on horseback.

Juan N. Seguin is depicted in a uniform appropriate to the rank -- Lt. Colonel -- that he was given in May of 1836 by Republic of Texas President David G. Burnet, after the Battle of San Jacinto. In 1839,just a few months after this frontier community was founded, Juan Seguin came here to recognize the honor of this town being newly named for him. Wearing his uniform, he saluted a crowd as he rode to a dinner held at one of the largest houses in the little settlement.

Observers called Christianson's work impressive. Walter Sidney Acton, a former local resident and art student, came from Houston for the unveiling. "The statue is a truly fine work of art that in time may be recognized as being as significant in its way as its subject," Acton declared,

The Reverend Donald Pogue, a former head of the Descendents of San Jacinto, christened the statue and provided the benediction.

The ceremony closed with salutes from the New Army of The Republic of Texas and the color guard from the Alamo Silver Wing Air Borne Association. Musket fire sent the flocks of pigeons that make their home downtown swirling above the treetops. Afterwards refreshments were provided, courtesy Starcke Furniture Co.

The base of the 17-foot-high monument carries information on the life of Juan Nepomuceno Seguin, prepared by John Taylor with Albert Seguin Gonzales, along with a list of contributors who gave $500 or more. James and Laurie Deatherage were the engravers.

When additional funds are collected, an ornamental iron fence will be erected around the statue.

The effort to erect this memorial began in earnest in 1999 after longtime City Council Member Sam Flores organized the Juan Seguin Memorial Committee. More than 30 years ago, Flores first proposed a statue. He says he was inspired to take up the idea again when he saw the towering image of Sam Houston in Huntsville a few years back.

The Committee raised over $150,000 for the project in two years.The Lower Colorado River Authority, a history-conscious and history-proud institution, made a generous $25,000 gift, which served as the foundation for the fund-raising effort. Other significant gifts came from the City of Seguin, Motorola, Rio Nogales Power, Southwestern Bell Telephone, IESI, Tyson Foods, and SMI-Texas. The Summerlee Foundation of Dallas and the Albert and Ethel Herzstein Foundation of Houston, philanthropies supporting the preservation of Texas history, made large grants as well. They were joined by gifts from many local businesses and citizens.

The Committee included Sam Flores, chairman; G.P. "Jeep" Kiel, vice chairman; John Taylor, secretary; Ed Gotthardt, treasurer; Virginia Woods, historian; Edmund Kuempel, drive chairman; John Gesick, Mary Louise Gonzales, Gene Moreno, Louis R. Ramirez Sr., Juries Anne Seguin and Albert Seguin Gonzales. (Both Juries Seguin and Albert Gonzales are great-great-great-grandchildren of Juan N. Seguin.)