From:  Johnathan Porter
Chief Editor
Southwest Historic Press
San Antonio, TX

The weekend of April 17-19, 2026, was celebrated by hundreds of genealogists and historians in Austin. Governor Gregg Abbott presented the keynote address at the dedication of a monument memorializing the names of all known Texans who fought in the American Revolutionary War. The ceremony took place in the Texas State Cemetery in Austin. It is interesting to note the considerable number of Hispanic names on the monument.

The monument was designed and paid for by the Texas Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) to celebrate the 250^th anniversary of the Founding of the United States of America. Honored Guests were Judges Nathan White and Ed Butler, both of whom had served as SAR Presidents General and former state presidents of the DAR, SAR, Sons and Daughters of the Republic of Texas.

Following the dedication ceremony, Governor Abbott was inducted into the SAR as a member. Outgoing SAR state president Mel Oller presented Gov. Abbott the SAR Silver Good Citizenship Medal, in appreciation for his stewardship as governor of Texas. The crowd assembled was serenaded by the Texas A & M Choir, shown below with Robin Butler, a “Yellow Rose of Texas.”

On his way out, Gov. Abbott stopped to chat with Judge Ed Butler, of San Antonio, one of his Admirals in the Texas Navy and a former SAR President General.