By Jose E.M. Sandoval
Special to El Rrun-Rrun
The same sun that blazed down on Juan de Oñate and his men as they made their way through the humid lands of the Rio Grande in 1598 soared high above Romans, Templar Knights, and other soldiers once more today during Texas Southmost College’s Living History Day.
The event was coordinated by professors at TSC and held at the parking lot of the Civic Center because of soggy conditions due to recent rains.
The same sun that blazed down on Juan de Oñate and his men as they made their way through the humid lands of the Rio Grande in 1598 soared high above Romans, Templar Knights, and other soldiers once more today during Texas Southmost College’s Living History Day.
The event was coordinated by professors at TSC and held at the parking lot of the Civic Center because of soggy conditions due to recent rains.
“I’m very pleased,” stated Professor Robert Ramaker, professor of history at TSC and a main contributor in creating this event. “We had a very good turnout and we’re really pleased the community came out.”
Reenactors portrayed a wide array of history including Roman legionnaire, Templar Knight, conquistador, WWI Marine, and soldiers during the Mexican-American and Civil War. The community was invited to actively participate as well as hold the weapons and armor that led to centuries of victories and, as in the case of the Confederate soldier, defeats.
“I had so much fun today,” a student at the college reported. “I always thought of history as a bunch of pages and names, but it’s super cool to see what these people looked like and how they lived. It really made me reconsider what I thought history was about.”
Reenactors included: Dirk Yarker (Roman Empire), Ibarra (U.S National War, U.S Park Service), Rob Ramaker (Templar Knight), Bruce Kidd (1st Lieutenant Trans Mississippi Confederate soldier), Jing Luo (WWI American soldier), Eloy Garcia (16th century conquistador), as well as others not pictured above.)
Along with reenactors came musket demonstrations as well as archery for the public on behalf of University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley.
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Reenactors portrayed a wide array of history including Roman legionnaire, Templar Knight, conquistador, WWI Marine, and soldiers during the Mexican-American and Civil War. The community was invited to actively participate as well as hold the weapons and armor that led to centuries of victories and, as in the case of the Confederate soldier, defeats.
“I had so much fun today,” a student at the college reported. “I always thought of history as a bunch of pages and names, but it’s super cool to see what these people looked like and how they lived. It really made me reconsider what I thought history was about.”
Reenactors included: Dirk Yarker (Roman Empire), Ibarra (U.S National War, U.S Park Service), Rob Ramaker (Templar Knight), Bruce Kidd (1st Lieutenant Trans Mississippi Confederate soldier), Jing Luo (WWI American soldier), Eloy Garcia (16th century conquistador), as well as others not pictured above.)
Along with reenactors came musket demonstrations as well as archery for the public on behalf of University of Texas- Rio Grande Valley.
