Phil Collins' Gift to Texas

It comes to no surprise that several native Texans are not aware of the historical significance for what it means to “Remember the Alamo.”  A recent opinion on July 9^th from the Editorial Board of the Austin American-Statesman’s brought awareness to the residents of Texas with their article “A Generous Gift for the Alamo.”  The authors write about how a famous musician born in England, Phil Collins, keeps inside his Switzerland basement the world’s largest private collection of Texas Revolution artifacts. 

Collins has recently announced the donation of his collection to the Alamo, and the authors believe this will make him “an honorary Texan.”  The authors place importance on the artifacts belonging in Texas, and sadly state how the original owners are mere “defenders forgotten to most people.”  They discuss the restoration of the Alamo site being “decades past due,” and how Collins’ collection will be crucial to bringing the “Alamo myth to its historical reality.”

I agree and disagree with several points within this editorial.  There is a disheartening realization with trying to understand how historical Alamo artifacts are not only owned by a US citizen, but are residing in another country.  Just because Phil Collins took it upon himself to possess the historic Alamo collection by falling in love with Disney’s version of Davy Crockett as a child, doesn’t make him an “honorary Texan.”  I do firmly agree that restoring of the Alamo is important and extremely long overdue and I also agree with the authors that most of us have forgotten the Alamo.