Texian Navy Day

November 19, 2009

Founders Memorial Cemetery - Houston, Texas

On Saturday, September 19, 2009, at 10:00 a.m., The Sons of the Republic of Texas honored the second commander of the Texas Navy, Commodore Henry Livingston Thompson, at the historic Founders Memorial Cemetery, in Houston, as part of The Sons of the Republic of Texas' official 2009 observance of the Texian Navy Day.  The Texas Navy Association also participated by laying a wreath to honor Commodore Henry Livingston Thompson and the entire Republic of Texas Navy. 

Below are pictures taken at the 2009 Texian Navy Day celebration at Founders Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas on September 19, 2009.  Information about the 2009 Texian Navy Day celebration was provided by Texas Navy Committee Chairman of the Sons of the Republic of Texas, David Hanover.  Photo credits: Betty Stokes, Second Vice President, Charles G. Davenport Chapter , Daughters of the Republic of Texas in Tyler, Texas.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

SRT Color Guard Marching into Texian Navy Day Ceremony, September 19, 2009

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Color Guard presents the colors while St. Thomas' Episcopal School Pipe Band plays.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

The emcee of the ceremony, Sons of the Republic of Texas President General L. Vaughn Oliver, KSJ, speaks about Texian Navy Day and Commodore Henry Livingston Thompson's many contributions to the Republic of Texas.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Keynote speaker Will Haddock of the Sons of the Republic of Texas spoke about the Texas Navy and Commodore Thompson's many contributions to the defense of the Republic of Texas.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Texas Navy Association President C. W. 'Swede' Andersen spoke about the Texian Navy Day and Henry Livingston Thompson, the second Commodore of the Texas Navy.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Sons of the Republic of Texas President General L. Vaughn Oliver, KSJ, and Texas Navy Association President C. W. 'Swede' Andersen lay a wreath at the gravesite of Commodore Henry Livingston Thompson for his many important contributions to the defense of the Republic of Texas at Founders Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

A few of the members of the Sons of the Republic of Texas Navy Committee and the Texas Navy Association. 

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Daughters of the Republic of Texas honor the memory of Commodore Thompson.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Daughters of the Republic of Texas members.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Sons of the Republic of Texas - Texian Navy Day 2009

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Tom Houston presents the David G. Burnet flag at the ceremony.

Photo Courtesy of Betty Stokes

Wreath honoring the memory of Commodore Henry Livingston Thompson in Founders Memorial Cemetery in Houston, Texas.

Designated as an historic cemetery by the Texas Historical Commission in 2007, Founders Memorial Cemetery is a long-forgotten jewel of a cemetery in the shadows of the skyscrapers of downtown Houston.  The cemetery is the final resting place of one of the founders of the City of Houston, John Kirby Allen, 31 veterans of the Battle of San Jacinto, a signer of the Texas Declaration of Independence, and many other early leaders of the Republic of Texas.  Most of the burials occurred in the 1800's, although a few are dated in the twentieth century, the most recent being 1949.  Founders Memorial Cemetery is located at 1217 West Dallas Street in Houston at the intersection of Valentine Street.  

For information about the 2010 Texian Navy Day Celebration, contact SRT Texas Navy Committee Chairman, David Hanover (dhanover@suddenlink.net).

Founders Memorial Cemetery Index