Dear Editor:

I am writing in response to the letter written by Jeff Cheek of Medford, Oregon and his disgust at the First National Flag of the Confederacy. I would like to address each issue he raised one by one.

#2. Sam Houston refused to go along with secession and was removed from office. Again this is true but there are many reasons for the way Houston acted. Houston was a very complex man to say the least. He was always the showman and sought attention never wasting an opportunity to place himself in the public arena.

When Texas gained statehood in 1846, Houston continued his political career as a United States Senator, serving from 1846 to 1860. In Washington, his apparent fondness for alcohol, women and brawling again provoked sharp controversy and added new chapters to his legend.

In politics, he was an enthusiastic supporter of the Mexican-American War, although disappointed that it did not end in the annexation of Mexico. A slave holder himself and an outspoken opponent of abolition, he nonetheless voted consistently against the expansion of slavery into new territories and was a vehement opponent of secession.

These views made Houston unpopular with the Texas legislature, but in 1859, as he was about to leave the Senate, he was once more elected governor. Despite his views he was still the "Hero of San Jacinto." He used the office to continue his campaign against secession. In 1861, when Texas voted to separate from the Union, Houston still held out, arguing that Texas apart from the United States was an independent republic. As chief executive, he refused to swear allegiance to the Confederacy, and as a result he was removed from office.

On February 23, 1861, Texas went to the polls and voted for secession. San Saba County also voted FOR session. The results for the state as a whole were 46,153 for and 14,747 against. Of the 122 counties at that time casting votes, only eighteen cast majorities against secession.

With a touch of drama, the secession of the state became official on March 2nd, Texas Independence Day. On March 5th, the Secession Convention reassembled and took further steps to join the Confederacy. Among these was the writing of a new state constitution. All current state officials were obliged to take an oath of loyalty to the Confederacy. This marked the end of the long political career of Sam Houston, although he did later support the South in the war.

Jan K. Huffstetler

San Saba TX

Dear Editor:

I want to express my deepest gratitude for all the help during my recent surgery. On July 8th, I received the beautiful gift of life. I had a double lung transplant and am doing really well. I was told the likelihood of finding lungs for me was very slim. I only had a 15% chance, because of an antibody problem. But through hope, faith, and lots of prayer, I was listed on June 11 and just 28 days later, I got "my call." I really thought it would just be a "practice" run. But on my way to University Hospital in San Antonio, my phone rang and my transplant coordinator told me the antibodies were all negative, it looked like these were my lungs. Needless to say, everything worked out. I had new lungs by morning, and just a few hours later was off oxygen and breathing 98% on room air. Seven days later, I was sent home to recover. It has been a surreal experience. I have had lung problems for seven years. I was diagnosed with bronchiectasis throughout both lungs. They say it was caused from rheumatoid arthritis. I have never smoked. The doctor told me my lungs were like tissue that had gotten wet and then dried. They were hard and crumbly. Thank God for my donor and her family. I hope my story will encourage everyone to give a second thought to becoming an organ donor. I hear you can save eight lives. You, yourself, never know when you may be in need. I never dreamed I would be a double lung recipient...

Thanks again to everyone for all the thoughts and prayers, food, cards, phone calls, time, etc... It is greatly appreciated.

My sincere thanks,

Melanie Lehrer

Cherokee, Texas