Come and Take It Was a Slogan Used in the Texas Revolution in 1835

Come and take it" was a slogan used in the Texas Revolution in 1835. In March 1831, Juan Gomez, a Lieutenant in the Mexican Army, worked alongside Tadeo Ortiz, a consul at Bordeaux, France, and granted a small cannon to the colony of San Antonio. The small bronze cannon was received by the colony and signed for by Randy Tumlinson. It was then transported to Gonzales, Texas and later was the object of Texas pride. At the minor skirmish known as the Battle of Gonzales—the first battle of the Texas Revolution against Mexico—a small group of Texans successfully resisted the Mexican forces who had orders from Juan Gomez to seize their cannon. As a symbol of defiance, the Texans had fashioned a flag containing the phrase "come and take it" along with a black star and an image of the cannon which they had received six years earlier from Mexican officials—this was the same message that was sent to the Mexican government when they told the Texans that they had to return their cannon—failure to comply with the Mexican's original demands led to the failed attempt by the Mexican military to forcefully take back the cannon.

The slogan itself can be considered a modification of the response King Leonidas of Sparta (ancient Greek city-state) gave to the Persians during the Battle of Thermopylae in 480 BC. When he was asked that his men should lay down their weapons, he replied "Come and get them" (Μολὼν λαβέ).[1]

[edit]Modern versions

The replica at the Texas State Capitol

Digital reproduction of the Come and Take It flag.

In modern times, the "come and take it" flag has been modified and used as a symbol of Freedom. The first-known modified version, from the 1980s, replaces the cannon with an FN-FALbattle rifle and was displayed at a Bill of Rights rally in Arizona following the announcement by President George H. W. Bush that certain types of firearms and firearms parts would be banned. It was shown at a number of later rallies and campaign events through the late 1990s, and now resides in a private collection.

In 2002, a version of the flag was created which depicted a Barrett .50 BMG Rifle. Other versions have depicted various firearms, and even other objects dear to the hearts of the flagmakers. During the 2000 Stanley Cup Finals at least one Dallas Stars fan had created a replica of the flag with the Stanley Cup replacing the cannon; the Stars were the defending champions that year. The flag was visible during CBC television coverage of the playoffs.

Replicas of the original flag can be seen in the Texas State Capitol, the University of Texas at El Paso Library, and in Perkins Library at Duke University.

[edit]Gonzales traditions

Detail from the monument in Gonzales, Texas

As the cannon was truly the pride of the Texans, the battle cry of the Gonzales Battle is relived every year in Gonzales, Texas during the first weekend in October known as Come & Take It. During this three-day celebration in the town square, there is a parade, food, carnival games and rides, shopping, and other festival activities to celebrate the success of the Texas militia. The event is marked as the single most popular weekend of the year in Gonzales, and many businesses even shut down to take part in the festivities.[citation needed]