Harlingen, Texas, July 26, 2010: In recent days two invitations have arrived. One is to attend an International Beer Festival on August 5th. The second is to join in the events of "La Pachanga" at a local park. In South Texas a "Pachanga" always translates to a party. These events become more and more frequent during the "silly season", better known as the three months leading up to a major election. In addition to political speeches, the Pachanga is known for the availability of lots and lots of beer.
This statement should not come as a surprise to anyone. American history was formed and nurtured in the dark confines of community taverns. If it were not for the plentiful supply of both beer and rum, the United States we know today might never have been given birth.
Following the passage of the Stamp Act in 1764 American colonists became more and more dissatisfied with the treatment they were receiving at the hands of their British overlords. Secret organizations began to form and one of these was "The Union Club", which later changed its name to "The Sons of Liberty". The small group started meeting at a distillery and later moved it's meeting to The Green Dragon Tavern. There, along with the consumption of much rum and beer, the new patriots planned a revolution.
The writings of John Adams tell of his regular meetings in the Boston Chase and Speakman's Distillery. There, beverages flowed and in his words ...
"Representatives are regularly chosen before they are chosen in the town."
Any Marine will proudly share the birth and history of his Corps with those who seek such knowledge. A man by the name of Samuel Carpenter built a very large "brew house" in Philadelphia at a place called Tun Alley. Tun is an old English word meaning cask or keg of beer. The tavern location and the term's meaning made it easy for Carpenter. He named is establishment Tun Tavern.
According to author Marion F. Sturkey, In 1756 Colonel Benjamin Franklin used Tun Tavern as the gathering place to recruit a regiment which later went to battle against the Indian uprisings. George Washington and the Continental Congress met at Tun Tavern as the colonies made preparations for seeking independence.
On November 10, 1775 the Centennial Congress called for the establishment to two battalions of Marines. Robert Mullan, the proprietor of Tun Tavern was named Chief Recruiter and young men rushed to the tavern seeking cold beer and to enlist as Marines.
Not too long ago I met with a group of Marines in the bar of the Menger Hotel in San Antonio. This historic hotel, built in 1859 is known for several interesting things. It was rated the best hotel west of the Mississippi, is haunted by a number of ghosts...and the bar where we were sitting was the place where Teddy Roosevelt sat and recruited his Rough Riders. They stabled their horses across the street at a place called The Alamo.
Not to be neglectful of the use of rum in our history, it should be noted that this beverage was very important in colonial America and beyond. Estimates of rum consumption during those early days of our history has every man, woman and child drinking an average of three gallons a year.
As we moved from colonial oversight to a nation of free elections it was regularly noted that the success of candidates running for office could be measured by just how freely they dispensed rum during their individual gatherings.
And so the practice continues today. In my corner of America it may be called a "Pachanga", in the central United Stated is may just be labeled a patriotic picnic. One thing is certain...the beer will flow and there may even be some rum found at one of the tables. It has been going on for well over 200 years in America and is ingrained in our history.
Semper Fidelis
Thomas D. Segel
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