History buffs honor Mexico's Alamo dead

Monday, March 6th 2000, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(San Antonio-AP) -- Everybody remembers the Alamo, but nobody remembers the Mexican soldiers who died in the March 1836 siege and assault on the San Antonio fort -- at least, nobody north of the border.

About 500 to 600 Mexican soldiers died in the siege. Yesterday, they were honored in ceremonies at San Antonio's Milam Park, near the site of their mass grave in the Camp Santo.

The third annual ceremony for the Mexican dead by the Alamo Legacy and Missions Association was a modest, subdued affair compared to the festivities in Alamo Plaza an hour beforehand.

Association President Ralph Lay described the hardships and the heroism of the men and women of the Mexican Army who marched under General Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna's command.

A wreath was then laid to commemorate the Mexican dead, with Mexican Consul Javier Aguilar Rangel participating. That was yesterday.

This morning, Alamo Society members gathered at dawn on Alamo Plaza in downtown San Antonio for their annual ceremony honoring the Texans killed.