On Saturday night, December 6, the San Jacinto Battlefield will glow with 21,500 candles – one for every Texan who died in armed conflict. This powerful tribute needs your hands to make it happen.
Walk across the same ground where Texas won its independence, but this time you’ll be honoring every Texan who gave their life in service to our country. From the soldiers at San Jacinto to those who served in World War II, Korea, Vietnam, Iraq, and Afghanistan – each candle represents a real person who never came home.
The event runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. Saturday at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site. But getting 21,500 candles placed across that battlefield takes an army of volunteers – more than 700 people across three days.
How You Can Join
Volunteers are needed for three different days, so you can jump in wherever your schedule allows:
Friday, December 5 from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., about 100 to 150 volunteers will prep the luminaries. This means assembling candles, checking supplies, and getting everything ready for placement.
Saturday, December 6 from 7 a.m. to 4 p.m., the main event needs 700-plus volunteers for morning and afternoon shifts. You’ll place those 21,500 luminaries across the battlefield, creating the visual tribute that visitors will see that evening.
Sunday, December 7 from 7 a.m. to noon, about 300 volunteers will collect and dispose of the luminaries, leaving the historic site pristine.
What You’ll Actually Do
Group leaders will coordinate volunteer teams and keep everything running smoothly. Most volunteers will prep and place candles – think of it as creating a memorial one light at a time. The cleanup crew makes sure the battlefield is returned to its natural state.
This works perfectly for military groups, scout troops, ROTC students, families, community organizations, businesses, or individuals. Bring your whole crew or come solo – there’s a spot for everyone.
Why This Matters
San Jacinto Battlefield already represents liberty. On April 21, 1836, Texans fought an 18-minute battle here that secured independence from Mexico. Now this same ground will honor every Texan who followed in those footsteps – who put on a uniform and never came back.
President Abraham Lincoln called it “the last full measure of devotion.” That’s exactly what 21,500 candles will show – the full measure of what Texas has given.
When the sun sets on Saturday and those candles begin to glow, visitors will see the true cost of freedom stretched across the battlefield. Each flickering light tells a story. Each one represents a family that got a folded flag instead of their loved one coming home.
The Details You Need
The public event happens Saturday evening, December 6, from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m. at San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site, 1 Monument Circle in La Porte. Admission is free.
Volunteers should register now through the official volunteer registration form. Spots fill up fast, especially for the Saturday placement shifts when the most hands are needed.
Dress for outdoor work – comfortable shoes, layers for changing temperatures, and clothes that can handle kneeling or bending. December evenings at the coast can get chilly, so bring a jacket for the evening event if you’re staying to see the final result.
Part of Something Bigger
This tribute connects to America250 – the national commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary. Texas is marking this milestone by honoring the Texans who defended the freedoms our founders established.
The event serves to educate current and future generations about these sacrifices. Kids who help place candles will understand in a tangible way what service and sacrifice mean. Adults will have time to reflect on the names and stories behind those 21,500 lights.
San Jacinto Monument towers 567 feet above the battlefield. On Saturday night, it’ll stand watch over a sea of candles honoring those who never got to see it built – those who died in conflicts that came after Texas independence but were defending the same ideals those original Texans fought for in 1836.
You can drive past memorials every day and barely notice them. But when you spend your morning placing candles, counting them out, arranging them across sacred ground – that changes you. When you stand there Saturday evening and see all 21,500 glowing together, you’ll know exactly what your hands helped create.
Three days. Three different ways to serve. One powerful tribute that needs your help to become real.
Event Information
Public Viewing Saturday, December 6, 2025 6 p.m. – 11 p.m. San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site 1 Monument Circle, La Porte, TX Free admission
Volunteer Opportunities Friday, December 5: Prep Day (8 a.m. – 2 p.m.) Saturday, December 6: Placement Day (7 a.m. – 4 p.m.) Sunday, December 7: Cleanup Day (7 a.m. – 12 noon)
Register online through the volunteer registration form at the San Jacinto Battleground State Historic Site website
