The students will collect 30,000 pennies to purchase a granite paver inscribed with the information about Bonham. The paver will be placed at the Red River Valley Veterans Memorial being built near Love Civic Center in Paris.

Bonham, officer of the Alamo garrison, was born in South Carolina, and reached Texas in November 1835, quickly involving himself in political and military affairs.

Dec. 1, 1835, he wrote to Sam Houston from San Felipe volunteering his services for Texas and declining all pay, lands, or rations in return. Dec. 20, 1835, he was commissioned a second lieutenant in the Texas cavalry, but apparently was not assigned to any specific unit. He had time to set up a law practice in Brazoria.

Bonham and Houston quickly developed a mutual admiration. Bonham traveled to San Antonio and the Alamo with James Bowie and arrived on Jan. 19, 1836. He was appointed one of a committee of seven to draft a preamble and resolutions on behalf of the garrison.

He was sent by Travis to obtain aid for the garrison, and returned to the Alamo, bearing a letter from Robert M. Williamson assuring Travis that help was on its way and urging him to hold out.

Bonham died in the battle of the Alamo on March 6, 1836. He is believed to have died manning one of the cannons in the interior of the Alamo chapel.

The city of Bonham bears his name, and the fourth grade students will collect the pennies to put that name at the Veterans Memorial.

article courtesy of The Paris News