SPANISH CROWN CONFERS DISTINGUISHED DECORATION Spanish people have w tched, apparently for a long while, this present-day development of the Old Spanish Trail and the revival of interest in the culture and works of the Spanish Fathers in America. It is known that historical publications of the Association have been sent to Spain by Spanish travelers, and in some instances used for'.teaching this history to Spanish children, and that important communications were submitted to Premier de Rivera and to King Alfonso by eminent Spaniards. The Spanish Crown sent Don Rafael Casares Gil as delegate to the Saint Augustine dedication ceremonies in 1929. But the extent of Spanish recognition was not realized until a communication was received from the Spanish Embassy at Washington informing Harral Ayres that the .''Condecoration of the Royal Order of Isabel la Catolica of Spain" had been conferred. The evening of April 29, 1950 the ceremony of the investiture of this Decoration' waB conducted at San Antonio. The following from the "Texas Pioneer" magazine is the report of that ceremony, said to be unprecented in the United States. This distinguished recognition is the tribute of Spain to all the Old Spanish Trail people for their achievements in connection with this work. (From the Texas PioneBr.-June 1930) 1 Tito nost dieting'a'- ' k \/r.l Order of Prs.fcn, the Ord-r ncrsrJallying the golden age of ordimrul and Ic-huUa.. v confosucd or i'ciwal at a for'.ol diplo- : ratio reception perti.oliw.ted In by ;aninh, American, 'exicon and Vcasaa officials and over lOC^dintinguiohcd :;i (. .in; Dai Pablo d.c .’bnrri, representing the Spautoh King, X preoem! fi t'.o f oaloi-uru*.Vm of fl.c. UoynX Order of ‘sr.hel 1c. Oatollca ?. > the mv.o of ’ c ' - (City 1 • Don Tharrl hi a gold-brocaded anifovn an’ olaposu. Vhn official grou suvrou sling 3c-. 'burri, conolcU::; of ;.ntc, c .uirLy and city officio lu» civic club preside its? tho co:sraiding general of tho 8th Corps area of the nrry, a .d. o onoral of 't.xica, -jaro rill in foria'l dross iv.'u Uiylorat ‘c aoage- pre- , 'It 1. distinction confc-rvil on riarral 'yvee m-.o 1. reco^oltlo:i of hie (£0)5'oars * lc: dcr M; z£ the Did Spanish '. mil tovv the :S'ct c vjplcto tiv; incontlnontA hirj«ny la li'.o nlted States, c :. j&jtinr Taint Augur, tiro a-.d San Diego Virougli t3R> hloiorlo Dponlnh cities fromthe Atlantic to tl'.o Pacific. ^Tho corcrvin/ v;. a in too ert nalon of _-a. Henry Drought's he so rhcrc all t'.o nurreundh irgo were in keeping with iiplo ratio S>«ioti.Tn. ;ot,h Spanish an ' Ama-ic; • rrmic plnj’o3, -v-d V.io cddroaico wore reed in ' penluii and •’aorican, r.s elik: . old, '.peaiiol. colsro, tv-. *.:w».oo in liwaotor, suepandel from a laurel leaf. On-' ,.;.0 0i.lo tho m -.o ol tho Order and ranogran. On the reveroo oiO.o, -the neat of or,as n:,0 ■;&