On February 23, 1861, the people of Texas went to the polls and voted 46,153 for and 14,747 against to secede from the United States. Of the 122 counties voting, only eighteen cast majorities against secession. Eleven others were as much as 40 percent against. The referendum was held pursuant to a decision in favor of secession in the state Secession Convention. By happenstance, on the same day 84 years later, in 1945, the U.S. flag was raised at Iwo Jima by Texas Marine Cpl. Harlon Block of Weslaco, among others.