Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

December 2017

Contents

          Meeting announcements

          Revolution History note

Wreaths Across America

Dues are Due

          Program Schedule

          Other Dates of Interest

Misc. reminders and information

Meeting Announcements

December

The next meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will held on Saturday, Dec 16. This meeting will be different from our regular meeting schedule. The meeting will start at 10:00 AM still at the same Golden Corral at 11801 N 56th St in Tampa (Temple Terrace). Get there in time to get breakfast, if you want to eat, so we can start the meeting at 10:00. We will have a brief business session, primarily to elect new officers for 2018. After the meeting, we will go to the Tampa American Legion Post on Kennedy (more below) for the 2017 Wreaths Across America Ceremony.

November

Our November meeting was our annual Law Enforcement and Fire Fighter Recognition and Commendation meeting.

Pictured above are Hillsborough County Deputy Carlos Brito, Florida Highway Patrol Senior Trooper Chris Wells and Hillsborough County Fire Rescue Driver/Engineer Jayson Lynn with Chapter President Charles Klug who made the presentations.

____________________________________________________________________RRevolution History Note:

In the November 2015 newsletter I discussed The Howe Brothers and the American Revolution, a book written in the 1970’s by Ira Gruber of Rice University. In the book, Gruber argues that Howe “threw” the War for Independence by his actions or lack thereof in the first two years of the war.

A new book on the same subject, Whispers Across the Atlantick, by David Smith, PH. D, author and lecturer on military history at the University of Chester, UK, has recently come out.

Several years ago, the University of Michigan obtained from a private collector a collection of letters from Howe’s officers as well as a narrative by Howe’s of his campaigns and decision making. Smith was the first historian to view and use the collection. He concludes that Howe’s personality, lack of cooperation from his subordinates, communication problems with London and his lack of experience in high military command contributed to his caution and inactivity at crucial times. Smith agrees with Gruber that Howe wanted some sort of peaceful, negotiated end to the war based on his political views. However, he doesn’t go as far as Gruber to suggest Howe “threw” the war.

As with all the books I mention and comment on, I’ll be interested in the views of anyone who gets the opportunity to read this book.

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Wreaths Across America

For the fourth year, the Tampa Chapter will sponsor the American Legion Post #5 Veterans Cemetery Wreaths Across America Ceremony. The Ceremony will be held at Noon on December 16. Information on the nationwide WAA Program can be found on their website at www.wreathsacrossamerica.org. Everyone is encouraged to attend and participate in the Ceremony. The Ceremony starts at Noon, but try to be there by 11:30. We will go over as a group after the morning meeting at the Golden Corral. Or you can join us there. Our Chapter Color Guard will be there in uniform. The address for the Cemetery is 3810 W Kennedy Blvd in Tampa.

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Dues Are Due

By now, everyone should have received a dues renewal notice from Membership Secretary Jason Krajnyak. Please bring a check to this meeting or put check in mail to the address in Due's Notice as soon as you can. Many thanks for your prompt attention to this matter.

If you are an SAR Life Member, you pay only State and Chapter Dues

If you are active duty military, you pay only National Dues

If you are a Junior Member, your dues are paid by the Tampa Chapter.

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Program Schedule

Jan. Officer Installation - site to be determined

Feb/March—Tentative hopes for a joint meeting with the DAR and a speaker on genealogy and possibly SAR approved Youth Protection Training for the other.

April JROTC recognition

May perhaps Sept speaker re-scheduled; perhaps local museum speaker; perhaps Rodney Kite-Powell of the Tampa Bay History Center

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Other Dates of Interest

February 4 Florida Winter BOM & Oration Competition (Kissimmee)

March 10 Commemoration of Last Naval Battle (Merritt Island)

April 7 Commemoration of Battle of Thomas Creek (Jacksonville)

May 18-20 Florida Spring BOM & Annual Meeting (Kissimmee)

July 13-18 National Congress (Houston)

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Misc. Notes and reminders:

          Chapter Website—remember you can find information about the chapter and programs on the chapter website.      http://www.tampasar.org/

          One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain John Sessums is to send cards to our members that are sick. Another is to send a sympathy card to the family of a member who has passed away. If you know of anyone that should be the recipient of these cards please mention it to the Chaplain or one of the other officers at our next meeting.

          Chapter officers and committee chairman are encouraged to send any pertinent information they wish included in the newsletter to the Newsletter Editor Bob Yarnell at rsyarn@aol.com.