Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

January 2017

Contents

Meeting announcement

December Meeting

Revolution History note

Wreaths Across America

Program Schedule

Misc. reminders and information

The January meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will held on Saturday, January 21st  at The Rusty Pelican Restaurant from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. The Rusty Pelican is located on Rocky Point.  The address is 2425 Rocky Point Drive, Tampa, Florida   33607This is a pre-set luncheon with a choice of Mahi Mahi or London Broil for $25.  The price includes a salad, iced tea, tax and gratuity. The use of the restaurant dining room is at no charge.  Attached is an invitation form. Please complete the form and mail it with a check to our Treasurer, Paul Ergler, at the address shown on the invitation.   We have a minimum of 35 meals. Consequently, please let Paul Ergler or Charles Klug know at your earliest convenience if you will be attending and the number of your guests.  Please note that Paul's email address is : paulergler@hotmail.com.   

December Meeting

Due to much confusion with different locales, it was decided to cancel the usual formal meeting for the month of December. Immediately after the Wreaths Across American Ceremony (see more below), there was a brief meeting held at the home of President Charles Klug, followed by an SAR Holiday Social hosted by President Klug and his wife Victoria. The primary purpose of the meeting was to hold the election of officers for the Tampa Chapter for 2017. The Nominating Committee had previously provided the following slate of officers to all members by e-mail:

President Charles Klug

Vice President John Goolsby

Recording Secretary Alan Denham

Membership Secretary Jason Krajnyak

Treasurer Paul Ergler

Registrar/Genealogist Brett Thomas

Chaplain John Sessums

Sergeant at Arms David Bryant

Exec Board Member at Large Terry Doan

Exec Board Member at Large Jack Bolin

This slate of officers was elected by a unanimous vote of the members present. These officers, plus Immediate Past President Dick Young, make up the Executive Board of the Tampa Chapter.

American Revolution Notes:

Many of you, like me, have no doubt wondered over the years why more hasn’t been done to preserve sites from the war for independence. With regard to the southern campaign of 1779-1781 in the Carolina’s, that problem is in the process of being rectified. The South Carolina Preservation Trust and various partners are in the process of raising $15 million to preserve/interpret up to 69 sites along the South Carolina Liberty Trail. For the next few months I’ll be telling you about this project and how some of the sites are going to be interpreted and presented to the public.

The Trail will start at Moncks Corner, the location of Mepkin Plantation, the home of rice planter Henry Laurens. It is located just northwest of Charleston on the Cooper River. Laurens was a member of the Continental Congress and succeeded Hancock as President. Following his service as President of the Congress he served as Minister to the Netherlands. While at sea his ship was seized by the British and he was imprisoned in the Tower of London. He was released on December 31, 1781 in exchange for General Cornwallis. He left London for the Netherlands where he continued his mission to obtain loans and money for the fledging United States. The goal of the Trail is to provide historic interpretation of the site which today is a Roman Catholic monastery.

Also included in the interpretation will be information about Lauren’s son, John. He was an aide to Gen. Washington early in the war. By 1782 he commanded a battalion of infantry and was killed in August 1782 at the Battle of the Combahee River.

Next on the Trail will be the Battle of Monck’s Corner. During the siege of Charlestown (April 1780), the British dispatched some dragoons and mounted infantry to cut off the American escape route along the Cooper River. The British succeeded in capturing some supplies and routing the American force detailed to protect them.

The Trail’s goal is to preserve over 700 acres of the Lewisfield plantation, site of another skirmish in the area a year later and provide information/interpretation of both battles.

Next month: What is being planned for Fairlawn Plantation, the Battle of Waxhaws and the Battle of Hanging Rock.

(ed note: I did not know anything about the Laurens until working on this months column. With a bit more research, I may do column on them in the future.)

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Wreaths Across America

On Saturday, December 17, the Tampa Chapter Color Guard (Hillsborough River Camp of the Sons of Liberty Brigade) presented the National Colors at the WAA Ceremony at American Legion Post #5 "USS Tampa" on Kennedy Blvd in Tampa. Representing the Color Guard were David Bryant, David Chestnut (St. Petersburg) and Dick Young. Also attending the ceremony were SAR compatriots from the Tampa, Clearwater and South Shore Chapters. Lunch was provided by the American Legion inside their Hall after the Ceremony. A good time was had by all.

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Program Schedule

Jan 21 - Officer Installation - The Rusty Pelican

Feb 18- Professor Tillson - Revolutionary Virginia - Grill 116 (tentative)

March 18 - Richard Wainio - Panama Canal Update - Grill 116 (tentative)

April 15 - JROTC recognition (location TBA)

May--Rodney Kite-Powell: History of the Tampa Bay Area

Tampa Bay History Center (tentative and possible joint meeting with C.A.R)

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Miscellaneous 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 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 Chaplain Sessums 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 editor.