The Governor s Chronicle A Newsletter Offering of the Minutes of Our Last Meeting March 11, 2014 Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution www.thomasnelsonjr.org The Chapter meeting was called to order by President, Ken Wood at 7:00 p.m. The Invocation was given by Chaplain, Gary Hodges. The Pledge of Allegiance by the 2 nd Vice President, Joe Shipes. SAR Pledge by Treasurer, Rick Elofson. Members and their guests were introduced. 2013 VASSAR Awards that were presented to the Thomas Nelson, JR. Chapter were mentioned. Also, a VASSAR Certificate of Appreciation to VASSAR Treasurer, Rick Elofson for exemplary leadership and service as treasurer of the VA Society. Sympathy and prayers were recommended for Compatriot Robert Allen Raup Sept. 15, 1928 - February 20, 2014. Presentation of a Supplemental Award went to Compatriot Everett Feldt, JR. for Patriot Ancestor, Asa Stevens. Three new members were inducted Compatriots Eugene G. Christman, Jr. and Joseph S. Christman for patriot ancestor, Vincent Rawlings; and Compatriot, Benjamin Epps for Patriot Ancestor, Jesse Warren. Dinner was served. Eagle Scout Award, given by 1 st Vice President, Bruce Meyer, went to Eagle Scout Anthony S. Coulson, who has completed every badge available for an Eagle Scout. Guest speaker was Christopher L. McDavid,, Regional Archaeologist for US Army IMCOM NE Region, Fort Eustis, who spoke on T he Material Culture of Taverns and Tavern Keepers in 18 th Century, Hampton, Va. He covered a space of 1680 through 1800. Most of the excavations centered around the area of the Air and Space Museum. One small city block in Hampton contains history of taverns in Hampton during early years of our country. 1st Vice President, Bruce Meyer, closed with SAR Recessional, and Benediction by Chaplain, Gary Hodges Our Next Meeting June 7 th, 2014, Social 11:30pm Cash Bar Meeting 12:00pm Point Plaza Suites 950 J. Clyde Morris Blvd., Newport News, Virginia 23601 Guest Speaker: Dr. Phillip Hamilton Professor of History Christopher Newport University War and Marriage: Lucy and Henry Knox and the Campaign of 1776. Meal Cost: $25.00 Per Person RSVP By: Tuesday June 3rd, 2014 Rick Elofson at relofson1@cox.net or 757-596-6825 Ladies Encouraged To Attend Page One
The SAR Afield Upcoming Events in Our Region & Beyond June 14 th, 2014 Flag Day Grave Marking Presidential Initiative Dumfries, VA July 4 th, 2014 Independence Day Yorktown Day Parade 9am Yorktown, VA July 7 th, 2014 Bingo at the VA hospital Hampton, VA July 18 th, 2014 The 124th National Congress Greenville,SC August 3rd, 2014 Board of Managers Meeting For more information: Check out our new calendar which includes all the years scheduled events located on the website http://www.thomasnelsonjr.org/cal.html 2014 Chapter Officers President Ken Wood 1 st Vice-President Bruce Meyer 2 nd Vice President Joe Shipes Secretary Mason Ware Treasurer Rick Elofson Registrar Jim Sample Chaplain Gary Hodges Surgeon William Old, III M.D. 2014 Committee Chairmen Citizenship Eagle Scout Flag Graves Newsletter Public Safety ROTC/JROTC Veteran s Affairs Vacant Bruce Meyer Vacant Vacant Mark Carroll Jeff Brown Ken Wood Ken Wood Board of Managers Joe Shipes Jim Sample Gerald Runyan VSSAR NSSAR VSSAR Thomas Nelson Jr. SAR Like us on Facebook Click Calendar to Visit Full size Website Announcements All Things in the Thomas Nelson, Jr. Chapter BINGO! VA Hospital, Hampton, Building 148 July 7 th, 2014, 7:00pm *Still Need Help* Meet at the Domiciliary at 6:30pm to set up for the games and refreshments. Bingo starts at 7:00pm and plays for one hour or until our money ($50) is gone, whichever comes first. We clean up and leave by 8:15pm. To do a respectable job takes a minimum crew of four, but the more volunteers, the higher our Stark score. If you can arrive earlier and/or stay later to visit with the long-term patients in Bldg. 146, that s even better! Vacant Committees need your help. Interested in Pitching In? Contact any of the Chapter Officers, Committee Chairmen, or Board of Mangers to see how you can make a difference. If those receiving a copy of this newsletter by USPS have an email account, please reply via email to: Mark Carroll at sonarmark@gmail.com or Rick Elofson at relofson1@cox.net Page Two
President Wood attended the 233 rd Anniversary Commemoration of the Crossing of the Dan in South Boston, VA on February 22, 2014. Past President Walt Neville attended the 238 th Anniversary of the Halifax Resolves and presented the Chapter Wreath on April 12. 2014 President Wood attended the 233 rd Anniversary of the Battle of Guildford Courthouse on March 14, 2014 at Greensboro, NC. President Wood, Past President Dan Phillips, and his wife Alice Phillips at the 233 rd Anniversary of the Battle of Guildford Courthouse. President Wood presented Mr. Thomas A Smith of Gloucester Point with a Certificate of Commendation for his display of the American Flag on April 26, 2014. Page Three
President Wood Attended a Wreath Laying at the birthplace of President James Monroe Commemorating his 256 th Birthday Celebration Ceremony on April 26 th 2014. at the James Monroe Birthplace and Park in Westmoreland, VA. He also attended a ceremony commemorating the 256 th Birthday of President Monroe on a rainy April 28 th day at the Hollywood Cemetery in Richmond, VA. Guest Speaker Biography Dr. Phillip Hamilton joined CNU in 2002 and teaches courses on the War for Independence, American Slavery, and the Civil War. He also served as chair of the History Department from 2007-2010. Professor Hamilton s research expertise is the Revolutionary era. He is the author of: The Making and Unmaking of a Revolutionary Family: The Tuckers of Virginia 1752-1830, numerous articles and book chapters on the Revolution s impact on American Society, and he authored Serving the Old Dominion: A History of Christopher Newport University which commemorates fifty years of existence. He is currently writing a dual biography of General Henry Knox and his wife, which is tentatively entitled The Arc of the Revolution: Henry and Lucy Knox and the Transformation of America. Page Four
President Wood, Past President Jeff Brown, VASSAR President Bill Broadus, Compatriot Everett Feldt, and Past President Joe Shipes (not shown) attended the Dedication of the Grave Ledger of Col. Edward Hack Mosely Jr. and the Plaque Honoring Founders, Patriots, and War of 1812 Veterans. The Ceremony was held at the Old Donation Episcopal Church on May 17, 2014 in Virginia Beach, VA. Presentation of Supplemental Award to Compatriot Everett Feldt, Jr. /Patriot Ancestor Asa Stevens New Members Compatriot Eugene G. Christman Jr. Patriot Ancestor Vincent Rawlings Compatriot Joseph S. Christman Patriot Ancestor Vincent Rawlings Presentation of Chapter Eagle Scout Award to Eagle Scout Anthony S. Coulson being pinned by his mother and Presented by 1 st Vice President Bruce Meyer June s Trivia Question: When was the actual signing of the Declaration of Independence? What trivia question would you put here? Send a note via email to sonarmark@gmail.com and your question can be in a future issue. Page Five
New member Compatriot Eugene Christman was inducted during the March 11th meeting. Past President Dan Phillips pinned his SAR rosette on him. New member Benjamin Epps was inducted during the March 11th meeting. His mother Mrs. Christine Epps pinned his SAR rosette on him. March s Trivia Question: Betsy Ross sewed the first American Flag, but who designed it is still a mystery. Who billed the United States for creating the design but was denied payment? Answer Francis Hopkinson Page Six
SAR JROTC Bronze Medal Winners Cadet Evan Spivak Menchville High School Presented April 25, 2014 Cadet / Tsgt Christian Witsil Hampton High School Presented May 1, 2014 Cadet / Chief Brian Estremera Heritage High School Presented May 14, 2014 Page Seven
Ware Church Grave Marking Ceremony Page Eight
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Compatriots, Saved rounds and alibis The French frigate La Fayette, currently on its way to Norfolk, Virginia, has decided to make a slight detour up the York River on Monday morning, June 2, 2014. The reason for the detour is to honor the French sailors and soldiers and their American Allies, that participated in the siege of Yorktown in 1781, resulting in the surrender of British forces, in the last major battle of the American Revolution. The La Fayette, a modern, second-line, multi-mission, stealth frigate of the French Navy, will anchor in the York River at Yorktown at 8 AM, below the Monument to Victory and Alliance, and fire a 21 gun salute. CPT Serge Bordarier, escorted by 30 French sailors, will then come ashore and lay a wreath at the Monument to Victory and Alliance at 9 AM. The Embassy of France to the United States will be represented by Consul General Olivere Sadot- Alamas and CPT Luc Pages, French Naval Attache. Visitors for the ceremony are welcome and encouraged to park at the Yorktown Battlefield Visitor Center, Colonial National Historical Park. For more information, call 757-890-3500. This is a formal ceremony and if you plan to attend please wear the appropriate attire. The ceremony should last about 30 minutes. Best regards, Ken Wood President Thomas Nelson, Jr. Chapter VASSAR Have you visited the Website lately? www.thomasnelsonjr.org The website has undergone major changes with a few still to come. The join us link is a great location to guide prospective members who want more information. Also, Did you know, past issues of are available as far back as 2009? It is not too late to provide input on how we could improve it or to assist with project or others, some help is better than no help, if you can pitch in for Chapter Officers or committees, Our President wants you! Page Eleven