President’s Message

Greetings Compatriots,

I hope you all had a fantastic summer.  As a tradition, the chapter did not hold meetings during the summer months, but we will resume our monthly chapter meetings on Tuesday, September 17th at Mimi’s Café in Irvine at 7pm.  I look forward to again see your smiling faces.  Our dinner meeting speaker will be Peter Small.  Peter will be re-enacting the role of Thomas Jefferson, our Third President.  President Jefferson, the Sage of Monticello, was a scientist, farmer, inventor, architect and the principal author of the Declaration of Independence.

The Board would like your thoughts on adding a ninth meeting during 2025, versus the eight meetings we have historically held yearly.  To be considered for certain awards at the state level, a minimum of 9 meetings must be held by the chapter.  If we were to add an additional meeting we were thinking of something less formal, without a speaker.  Perhaps a December lunch, or something informal during the summer.  Please let us know your thoughts – feel free to send me an email.

I’m excited to announce our chapter was offered the opportunity to host the Spring 2025 CSSAR meeting in Costa Mesa.  After discussion and consideration, our Board agreed to host the event. More information will follow over time, but please consider this early notice that we will need volunteers.  This is a great opportunity to learn about what is going on in the other chapters and at the state level of SAR.  

The America 250 Program continues in full swing marching towards July 4, 2026.  If you attend a chapter meeting and listen to the America 250 Minute then you receive 3 points.  We have had numerous members qualify for the bronze medal, a few have been awarded the silver medal, and three chapter members have reached the gold medal level.

I am pleased to announce Kevin Forrest has recently been named the California Society ROTC/JROTC & NSCC/NLCC Program Chairman.  Please join me in congratulating Kevin on this honor.  This position is in addition to Kevin’s other SAR responsibilities including CASSAR Color Guard Adjunct – South, Captain – Mullan’s Marines Color Guard, and America 250 Chairman for the South Coast Chapter.  

Speaking of our Color Guard, we can use some more members. This is the SAR South Coast chapter’s primary face in the community.  The Color Guard presents the colors at local patriotic events and marches in local parades. It is a good feeling to participate in these events and our presence is always well received. Please let Kevin know of your interest in joining the guard.

As always, thank you all for your patriotism and your membership in the SAR. I look forward to seeing you all at the September chapter meeting.  

In patriotism,

Barry Michaels

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

As a reminder the chapter does not meet in the months of June, July or August.  This means that the next time we meet will be on Tuesday, September 17th.  

This month we celebrate Flag Day.  We begin our dinner meetings reciting our pledge of allegiance to the flag of the United States of America, just as most of us as children started each school day reciting the same pledge.  The first version of the pledge was written in 1892, when The Youth’s Companion, a Boston-based publication with about 500 thousand subscribers, suggested that a nationwide ceremony honoring the U.S. flag be held as part of the Columbus Day celebration. Ever since its creation by an act of the Continental Congress on June 14, 1777, the U.S. flag has been revered as a symbol of the American Republic.  Soon after the creation of the flag, rituals and other practices for demonstrating respect were developed in the U.S. armed forces, but it took some time before formal guidelines were established for civilians. 

The first national Flag Day was celebrated on June 14, 1916, following a proclamation by President Woodrow Wilson.  Wilson also led a celebration of Flag Day the following year, but national celebrations of the day were sporadic after that until 1949, when President Harry Truman signed an act of Congress designating June 14 of each year as Flag Day.  As we pay tribute to the flag this year by displaying it, let us rededicate ourselves to the ideals of patriotism and freedom.

Civilian examples of respect and patriotism are all around us with friends, neighbors and businesses proudly displaying the flag of the United States of America.  We encourage the recognition of such patriotism through awarding those patriots a SAR Flag Certificate.  Please contact me if you have a candidate worthy of receiving a certificate.

I wish you all a terrific summer filled with joy, and I hope you will reflect on the sacrifices made by our patriot ancestors on the fourth of July.

Yours in Patriotism,

Barry Michaels

President’s Message

Greetings Compatriots,

Unfortunately, we’re going to lose an hour of sleep this month as daylight savings will be triggered on March 10th.  I’m not a fan of “springing forward” each year.  On a more positive note, the first day of Spring is March 19th, and some of us will celebrate St. Patrick’s Day on the 17th.

March is Women’s History Month.  If you have a documented female patriot recognized by SAR or DAR, you are invited to submit a short video to NSSAR concerning her contribution to the patriot cause.  Also note NSSAR is collecting short narratives for African American Participation in the American Revolution project.  If you had a Black Patriot Ancestor you are invited to send a short video to Drew Hight at NSSAR HQ for possible inclusion in the project.

On March 1, 1781, the Articles of Confederation were fully ratified by the states.  The articles were a plan of government organization that served as a bridge between the initial government created by the Continental Congress and the federal government provided under the U.S. Constitution of 1787.  The Articles were written in 1776–77 and adopted by the Congress on November 15, 1777, but not ratified until 1781. 

248 years ago on March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry gave his infamous “Give me liberty or give me death” speech.  Convinced that war with Great Britain was inevitable, the Virginian patriot defended strong resolutions for equipping the Virginia militia to fight against the British in a fiery speech in a Richmond church with the famous words, “I know not what course others may take, but as for me, give me liberty or give me death!”

Just a reminder we would like to expand our Color Guard unit.  If you have an interest in joining the Color Guard, please contact me or Kevin Forrest.  Last month your chapter Color Guard, in addition to other events, supported the Massing of the Colors and Salute to our Armed Forces event held at Forest Lawn Cemetery in Hollywood Hills.  The event featured a large parade of color and honor guard units from local schools, ROTC units, military branches, SAR Color Guard units, as well as representatives from each branch of the military service. On March 4th they will be participating in the Patriot’s Day parade in Laguna Beach.  Please join us at this traditional small-town parade, where my community celebrates our veterans, our community, and patriotism.

I hope to see you at our March dinner meeting.  It’s an opportunity to make new friends and catch up with old friends and compatriots.

In compatriotism,

Barry Michaels 

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

It is an honor and a privilege to serve the South Coast Chapter of the SAR as its new president.  I want to thank our former Vice President, Jason Temple, for his contributions to our Chapter.  Moreover, I want to thank former President Scott Whitman for his mentoring and five years of leadership. 

While Scott will remain on our Board of Directors as the Immediate Past President, he also serves as the Membership Chair for CASSAR.  With the lion’s share of our board members continuing in their roles for the 2024-2025 term our chapter leadership remains solid.

February is filled with a few activities for our members to enjoy:  

• On Sunday, February 18th, our chapter Color Guard will again support the Massing of the Colors and Salute to the Armed Forces at Forest Lawn in Hollywood Hills (program starts at 3:00 pm).  This must-see tradition has been in place for more than 30 years and you are encouraged to join us there.  It is the largest celebration of its kind in the western United States, with over 600 people and fifty color guards participating each year.  There will be a vintage war-birds flyover.
• On Monday, February 19th, we celebrate President’s Day (George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732). This federal holiday honoring Washington was originally implemented by an Act of Congress in 1879 for government offices in Washington D.C. and expanded in 1885 to include all federal offices.  In 1971 the holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February.

At our monthly dinner meeting we join in celebrating Andy Bailey’s 40th anniversary with SAR.  Andy is one of the founding members of our chapter.  Please join me in congratulating Andy on reaching this significant milestone.

On the 24th, the San Diego Chapter is once again hosting George Washington’s Birthday Dinner at the Green Dragon Tavern in Carlsbad (4:30 – 8:30). 

I look forward to serving you in the coming year and seeing you at our chapter meetings at Mimi’s Cafe in Irvine. Please let me know of suggestions for our meetings or other activities.

In patriotism,

Barry Michaels