President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

This past month I attended the 144^th Annual CASSAR meeting held in Ventura April 26-27 representing our South Coast Chapter.  This was my first exposure to a CASSAR meeting and I came away with a lot of ideas and enthusiasm for promoting patriotism and the SAR mission and goals in our community. 

The SAR Mission is worth restating here:  The Objects of this Society are declared to be patriotic, historical, and educational; to unite and promote fellowship among the descendants of those who sacrificed to achieve the independence of the American people, to inspire them and the community-at-large with a more profound reverence for the principles of the government founded by our forefathers; to foster true patriotism; to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom.

The various business meetings at the CASSAR conference were very well organized.  The Youth Program Reports and the Committee Reports were the most interesting part of the agenda.  I plan to share with our chapter some ideas that I picked up for enhancing our presence in the South Coast region. 

There was a memorial service and our members that passed away last year, South Coast Chapter Compatriots, Richard Bent and David Hogshead, were remembered and I provided a brief obituary.

Coming up is the NSSAR Annual Congress being held locally in Costa Mesa, July 5-10.  I plan on registering for this event, as well.  It’s a rare opportunity to attend the NSSAR Annual Congress so close to home.  Registration is now open to participate in the Congress and it is open to all SAR members.   Our CASSAR State Society is hosting the event.  They do need volunteers which will come mostly from the Orange Coast SAR Chapter and our South Coast SAR Chapter.  Check out the NSSAR website for more information on this event. 

In patriotism,R. Scott Whitman

Chapter Activities

Our speakers for our March dinner meeting were Dan Goldbacher, Maritime Programs Coordinator and Kristin McGowan, Maritime Coordinator, at the Ocean Institute, Dana Point.  Dan Goldbacher gave us an overview of the mission of the Ocean Institute and Kristin McGowan gave us an overview of one of the classes she teaches concerning the privateers during the Revolutionary War.  Our chapter presented to both Dan and Kristin Certificates of Appreciation.  Dan Goldbacher and Kristin McGowan are shown below:

Registrar Leon Smith inducted two new members into our chapter. The two new members are Jeremy Paye and his son Ryan Paye. Their patriot ancestor was Elias Alexander Flenniken who served as a Private in the 4th Company, 4th Battalion, Cumberland, PA from 1781 to 1783. We want to welcome both Jeremy and Ryan to our chapter and hope to see them at our dinner meetings.

In addition, Registrar Leon Smith presented to Compatriot William Yost a supplemental certificate for Williams’ patriot ancestor Philip Adams who served as a Private under Captain Joseph Monfort’s Company, 10th Regiment, North Carolina Line from 1778 to 1779 and as a Private under Captain Raiford’s Company, 10th Regiment, North Carolina Line from 1781 to 1782. This is compatriot William Yost’s seventh supplemental certificate.

Dinner Meeting Program

Tuesday, May 21, 2019, 7:00 PM – Mimi’s Cafe, Lake Forest

Author and lecturer, Doug Westfall, will be returning with his subject “Rancho Lands, All about Orange”.

Douglas Westfall is an author, publisher, and teacher and has published America’s history for a quarter of a century. He continually discovers unread manuscripts and unpublished photography relating to the great stories of America’s history, from which he makes his books.

www.specialbooks.com

The Capture of Fort Ticonderoga – May 10, 1775

The siege and capture of Fort Ticonderoga is considered a pivotal date in the American Revolution. The fort was located on Lake Champlain in northern New York and did not appear a particularly important strategic facility. It did, however, contain a collection of heavy artillery, including cannons, howitzers and mortars, armaments that the Americans had in short supply.

After the battles of Lexington and Concord the British General Thomas Gage in the besieged city of Boston realized that the fort would require fortification and sent a letter to Quebec’s governor with an order to accomplish that. Unfortunately, for the British side, the letter arrived too late on May 19 – Ticonderoga had already been captured by the Patriots.

On May 10 the fort was captured by a combined force of 400 men, led by Col. Benedict Arnold and Col. Ethan Allen, with his Green Mountain Boys. The fort’s small British garrison were overwhelmed by the Americans and no one was killed in the assault.

The fort was held by the Americans throughout the remainder of 1775 and used to stage the unsuccessful invasion of Quebec. In the winter of 1775–1776, Henry Knox directed the transportation of the guns of Ticonderoga to Boston. The guns were placed upon Dorchester Heights overlooking the besieged city and the British ships in the harbor, prompting the British to evacuate their troops and Loyalist supporters from the city in March 1776.

At our April meeting Jim Fosdyck, past CASSAR president, introduced us to the George Washington Endowment Fund.  The fund was established by the Executive Committee in 1993 to create a permanent fund, the income of which would provide annual funding for support of NSSAR unfunded and underfunded committees and special projects. 

The income from the contributions over the years have helped to finance a wide variety of programs and projects across the nation, such as:

• Historical programs
• Youth Awards
• American Revolution studies
• Cemetery and grave markers
• Genealogical studies
• Patriot memorials
• Brochures for public sites

SAR members and their families can become George Washington Fellows by donating to the fund with payments made over a duration of five years or less.  These donations are 100% tax deductible.

For more information, you can contact Jim Fosdyck or download the GWEF brochure at:

https://members.sar.org/media/uploads/pages/248/qLZ09eK206Ux.pdf

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

April was a significant month in the history of the United States.  It was on April 19, 1775 that the Battles of Lexington and Concord occurred.  These are considered the first military engagements of the American Revolutionary War.  It’s possible that some of our chapter members may have a patriot ancestor who fought in these battles.  This was the onset of armed conflict between Britain and the Colonialists.  Ralph Waldo Emerson described the first shot fired by the Patriots at the North Bridge in Concord as the “shot heard around the world”.  As members of the Sons of the American Revolution organization we can look back on this event with great pride as our patriot ancestors led the way to establishing the greatest nation in the world with unparalleled freedoms and liberties. 

In patriotism,

R. Scott Whitman

Chapter Activities

Our speakers for our March dinner meeting were Rev. Gary Beard and his grandson Jordan Meier.  Gary portrayed George Washington and Jordan portrayed a younger George Washington.  “Young George” discussed his experiences as a surveyor and his involvement in the start of the French and Indian War.  In addition, “Old George” presented us with an exhibit of historical artifacts from the period.  Certificates of Appreciation from our chapter were presented to Gary and Jordan by Scott Whitman.

L to R: Gary Beard, Jordan Meier, Scott Whitman

Dinner Meeting Program:   

Tuesday, April 16, 2019 – Mimi’s Cafe, Lake Forest

This month we will have representatives from the Ocean Institute in Dana Point to present “Tall Ships on Maritime History in The American Revolution.”  Their mission is “using the ocean as our classroom, we inspire children to learn”.  The Institute is located on the Dana Point Harbor and includes teaching labs, an oceanographic research vessel, and two tall ships: the brig Pilgrim, and the Spirit of Dana Point.

https://www.ocean-institute.org

Lexington and Concord – Minute Man National Historical Park

Was the “shot heard round the world” fired in Lexington or Concord?

The “shot heard round the world” is part of a line in “The Concord Hymn,” written in the 1830’s by writer / philosopher Ralph Waldo Emerson for the dedication of a monument at the site of Concord’s North Bridge.

“Here once the embattled farmers stood,
and fired the shot heard round the world.”

No one can dispute Lexington’s claim to the first shots, and sadly, the first colonial casualties of the Revolutionary War. However the “shot heard round the world” is not a reference to the first shot.

Emerson’s poem is definitely referring to the fighting at the North Bridge, where colonial militiamen were first ordered to fire on British soldiers, thus committing treason. Here also the first British soldiers were killed.

However, in a larger sense, was Emerson actually referring to a musket shot? Some argue that the true “shot heard round the world” is not a physical musket shot, but the ideals of liberty and self-determination.

It was for the defense of these ideals that people all over New England were roused into action against the British in April of 1775.

Ralph Waldo Emerson

CONCORD HYMN:

SUNG AT THE COMPLETION OF THE CONCORD MONUMENT,

April 19, 1836.

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By the rude bridge that arched the flood,
⁠Their flag to April’s breeze unfurled,
Here once the embattled farmers stood,
⁠And fired the shot heard round the world.

The foe long since in silence slept;
⁠Alike the conqueror silent sleeps;
And Time the ruined bridge has swept
⁠Down the dark stream which seaward creeps.

On this green bank, by this soft stream,
⁠We set to-day a votive stone;
That memory may their deed redeem,
⁠When, like our sires, our sons are gone.

Spirit, that made those heroes dare
⁠To die, or leave their children free,
Bid Time and Nature gently spare
⁠The shaft we raise to them and thee.

Old North Bridge – Concord, Massachusetts

By Daderot at en.wikipedia, CC BY-SA 3.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=5942756

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Minute Man National Historical Park

Mailing Address:

North Bridge Visitor Center / Park Head Quarters 
174 Liberty St. 
Concord, MA 01742

Phone:

(978) 369-6993

This month’s program was wonderfully presented by Rev. Gary Beard as George Washington and Jordan Meier as Young George. Interesting talk on history and anecdotes of our utmost Patriot, Revolutionary General and first President including a variety of artifacts from Mount Vernon.

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President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

Our chapter had its first board meeting of the 2019 term prior to last month’s meeting at our new location, Mimi’s in Lake Forest. Thanks to all of our volunteer board members who help make our chapter successful.  One of my objectives for this term is to reinstate our Color Guard.  Please let me know if any of you are interested in participating in this important activity.  This is a great way for our chapter to promote and encourage patriotism in our community. 

History is fascinating.  In looking at the significant events of the American Revolution that occurred during the month of March we find the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765.  The objective of the tax was to help pay for the French and Indian war.  The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper including playing cards.  The British felt the tax was justified as the colonies were receiving the benefit of the British troops.  The Stamp Act was the first internal tax levied directly by the British government on the American colonists.  The Stamp Act tax prompted the issue of taxation without representation which led to the armed rebellion against the British 10 years later. There was a secret organization, The Sons of Liberty, which was founded to champion the rights of the American colonists and played a major role in fighting taxation and the Stamp Act.  Some of the more famous members of the Sons of Liberty include Samuel Adams, John Adams, Benedict Arnold, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Joseph Warren, and Paul Revere.

Also of note is the month of March was named for the Roman god of war, Mars.  And somewhat ironic the month of March was when military campaigns were typically resumed after the troops hunkered down for the winter. 

In patriotism,

R. Scott Whitman

Chapter Activities

Our speaker, Doug Westfall, at our February meeting gave an interesting talk on the flight of Amelia Earhart and the search for her missing plane.  Per Doug Westfall, recently a team of divers has recovered what they believe to be pieces of Earhart’s E-10 Electra off the Coast of Buka Island in Papua New Guinea, 100 feet below the surface.  The divers discovered a wreckage that “share some consistencies” with Amelia Earhart’s unique E-10 Electra aircraft.  The divers are planning an expedition back to Buka Island this spring to farther research the crash site.  Books on Amelia Earhart can be found on the website: http://www.specialbooks.com/aeflight.htm.  Our chapter presented to Doug a Certificate of Appreciation.  Doug Westfall is shown below with Compatriots Steve Steinberg and Scott Whitman.

Dinner Meeting Program:   

No name or date better symbolizes the spirit of America than “Washington 1776.” In the 21st century, we are slowly losing a sense of the dynamic behind the man who inspired and won the battle for independence and the date that separated tyranny from freedom.

For 39 years, the Rev. Gary Beard has portrayed George Washington in hundreds of classrooms, assemblies and churches. He has appeared at the Nixon Presidential Library each Presidents Day and Fourth of July for the past 17 years and was the official George Washington in all San Bernardino bicentennial events.

http://www.washington1776.com

7:00 PM, March 19, 2019 at Mimi’s Cafe, Lake Forest