President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

Happy New Year to you all.  I hope you were able to enjoy the holiday period.  Thank you for renewing your membership in our Chapter and this outstanding national organization.  Looking back 249 years ago (January 1776), Thomas Paine’s “Common Sense” was published anonymously. Common Sense challenged the authority of the British government and the royal monarchy. The plain language that Paine used spoke to the common people of America and was the first work to openly ask for independence from Great Britain. The recent presidential election reminded me of how essential it is for us to continue with our mission of honoring our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, serving our communities, and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of our country.

This past December our Color Guard once again supported the Wreaths Across America event held at El Toro Memorial Park, presented the colors, lead a procession down to the veteran’s memorial and placed wreaths on graves of the veterans who are interred there. On February16th, our color guard will participate in the Massing of the Colors, the largest celebration of its kind in the western United States celebrating Washington’s birthday.  2025 will be the 41st annual celebration of George Washington’s birth sponsored by the Sons of Liberty Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution! The event begins at 3:00 p.m. at Forest Lawn Cemetery Hollywood Hills.  

The January chapter meeting will be held at Mimi’s in Irvine on January 21st at 7pm.  Please consider attending the chapter meeting.  The guest speaker for the meeting will be Jake Burack who will present a cybersecurity program about online safety and how individuals and businesses can protect their data from cybercrime.   Jake heads two cybersecurity companies, one for public figures in entertainment and the other for high-risk family offices. 

In patriotism, 

Barry Michaels

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

This month we begin an eight-week period of celebration with family, friends, and colleagues.  The most notable holiday this month is Thanksgiving, a national holiday celebrating the harvest and other blessings of the past year.  It is so easy in a time of relative peace and prosperity to forget why we can enjoy this time of year. Let us therefore also be thankful for the sacrifices made by our ancestors who strived to create an independent nation dedicated to ideals of liberty, equality, natural and civil rights and responsible citizenship.  November 11th, Veterans Day, is set aside to thank and honor all those who served honorably in the military although largely intended to thank living veterans for their service.  Please join me in honoring those who have served.

As previously indicated by our Secretary Jerry Hereford, CASSAR has moved up our due date for 2025 dues.  If you haven’t renewed your membership as yet please do so by November 15th. 

As I announced during our October dinner meeting our chapter will be hosting the 150th California Society Spring membership meeting, April 24-27, 2025, at the Costa Mesa Hilton Hotel. We will need volunteers to assist with organizing and executing the meeting.  Please let me know if you are willing to assist us in hosting the event.  

Our November dinner meeting speaker will be Jim McAdory, President of the San Diego SAR Chapter.  Jim will be speaking about the recent California Patriot Grave Marking Project, which honored and marked the graves of 18 Spanish soldiers that gave donations in support of the American Revolutionary War.  

As always, thank you all for your patriotism and your membership in the SAR. Please know you and your membership are important to us. We can benefit from your life experience and ask that you assist guiding the Chapter in creating interesting programs and activities for our members as well as in the fulfillment of our Society mission and goals.

I look forward to seeing you all at the November 19th chapter meeting. Please remember we will not have a December dinner meeting.  

In patriotism,

Barry Michaels

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

In September it was great to gather once more following our 3- month summer break.  For those that did not attend our dinner meeting, Peter Small joined us in character as Thomas Jefferson.  Peter’s re-enactment of Jefferson allowed me to reflect on my tour of Jefferson’s Monticello plantation a few years ago.  It was incredible to learn more about Jefferson and his life and I found it very humbling to walk through the home and grounds of our third president.  The man spoke English, French, Italian and Latin, and he read Ancient Greek and Spanish, with some knowledge of German and Dutch.  I have enough trouble with my native language of English.

Our Chapter continues to progress through The America 250 Program. In September three of our members were awarded the bronze America 250 medal.  If you attend a chapter meeting and listen to the America 250 Minute then you receive 3 points toward the 25 point level required for earning the Bronze Medal.  We have had numerous members qualify for the bronze medal, a few have been awarded the silver medal, and four chapter members have reached the gold medal level.

October 7th marks the 161st anniversary of the second in the Battles of Saratoga.  The battles were significant in that they were a turning point in the American Revolution. The victories convinced France that the Americans could hold their own against the British Army, leading to the alliance between America and France. Moreover, the victories persuaded Spain and the Netherlands to support the American cause against Britain.  The financial and military support of those countries were a critical hinge in our ultimate success in establishing independence from Britain.  Several patriot ancestors of our chapter membership fought in those battles.

Our October dinner meeting speaker will be Bryan Horseman, Chairman of the Honor Flight Southland.  Honor Flight’s mission is to safely transport veterans from WW2, Korea and Vietnam to Washington DC for a weekend of reflection and honor at the memorials built in their honor.

As always, thank you all for your patriotism and your membership in the SAR. I look forward to seeing you all at the October 15th chapter meeting.  

In patriotism,

Barry Michaels

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