President’s Message
Dear Compatriots,
We had a great turnout at our January dinner meeting, and I look forward to seeing more members at our February 18th meeting with a speaker addressing sunken treasure.
President’s day is Monday, February 17th. Did you know that the official federal holiday is called “Washington’s Birthday”? In a sense, calling the holiday President’s Day helps us reflect on not just the first president but also our nation’s founding, its values, and what Washington calls in his farewell address the “beloved Constitution and union, as received from the Founders”.
Thinking back on what was most significant during any February during the revolutionary war, it seems the signing of “a Treaty of Amity and Commerce” between representatives of France and the United States of America on February 6, 1778, in Paris would qualify. After the best part of three years of conflict between America and Great Britain, Americans had finally gained official support from Britain’s rival and fellow superpower, France, and suddenly everything changed.
Great Britain received a copy of the Franco-American treaty on March 17, 1778, and as a result declared war against France. French forces both on land and at sea would be brought to bear arms against the British and their assets in North America, the Caribbean, the Mediterranean, and even India. It was the French naval victory at the Battle of the Chesapeake on September 5, 1781, that precluded the British navy’s evacuation of Lord Charles Cornwallis’ army at Yorktown, in part contributing to its capitulation to a combined Franco-America army five weeks later, on October 19.
Please help spread the word of our America 250 program, and consider joining our color guard, the primary face of our Chapter to the outside world. Also, please remember our chapter has the honor of hosting the CASSAR Annual Meeting April 24-27, 2025. While we had a terrific response to our call for volunteers at the January dinner meeting, we still have a few open volunteer slots that need to be filled. Please step up to volunteering for that event. I believe you will enjoy the experience and learn a bit more about our great organization. Feel free to call, text or e-mail anytime to discuss how you can help.
In patriotism,
Barry Michaels