January 2020

President’s Message

Dear Compatriots,

Happy New Year!  I hope all of you had a very merry Christmas.  Looking forward to 2020 with goals to increase chapter membership, increase participation in our monthly chapter meetings, providing interesting and relevant speakers at our chapter meetings, adding members to our chapter color guard, participating in more color guard events and increasing our SAR presence thru support of local school presentations.  Thanks to our chapter volunteers we made good progress in supporting these goals in the second half of 2019. 

We are still in need of a ROTC/JROTC committee chairman.  I have the relevant information and can work with whoever steps up to fill this very important position.  The SAR is staunch supporter of ROTC/JROTC and makes awards to worthy cadets at five (5) local high schools. 

You all may have some ideas on how to improve our chapter meetings and operations.  If you do, please share those with me and we will discuss the idea at our next board meeting.   We are always on the lookout for speakers for our monthly chapter meetings.  Maybe one of you has something interesting to share with the membership. 

My wife and I attended the Wreaths Across America ceremony at El Toro Memorial Park on December 14th.  This is a very moving event where wreaths are placed on every grave of every veteran buried in the cemetery on the same day at the same time as in 1,600 locations across America.  I highly recommend participation in this patriotic event. 

Thank you all for your continued membership in our chapter.  Please promote SAR membership to your friends and acquaintances. 

In compatriotism,

Scott Whitman

Chapter Activities

November Dinner Meeting:  LTC Galo Pesantes of the California Military Department and the California Military Museum Command spoke on the  “Role of the California State Guard to preserve the Military History of our State.” It was an interesting talk and accompanied by some historical weapons from the museum. Here, LTC Pesantes receives our Certificate of Appreciation.

L to R: Steve Steinberg, LTC Pesantes, Scott Whitman and Leon Smith

Chapter Registrar, Leon Smith, inducted new member, Thomas Temple into our chapter.  Thomas’s patriot ancestor was John Temple, Jr. who supported American Independence by serving as a Corporal, in the Reading, MA Militia under Captain Easton’s Company, Colonel Green’s Regiment, which marched on the alarm of April 19, 1775. We want to welcome Thomas into our chapter and hope to see him at our chapter dinner meetings and functions. Thomas’s son Jason, was inducted into our chapter in October 2019

L to R: Leon Smith and Thomas Temple

Congress Award: Jerry Hereford received a Certificate of Appreciation for exemplary service during the NSSAR 129th Congress this past summer in Costa Mesa.

L to R: Jerry Hereford and Scott Whitman

Two New Members:  We want to welcome two new members to our chapter.  They are William J. Reals, Jr. and his son William Joseph Reals, III.  They recently transferred from the SAR Kansas Society.  We hope to see them at our chapter dinner meetings and functions.

South Coast Chapter Membership:  Our membership has grown.  At the beginning of 2019, our membership was at 40 members.  At the beginning of 2020, our membership was at 55 members.  Our membership comprises of 43 regular members, 6 CASSAR life members, 1 emeritus member, and 5 junior members.  Also, we want to thank everyone for submitting their dues in a timely manner.  It helped with the reconciliation process and ensured that we could submit the required reports by the required due date.

JROTC/ROTC Chairman:  We are still in need of a JROTC/ROTC Chairman.  Minimum effort is required in this position. The JROTC/ROTC Commander at each school (1 college and 6 High Schools) recommends a cadet to our JROTC/ROTC Chairman.  The chairman coordinates with the schools and has the cadets names printed on the SAR provided certificates.

We normally have volunteers that present the certificates and if a volunteer is not available, the certificate/medal is mailed to the JROTC/ROTC Commander for presentation.  All presentations are done in the April to early June time frame.  If you can volunteer for this important position, please contact Chapter President Scott Whitman.

Upcoming Dates and Events

Martin Luther King, Jr. Day – Monday, January 20:  This is the day for official observance this year.  His actual birthday is January 15.

January Dinner Meeting-Tuesday, January 21:  See Page 1 for details.

Revolutionary War Reenactment – Saturday and Sunday, February 15-16:

The Huntington Beach Historical Society is proud to host this reenactment of the American Revolution in Huntington Beach Central Park, behind the library, on the site of their annual Civil War Days reenactment.

As always, these events are absolutely free to the public.  For further details please see: https://www.hbhistory.org/revolution.

Lincoln’s Birthday – Wednesday, February 12:  Abraham Lincoln was the 16th President of the United States.  His birthday is observed on Presidents Day, Monday, February 17.

Valentine’s Day – Friday, February 14:  Remember the flowers, cards, etc. for your loved ones.

Massing of the Colors & Salute to Our Armed Forces – Sunday, February 16:  The largest celebration of its kind in the western United States, 2020 will be the 38th annual celebration of George Washington’s birth sponsored by the Sons of Liberty Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. This upcoming event will be held at 3:00 PM, Sunday, February 16, 2020, at Hall of Liberty, Forest Lawn Hollywood Hills, 6300 Forest Lawn Drive, Los Angeles. 

For further details go to the Sons of Liberty Chapter website at:  http://www.sons-of-liberty-sar.org/massing-of-the-colors/

President’s Day – Monday, February 17:  This day is set aside to honor George Washington and Abraham Lincoln plus all of our former Presidents.

Dinner Meeting – Tuesday, February 18

George Washington’s Birthday – Saturday, February 22ndOn this day let’s remember the life and work of George Washington, the first president of the United States.  His birthday is observed on Presidents Day, Monday, February 17.

The Battle of Princeton – January 3, 1777

The Battle of Trenton had been a surprising and a significant victory for the Americans and a crushing defeat for the Hessian army. American morale rose and the patriots were ready to face another conflict, fighting for their independence from British rule. General William Howe sent Lord Charles Cornwallis with a strong military force to destroy the American rebels.

George Washington and the main part of the Continental Army was encamped on the south side of the Assanpink. Lord Charles Cornwallis was positioned on the other bank at Trenton. George Washington left some of his troops to build some fortifications over the Assanpink and led the major force toward Princeton, New Jersey. General Charles Cornwallis had left 1,400 British troops under the command of Lt. Colonel Charles Mawhood in Princeton. George Washington was able to mount a night attack and defeat the British troops at Princeton and get out before General Charles Cornwallis could arrive with reinforcements. George Washington then led his army to the safety of highlands of New Jersey where he set up a winter encampment at Morristown. The weather conditions that winter were terrible but the coming of warmer weather also brought an additional 9,000 soldiers when new troops volunteer to fight. The British abandoned nearly all their posts in New Jersey and retired to New York. The Siege of Fort Stanwix & Battle of Oriskany was the next bloody conflict. General William Howe and General George Washington would fight again at the Battle of Brandywine.

Washington at Princton – Don Troiani

Text Reference: https://www.landofthebrave.info/battle-of-princeton.htm

Unveiling of Grand Union Flag

First National Flag of United States of America

Unveiled by George Washington January 1, 1776

By Hoshie, Yaddah. – Made by Hoshie, Public Domain, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?curid=574763

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