GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 1

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution

-Newsletter-

Visitusonlineatwww.gwsar.org

Volume18,Issue5 May2017

UpcomingChapterMeetingsMay13—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheBelleHavenCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.

ChapterEventsInformationMay29–NationalMemorialDayParade,Washington,DC.Detailsonmeetingtime/placeforthcoming.Also,MemorialDayCeremonyatTomboftheUnknownSoldieroftheAmericanRevolution,2:00PM,OldPresbyterianMeetingHouse,Alexandria,VA.

June17—11:00am.TheGeorgeWashingtonChapterwillbededicatingaplaquelistingthosewhoservedfromFairfaxCounty,ordiedinthecountywhileservingontheAmericanRevolution.TheplaquewillbeplacedonthefrontlawnofthehistoricFairfaxCountycourthouseonthe275thanniversaryofthefoundingofFairfaxCounty.

July4—WreathLayingatGen.Washington’sTomb,Mt.VernonJuly29—DedicationofPlaquecommemoratingRevolutionaryWarpatriotsandWarof1812soldiersburiedatPohickEpiscopalChurch,Lorton.

SilverGoodCitizenshipMedalAwardedtoActingU.S.DeputyAttorneyGeneralDanaJ.Boente

At the April 8 Chapter Meeting, VASSAR President Michael Elston presented the Silver Good Citizenship Medal to Acting U.S. Deputy Attorney General Boente. Mr. Boente was nominated by President Barack Obama on Oct. 8, 2015, and confirmed by the United States Senate on Dec. 15, 2015, as the 60th U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Virginia (EDVA). As the chief federal law enforcement for the district, which includes offices in Alexandria, Richmond, Norfolk and Newport News, Boente supervises the prosecution of federal crimes and the litigation of federal civil matters. He is a 31-year veteran of the Department of Justice, and has spent his professional career in public service. He began as a law clerk to Chief U.S. District Judge J. Waldo Ackerman for the Central District of Illinois in 1982. In 1984, he joined the Tax Division’s Criminal Section as part of the Attorney General’s Honors Program. In January 2001, Boente became an Assistant U.S. Attorney in the Fraud Unit of EDVA. He was detailed to the Tax Division in August 2005 to serve as the Principal Deputy Assistant Attorney General. Boente returned to EDVA when he was selected as the First Assistant U.S. Attorney in May 2007, and later served as the U.S. Attorney for EDVA from October 2008 through September 2009. In December 2012, he was appointed by Attorney General Eric Holder to serve as the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of Louisiana, a position he held until September 2013. He became the Acting U.S. Attorney for EDVA by virtue of the Vacancy Reform Act on Sept. 23, 2013, and served in that position until Dec. 15, 2015.

 

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 2

President’sCorner

Myfellowcompatriots:

I hope everyone had a joyful Easter and is enjoying the transition to Spring, although lately it feels like summer already.

Mother Nature blessed us with great weather for the Thomas Jefferson

Birthday commemoration in Washington, DC on April 13. Given the mild weather, we had a great turnout of tourists who witnessed the event and gave our society great recognition.

We also had a fantastic attendance at the 259th Birthday Celebration of James Monroe at his birthplace in Westmoreland County, Virginia on April 29. By my count, we had 12 VASSAR chapters present wreaths, and another 12 wreaths presented by the DAR and other lineage societies. The James Monroe foundation has begun the building of a replica of his humble birthplace, and hopefully will be completed in time for next year’s event. If you have not been, I encourage you to do so next year. He is a President who probably does not get all the recognition he deserves in American history. Thanks to Google Maps, I enjoyed a scenic drive through the southern Maryland countryside and a splendid view of the Potomac as I crossed the U.S. 301 Bridge at Dahlgren.

Thanks to the hard work of Compatriot Pitzer, we have a number of JROTC recognition ceremonies this spring. Additionally, we will be recognizing an Eagle Scout, Patrick Gilley, member of Troop 899 at Pohick Church on May 6. This is a great way to foster an interest in history and patriotism among our youth.

I also want to thank Richard Sherman for stepping up as Chapter Registrar to allow past Chapter Registrar Dave Thomas time to focus on his duties as VASSAR Registrar. As I have said before, the Chapter Registrar is a critical position to ensure the growth of our chapter. Also, again, I want to put out an appeal to any of you with an interest in publications to step forward and serve as Assistant Chapter Newsletter editor.

Regrettably, I won’t be with you at our May chapter meeting, as I have the honor of participating in the grave marking ceremony of my Patriot Ancestor, Moses Hendricks, at Oolenoy Baptist Church in Pickens County, SC. It is very moving to be able to honor your ancestor by participating in such a ceremony. What a great tragedy it is that so many of these colonial-era graves have been lost to development and neglect over the decades. Of my nine proven ancestors, I have only been able to locate the graves of two of them. This should encourage all of you to check the NSSAR graves registry website to ensure your ancestors’ graves are identified. Ernest Coggins, Chapter Vice President, will be presiding at the May meeting.

Although May 13 will be our last chapter meeting until September, we have a lot going on this summer.

First of all, is the Memorial Day Parade on May 29 in Washington, DC. This is one of the biggest events that we participate in, and it is broadcast coast to coast. We will be honored by the attendance of President General Mike Tomme as well.

Our next big event this summer is the Historically Fairfax Day on June 17 when we will dedicate the plaque commemorating those who served from Fairfax County during the Cause for Independence at 11 am on the lawn in front of the Historic Fairfax Courthouse. Our chapter, and other VASSAR chapters, will also be manning a booth this day from 10 am to 4 pm so I encourage our members to attend the plaque dedication as well as learn more about Fairfax County’s history that day. This plaque was the result of the efforts of our compatriot Jamie Callender, so please thank him for his hard work.

On July 4, we have our wreath laying ceremony at the Tomb of General George Washington, followed by the naturalization ceremony of new citizens. This is an activity our chapter has participated in for decades.

Finally, on 29 July, we will be dedicating a plaque memorializing 24 patriots of the American Revolution and War of 1812 who rest, or are memorialized, at Pohick Church in Lorton. This is one of our VASSAR President’s initiatives this year so I hope many of you can attend.

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 3

President’s Report (Continued)

As you will know from recent presentations at chapter meetings, Pohick Church was the parish church of George Washington and George Mason.

I wish all of you a restful summer and look forward to seeing you again at of our summer events.

Thank you again for your support of our chapter. As always, if you have any suggestions on how we can further the mission of the SAR, please let me know.

Fraternally,

Paul Walden

ChapterPresident

Registrar’sReportSince the last Registrar's Report in April, 2 New Member and 1 Supplemental application were approved by NSSAR. There are currently 5 New Member and 1 Supplemental application under review by NSSAR There were no

new member inductions performed during April. 

 

       SUPPLEMENTALS APPROVED

 

NEW MEMBER APPLICATIONS SUBMITTED

 

NEW MEMBERS APPROVED

APPLICANT  PATRIOT 

 Stephen Patrick Washington                       Job Buckley 

 Thomas Charles Washington                       Job Buckley 

APPLICANT  PATRIOT  Isaac Gregory Bodge   

APPLICANT  PATRIOT  David James Zunker   

 Patrick Wayne Zunker   

May Events in the History of the American

Revolu on

May 10, 1775 - American forces led by Ethan Allen and Benedict Arnold capture Fort Ticonderoga in New York. The fort contains a much needed supply of military equipment including cannons which are then hauled to Boston by ox teams.

May 10, 1775 - The Second Continental Con-gress convenes in Philadelphia, with John Hancock elected as its president. On May 15, the Congress places the colonies in a state of defense. On June 15, the Congress unanimously votes to appoint George Washington general and commander-in-chief of the new Continental Army.

Dave Thomas GWSARRegistrar

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 4

Paul Austin Callender, Jr., Memorial Biography

 

 Join the First Virginia Regiment of the Virginia Society

SAR!

Anyone who makes a contribution to any of the five Virginia Society trust funds is eligible to an officer’s commission in the First Virginia Regiment:

$100– for the rank of Sergeant

$300 for the rank of Captain

$500 for the rank of Colonel

$1,000 for the rank of General

$5,000 for the rank of General of the Virginia Militias

If you are interested in joining the regiment, please contact Paul Walden

Paul Austin Callender, Jr. was born in Brooklyn, NY to Paul Austin Callender Sr. and Ada Pember on 13 Aug 1926. An interesting fact is that both he and his younger sister were born on Friday the 13th. Paul served as a Private in the Army during World War II, enlisting at the age of 18. He was stationed in Germany until six months after the war ended. Paul’s father, all four uncles and his grandfather were all Methodist ministers and he followed that tradi-tion. After he graduated from Ohio Wesleyan University, he attended Drew seminary and was ordained as a Methodist minister.

He left the active Methodist ministry in 1955 and was one of the founders of the Unitarian Universalist Fel-lowship of Sussex County, NJ where he served as pastor for over 30 years. He also started work as a technical writer, specializing on computers, and worked for IBM. Paul later formed his own company, Information Sys-tems Incorporated, and was on the board of the Sussex County New Jersey Planned Parenthood and was an active member of the New Jersey Clergyman’s Council on reproductive options.

Later in life Paul developed Parkinson’s disease and after a ten-year battle, he died on 9 Nov 2008. Paul is buried with his parents and his four uncles at the family cemetery plot in Mossville, Pennsylvania.

Paul’s membership in the Society is based on his descent from Patriot Philip Callender who performed civil service in Sheffield, Massachusetts as a Town Selectman.

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 5

Remembering a Nearly Forgotten Founding

Father

Alexander Hamilton. Until recently, this name was familiar, but not well known. Until recently, this founding father was overshad-owed by revolutionaries like General George Washington, Thomas Jefferson, and James Madison. The hit Broadway musical written by Lin-Manuel Miranda has sparked a new interest in American history in young and old alike, and saved the story of a nearly forgot-ten founding father.

Born on January 11, 1757, on the island of Nevis in the British West Indies, Hamilton grew up “impoverished in squalor.” James Hamilton abandoned the family when Alex-ander was still an infant, leaving his mother to struggle on her own. With his intelligence and willingness to work, Alexander Hamilton quickly proved there was more to him than meets the eye. His mother entrusted her small shop’s finances to young Alexander, who acted as her accountant. At age 11, he went to work as a clerk in a countinghouse owned by a St. Croix businessman, Nicholas Cruger. There he “traded sugar cane and rum and all the things he can’t afford.” He was “scannin’ for every book he could get his hands on, plannin’ for the fu-ture….” Impressed, Cruger joined with a minis-ter, the Reverend Hugh Knox, to send young Hamilton to study in America. At the age of 17, Hamilton set off for a new life in the colonies, where he knew he “could be a new man.” In 1774, as the colonies swept toward revolution, Hamilton left school at Princeton to begin a ca-reer in politics. In 1776, after the Revolutionary War began, Hamilton obtained a captain's com-mission in the Continental Army. He raised an artillery company of his own and proved his bravery at the Battles of Long Island, White Plains, and Trenton. His leadership came to the notice of Henry Knox, Nathanael Greene, and the Commander in Chief himself. In 1777 Ham-ilton accepted a position on General Washing-ton's staff. At the time of Hamilton's appoint-ment, the Army was suffering from poor organi-zation and a lack of financing. Hamilton could see that these problems greatly impacted the colonies’ ability to defeat the greatest military power of the time.

Keeping in mind that “history had its eyes on him,” Hamilton wrote to Congress on behalf of the General countless times with status reports and requests for supplies and reinforcements.

“The world turned upside down” at the Battle of Yorktown, and left Hamilton in search of a new career. He passed the New York bar examination and set up a law firm in New York City. “Immigrants, they get the job done.” Among his first clients were Loyalists. At the war's end, many New York rebels returned to find Loyalists occu-pying their homes and businesses. Under the Tres-pass Act, these people could sue Loyalists for the use of their property. Hamilton's strong defense of Loyalists helped establish ideas of due process and eventually led to the repeal of the act.  

In 1787, Hamilton was chosen to serve as a dele-gate to the Constitutional Convention. The Articles of Confederation were failing to hold the new na-tion together, and drastic changes needed to be made. Although he did not contribute much to the writing of the new U.S. Constitution, he was es-sential to its ratification. Hamilton joined forces with John Jay and James Madison, with whom he wrote a series of anonymous essays defending the document. These essays became known as The Federalist Papers. “The plan was to write a total of 25 essays, the work divided evenly among the three men. In the end, they wrote 85 essays in the span of six months. John Jay got sick after writing five, James Madison wrote 29, and Hamilton wrote the other 51.” Later, using his considerable skill as an orator, Hamilton turned back an overwhelming Anti-Federalist tide to win ratification at the 1788 New York ratification convention. After the election of 1789, George Washington chose Alexander Hamilton to be his “right hand man” as the nation's first Treasury Secretary. Ham-ilton proposed a financial plan that undoubtedly saved the nation from ruin. Among his many ideas were the assumption of state debts by the federal government as well as a tax collecting bureau that would later become the U.S. Coast Guard. In Ham-ilton, Jefferson says this about the proposal: “His financial plan is a work of genius. I couldn’t undo it if I tried, and I’ve tried.”  

Con nued on page 6 

Third Place Winner of VASSAR Knight Essay Contest-Emily Elston

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 6

Americans -- and especially America’s youth -- are transfixed by Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton. The musical is a perfect blend of modern day music and culture with early American history, and a history lesson in disguise. Much of what they know about Alexander Hamilton is because of Hamilton, and they might not have gained such an interest in history had it been taught to them through a lecture. Instead, they are learning in a way that interests, engages and ex-cites them. By meeting the characters and memoriz-ing lyrics, students are becoming familiar with im-portant and often little-known details of the American Revolution and the start of our nation. Teachers have begun to incorporate Hamilton into their lesson plans, and students are connecting the dots between the lyr-ics in the musical and what they are learning in class. In June of 2016, CNN posted an article about the newest cultural phenomenon: “But you don't have to be in the audience to experience Hamilton. With its ethnically diverse cast as our nation's Founding Fa-thers and multi-genre music, Hamilton is of the peo-ple, for the people.” The legacy of our first Treasury Secretary and the birth of our nation is secure, thanks to Hamilton: An American Musical.

Alexander Hamilton is the very definition of the American dream. An immigrant born into a family with nothing came to the colonies in search of hope and a fresh start. He achieved more than he could have ever dreamed of, and deserves to be recognized for all his contributions to the shaping of our nation. His support of the Constitution and his sophisticated economic plans for the new nation led America down the road to becoming the greatest nation on Earth. To this day, Hamilton’s efforts remain imprinted on our government and society. It is the duty of Americans everywhere to remember and honor the life of this nearly forgotten founding father.

Who would have thought that a rapper from Puerto Rico would be more successful at telling Alexander Hamilton’s story and strengthening his legacy than anyone else? It could only happen in Hamilton’s America.

.

Emily Elston—”Remembering a Nearly For-gotten Father”

Children of the American Revolution-2017 Project

Emily Elston, Virginia CAR President

Rightly called "the Mother Church of Northern Virginia," Pohick was the first permanent church in the colony of Vir-ginia to be established north of the Occoquan River, some-time prior to 1724. Originally called "the Occoquan Church," it was soon referred to as "Pohick Church" because of its proximity to Pohick Creek.

Finally in 1767, the Vestry decided to rebuild their own par-ish church on a grander scale, constructing it out of elegant and more durable colonial brick. The present Pohick Church represents the fruit of their labors. Vestrymen George Wash-ington, George Mason and George William Fair-fax supervised the construction, which was completed in 1774, just before the outbreak of the Revolutionary War.

Both before and after the war, Washington was a faithful attendant at Pohick. Washington's steadfast faith undoubted-ly sustained him during the long fight for independence from England.

Tragically, the Civil War brought devastation to Pohick when occupying Union forces stripped the building’s interior for souvenirs of "Washington's Church" and used its worship space as a stable. Soldiers scrawled their names on the inside walls, carved graffiti onto the doorposts, and pockmarked the exterior with bullet holes. The interior damage can be seen from an 1862 Matthew Brady photo, while the outside mark-ings can still be viewed today.

Following the Civil war, services resumed in 1874, and a major restoration of its colonial interior began in 1890, thanks to the generous contributions of its congregation, the Mt. Vernon Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revo-lution, and the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, among others. While the renovation was largely completed in 1917, smaller restoration and conservation projects continue to this day with funding from the Historic Pohick Church Founda-tion.

The Virginia society will be raising funds to replace the en-try steps on the south side of the building with steps that bet-ter fit the colonial character of the church. The south side is the main entry way to the church. A restoration of the steps would not only restore some of the colonial character to Po-hick, but it would also provide a safer access to the church for tourists and parishioners.

The total cost of restoring the steps is around $25,000. We hope to raise approximately $12,500, and are currently look-ing for a match.

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 7

SonsoftheAmericanRevolutionLapelPinsforSale

TheGeorgeWashingtonChapterstillhassomedistinctiveSARlapelpinsfor$20each.ProceedswillbesplitevenlytosupportthechapterandtheSonsoftheAmericanRevolutionFoundation.TheSARFoundationwasestablishedin2000asthefundraisingarmoftheNationalSocietyoftheSonsoftheAmericanRevolution.

ContactPaulWalden,President,atthenextchaptermeetingifyouwishtobuyoneofthesepinsandsupportthechapterandtheFoundation.

AprilSpeakerChristianMcBurney

Christian McBurney will be giving a lecture on his latest book, Abductions in the American Revolution: Attempts to Kidnap George Washington, Benedict Arnold and Other Military and Civilian Leaders (McFarland, 2016). This book covers more than thirty major attempted and successful abductions of military and civilian leaders from 1775 to 1783, from Maine to Georgia, and including two in Great Britain. George Washington supported attempts to kidnap the British commander-in-chief (twice), Benedict Arnold (after he turned traitor), and Prince William Henry (a future king of Great Britain). Washington in turn was targeted at his Morristown, New Jersey, winter headquarters in an attempt that could have succeeded. Other targets included Thomas Jefferson, Philip Schuyler, Charles Lee, and Richard Prescott.

StepUpNowforChapterLeadership

Opportunitiesin2017Chapter President Paul Walden is looking for a num-ber of compatriots to fill leadership positions and other key roles in the chapter. If you are interested in get-ting more involved, please e-mail him at

paulwalden@live.com or call him at (703) 347-9770 .

We are looking for an Assistant Newsletter Editor. In this position, you will be responsible for working with the officers to prepare the newsletter and forward it for printing. Chapter members submit the articles and photos and the editor will collect them and place them in the newsletter format. Richard Gilliland will remain the editor and will be available for training.

All positions allow chapter members to become more involved in the SAR without taking on the burden of an officer position. There are, of course, opportunities to serve as a member of any of the chapter's Commit-tees (except for the Nominating Committee, which is appointed by the Board of Managers each autumn). Please contact Paul Walden if you would like to dis-cuss any of these leadership opportunities or serve on one of the chapter's committees.

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 8

CadetLTCJasmynHaynesRecognizedforJROTCLeadership

Cadet LTC Jasmyn Haynes, a junior at Mount Vernon High School. Cadet Haynes was a finalist in the VSSAR competition this year. She was presented the SAR Enhanced Medallion and Outstanding Cadet certificate, the SAR JROTC Bronze Medal and certificate and a copy of Gen Colin Powell's Leadership Lessons by chapter JROTC Awards chair, Jack Pitzer, at the school's spring JROTC Awards ceremony April 26.

Cadet Haynes' goal is to follow in her mother and sister's footsteps and attend the United States Military Academy at West Point after graduation in 2018. She was installed as Cadet Battalion Commander at the ceremony. Both her mother and father are currently deployed to the Middle East.

TheGeorgeWashingtonChapterwascharteredinitspresentformonApril2,1954.Withover280members,itisVirginia’slargestSARchapter.Meetingsareheldat11:30a.m.onthesecondSaturdayofeachmonth(June,July&Augustexcepted)attheBelleHavenCountryClub,6023FortHuntRoad,Alexan-dria,Virginia.

ImmediatePastPresident:GregoryBodge:770-789-3252

RideShare:MembersinneedofaridetoachaptermeetingorachaptersponsoredeventmaycontacttheAmenitiesCommit-teeChairman,DonReynolds,at(703)765-4947.

ThisnewsletteriseditedbyRichardGilliland.Inputsfromchapterof icers,committeechairmen,andfellowcompatriotsarealwaysneeded.Pleasesendyourinputsandcommentstonewsletter@gwsar.orgorcall202-870-3762.

President  PaulWalden:703-347-9770 

VicePresident  ErnieCoggins:703-241-2807 

Secretary  DaveThomas:703-583-8791 

Treasurer  JayHenn:703-447-0820

Registrar  DaveThomas:703-583-8791 

Updates to Chapter Website

At the January workshop, a committee was formed to review the content and format of our website to make it more relevant to people interested in our chapter, as well as a useful tool for members. Com-patriot Eric Callender is chairing this committee with the support of members Jamie Callender, Ernie Coggins, Paul Walden, Jay Henn, and Dave Thom-as. The url www.gwsar.org will remain the same, but in the near future, you will be pleased with the updated appearance and content of our website, so stay tuned and thank Eric and Jamie for their hard work with this effort.

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 9

AprilHighlights

Above—Left to right: Rev Gene Thomas, Jeff Thomas, Brett Osborn, President Mike Elston, Paul Walden, Bill Schwetke.

Commemoration of Thomas Jefferson’s Birthday, April 13

In honor of Thomas Jefferson's 274th Birthday a ceremony was held at the Jefferson Memorial at the Tidal Basin in Washington, DC on April 13. The Virginia SAR Delegation was led by President Mike Elston and included six compatriots from four chapters: Col James Wood, II, Culpeper Min-utemen, Fairfax Resolves, and George Washington. This event was hosted by the DC Society SAR.

Celebration of James Monroe’s Birthday at his birthplace in Colonial Beach, VA

Below, George Washington Compatriots Michael Elston, Will Elston, Paul Walden, and Tom Roth with the chapter wreath at the ceremony on April 29

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 10

 Cadet Sco Lovejoy Presented with Bronze JROTC Medal and Outstanding Cadet Cer ficate at

April Chapter Mee ng

Below: Left to Right: JROTC Instuctor at Lake Braddock High School, LTC Chris Wells, Parents of Cadet Lovejoy (Col David Lovejoy and Ann Lovejoy), Cadet Lovejoy, Chapter President Paul Walden, and Chapter JROTC Chair Jack Pitzer

Public Safety Awards Presented to First Responders from Alexandria Fire Department at April Chapter Mee ng

Medic Kaandra Wilson led the effort to provide CPR and application of an AED for a patient for over three hours on an interna-tional flight. She overcame language barriers and pilots that would not make an emergency landing. Maurice Jones led the re-sponse of the Alexandria Fire Department to the construction of the Fuel Transfer Station for Norfolk Southern Rail Road. This task involved coordination of all of the safety features required and also navigation of the political climate revolving around the project.

Below: Left to Right: Chief Smedley of the Alexandria Fire Department, Medic Wilson, Paul Walden, and John Blair, Chair of Public Service Awards (Mr. Jones was unable to attend)

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 11

HasYourPatriotAncestor’sGraveBeenRecognizedandMarked?

ThereisperhapsnomorefundamentalorsacredactivityfortheSARthantheregistrationandmarkingofRevolutionarypatriotgraves–aceremonythatservestocherish,honorandpreservethememoryofthosethatfoughtvaliantlyinorderthattheirdescendantscouldbeendowedwiththoseinalienablerightthatwenow

enjoy.

AccordinglytheGeorgeWashingtonChapterGravesRegistrationandMarkingCommitteehasmadeitapriorityobjectivetohonorwithformalgravemarkingsasmanyaspossibleGWChaptermemberpatriotancestors.The irststepistheidenti ication,documentationandregistrationofthePatriotgrave.ManythankstoCompatriotJamieCallenderforhisremarkableeffortinreconcilingdisparateandinmanycasesambiguousPatriotancestordatabasesresultinginacomprehensivelistofpatriotancestorsandthestatusofanygravemarking(seehttp://www.gwsar.org/ancestors.html).

WithlessthantenpercentofancestorPatriotgravesmarked,thereisbothachallengeandincredibleopportunity.Ifyouwouldlikeyourancestor’sgravemarkedtheCommitteewillassistyouinnavigatingandcompletingtheestablishedSARprocess,speci icallywiththecreationofabiographywhichbringstolifethePatriot’skeyrelevantaccomplishmentsandwithconductingthegravemarkingceremonyprocedureitselfwhichincludestheplacementofabrassmarkerasavisiblesymboltothepublicthatthepersonburiedatthatplaceaidedinthecauseoftheAmericanRevolution.

IfyouthinkyoumightbeinterestedinhavingyourancestorappropriatelyrecognizedwithagravemarkingceremonypleasecontacttheCommitteeatgravemarking@gwsar.orgAlso,theCommitteealwayswelcomesvolunteerstohelpwiththishighlyrewardingeffortwhichisoneoftheprimarymeansfortheSARtokeepthememoryandidealsoftheRevolutionalive.

RecognizeaPatrioticCitizen!RecognizeyourpatrioticneighborsandfriendswhilehelpingoutourChapter.Hereisagreatwaytostartconversationwithyourneighborsandfriendsandletthemknowaboutyour

involvementintheGeorgeWashingtonChapteroftheSonsoftheAmericanRevolution.IfanyoneyouknowdisplaysanAmerican lagontheirhomeorproperty,inawayyoudeemtoberespectableandpatriotic,let'srecognizethemandpresentthemwithapersonalizedFlagCerti icatefromtheGeorgeWashingtonChapter.Each lagcerti icateourcommitteeissuesonbehalfofourchapterearnsourchapterpoints.

Theruleforissuinga lagcerti icateisthatthe lagmustbedisplayedinarespectablewayandnotforcommercialuse.AneighbordisplayinganAmerican lagintheiryardorontheirhomeisaperfectexample.Alocalbusinessorof iceparkmighthaveanAmerican lagdisplayedinawaythatispatrioticandrespectableandthat'sgreattoo.However,thelocalMcDonald'sdisplaying10American lagsonthetopoftheirbuildingtoattractbusinessandattentiondoesnotqualify.Useyourcommonsenseorifyouarenotsure,takeapictureandemailittome.Mostimportantly,thiscerti icateisawaytorecognizesomeoneyoufeelisdisplayingtheAmericanFlaginawaythatmightinstillprideandpatriotismwithinourcommunity!

Justemailmetheperson'snameandaddressofwheretheyaredisplayingthe lag.Makesuretoincludeyournameandyourmailingaddress.Iwillissuethecerti icateandhaveitsenttoyoutopresent.Emailrequeststokevin@gemsinblue.com.Thanks!

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 12

2017ChapterMeetingDatesandOtherKnownEvents

May13—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheBelleHavenCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.*

May29–MemorialDayParade,Washington,DC.Paradebeginsat2:00pm.Informationtoregisteredparticipantswillbesentbyemail.Also,MemorialDayCeremonyatTomboftheUnknownSoldieroftheAmericanRevolution,2:00PM,OldPresbyterianMeetingHouse,Alexandria,VA.†June17—11:00am.TheGeorgeWashingtonChapterwillbededicatingaplaquelistingthosewhoservedfromFairfaxCounty,ordiedinthecountywhileservingontheAmericanRevolution.TheplaquewillbeplacedonthefrontlawnofthehistoricFairfaxCountycourthouseonthe275thanniversaryofthefoundingofFairfaxCounty.*

July4—WreathLayingatTombofGeorgeWashington,MountVernon,VA.ParticipantsshouldmeetattheAdministrationBldgby9:30amintimeforthe10ammarchtotheTomb*

July7‐13—127thCongress,Knoxville,TN(RegistrationinformationonNSSARwebsite)†July29—DedicationofPlaquecommemoratingRevolutionaryWarpatriotsandWarof1812soldiersburiedatPohickEpiscopalChurch,Lorton.†August11‐13—AtlanticMiddleStatesConference,Gettysburg,PA†

Sept9—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheBelleHavenCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.*Sept15‐17—VASSARSemiAnnualMeeting,NewportNews,VA†Oct14—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheBelleHavenCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.*Nov11—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheBelleHavenCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.*Dec9—ChapterMeetingat11:30a.m.attheMountVernonCountryClub,Alexandria,Virginia.*Legend:*Chapterevent;**Chapter-sponsoredstateornationalevent;†VASSAR/NASSAReventinwhichGWmembersareencouragedtoparticipate;‡OtherSAReventofsigni icancethatGWmembersshouldconsiderattending.

 

GeorgeWashingtonChapterSonsoftheAmericanRevolution~Alexandria,Virginia 13

George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR

Luncheon Meeting Reservation Form Chapter Meeting: 11:30 a.m., Saturday, May 13, 2017

Belle Haven Country Club, 6023 Fort Hunt Road, Alexandria, VA 22307

You may make your reservation in one of two ways. First, you may complete this form and mail it with your check to the address below. The cost of the meal is $35.00 per person ($12.00 for a child). Please make checks payable to George Washington Chapter, VASSAR. Second, you may email the Chapter Treasurer at jaymhenn@gmail.com. To help ensure receipt, please put “RESERVATION” followed by your last name in the subject line. You will receive an email confirming receipt of your reservation. Payment will be collected at the door. Checks are preferred over cash, and - if paying with cash - exact change is appreciated. For both methods, please make sure that your reservation is received no later than Tuesday, May 9 so that we may provide the Club with our anticipated attendance. Walk-ins (members and guests who have not made reservations) will be charged $40.00. Please provide the following information when making reservations: Meeting Date: Saturday, May 13, 2017 Compatriot Name: _____________________________ Guest Name(s): _______________________________ Please note if any of the guests are children A check payable to George Washington Chapter, VASSAR in the amount of

$ ____________ is enclosed.

Return this form and check to: Jay M. Henn, Treasurer

16920 Chapel Hill Court Woodbridge, VA 22191-4569

Check-in and social begin at 11:30 a.m. with a cash bar. The meeting will be called to order at 12:00 noon and is typically concluded by 2:30 p.m. Valet parking is available.