Tampa Chapter
Sons of the American
Revolution
February 2017
Contents
Meeting announcement
Revolution History note
Color Guard Opportunities
JROTC/ROTC Recognition
BOM Report
Program Schedule
Misc. reminders and information
The February meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will held on
Saturday, February 18 in the Cypress Room at Grille 116 on N. Dale Mabry from
The
program will be Professor Tillson talking about colonial Virginia
The January Meeting was our Annual Officer
Installation Meeting at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant in Tampa. President Charles Klug presented a paper on
George Washington's first inauguration and a copy of his inauguration
speech. Florida Society Regional Vice
President Pat Niemann was on hand to install the new officers, medals were
handed out, new membership certificates were presented and a good time was had
by all.
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Revolutionary History Note
Our column continues the
overview of the proposed South Carolina Liberty Trail, an effort aimed at
preserving and interpreting various Revolutionary War sites relating to the
southern Campaign of 1779-1781. This month we’ll examine the Battle of Waxhaws
and then move to the Battle of Hanging Rock next month.
The initial
goal at Waxhaws is just to raise money to preserve (initially) 48 acres of the
145 acres relating to the Battle Field still undeveloped. However, once the site is secured,
interpreting Waxhaws will be a challenge.
On
Upset that the Americans had
dishonored the flag of truce, and fearing their commander was dead, his men
reacted, in Tarleton’s own words, with “a vindictive severity not easily
restrained.” Since he was pinned beneath his horse there is little he could
have done to restrain them. The British charged into the American ranks and killed most of
them, even those who attempted to surrender.
This led to the phrase “Tarleton’s Quarter” meaning that Tarleton did
not respect the rules of war and his men summarily killed anyone who tried to
surrender.
The legend and, perhaps myth, of Tarleton’s cruelty has
survived for over 200 years and been exaggerated in both books on the
Revolution and in movies—especially the movie The Patriot starring Mel
Gibson. Various American historians
have maintained, ever since the close of the war, that Tarleton was responsible
for ordering the slaughter, but was he? Did the action instigate, as is
generally asserted, the merciless barbarity with which the war was waged by the
revolutionary irregulars and state troops?
There
in will lay the difficulty of interpreting the battle.
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Color Guard
Opportunities
March 5 - Massing of the Colors
sponsored by the Military Order of World Wars at the Pasadena Community United
Methodist Church in St. Petersburg, at 2:00 PM.
March 11 - Commemoration of the
Last Naval Battle of the Revolutionary War, a National SAR event, at the
Veterans Memorial Center on Merritt Island. Color Guard members need to be there by 9:30
AM. The event starts at 10:00. Everyone is invited. Must be in colonial attire to march with the
State Color Guard.
Contact Alan Bell for more information.
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JROTC/ROTC
Recognition
Committee Chair Compatriot Terry Doan reports that
invitations to participate have been sent to all the high school and college
units in our area and we expect no less participation than we had in 2016. Medals and certificates are on order. Terry is unable to attend the February
meeting, and advises that there are JROTC units that will have their awards
ceremony in March. He will need volunteer
compatriots to attend those ceremonies to make the medal presentations. If you have never done this before, consider
doing it this year. It does take some of
your time for a 60 second presentation, but it is a rewarding experience and
you meet some great young people.
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BOM
Report
The winter BOM was held on Saturday, February 4 at the
Embassy Suites in Kissimmee. This
meeting was a trial of having a one day meeting and seemed to go over
well. The Tampa Chapter was represented
by Chapter Vice President John Goolsby and State Treasurer Dick Young. This meeting was also the annual Florida
Society Rumbaugh Oration Contest. There
were only two contestants this year.
Some of the more important matters coming out of this meeting...
·
There is no current discussion on raising dues or fees at the
State or National level.
·
National SAR has started a Youth Protection Training
program. "The program is an effort
by the NSSAR to bring a level of awareness to those who serve on committees
where a member interacts with a minor, on the proper decorum of
interaction. The program uses the Boy
Scouts of America training module..."
There is a 30 minute BSA on-line self-study module and certification.
·
National SAR has been pulled into the transgender question by
an individual, born a female, who now considers her/him self a male and has
inquired about membership into the SAR.
This question is being addressed by the SAR Chancellor General and legal
counsel. A formal response will be
presented to the National Trustees at the Winter Leadership Meeting in March
for their approval as the SAR position on this question.
·
According to the State Secretary, after all renewals
processed thru Jan 31, the Florida Society has 2,163 active members, some more
active than others.
·
The State Treasurer reported that the Florida Society ended
the year with a surplus, due largely to growth in new members.
·
The full proceedings are included in the "Members
Only" section of the FLSSAR website.
·
The Annual Meeting and Spring BOM will be held at the same
location on May 19-21.
Program Schedule
Feb
18- Professor Tillson - Revolutionary
March
18 - Richard Wainio -
April 15 - JROTC recognition: Boy Scout Annex
May
-Rodney Kite-Powell: History of the
Boy Scout Annex
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Misc. Notes and reminders:
Chapter Website—remember you can find information about the chapter and programs on the chapter website. http://www.tampasar.org/
One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain is to send cards
to our members that are sick. Another is to send a sympathy card to the family
of a member who has passed away. If you know of anyone that should be the
recipient of these cards please mention it to Chaplain Sessums or one of the
other officers at our next meeting.
Chapter officers and committee chairman are encouraged to
send any pertinent information they wish included in the newsletter to the
editor.