Tampa Chapter
Sons of the American Revolution
September 2012
Contents:
Meeting
announcement
Editor’s
note
Sept. agenda
items
Revolution
History note
Program
Schedule
Miscellaneous reminders and information
The September meeting commemorating the 225th anniversary of the
writing and signing of the Constitution will be on September 15th at
the Piccadilly Cafeteria, located at 11810 Dale Mabry Highway North, Tampa,
Florida (813-963-1660). Dick Young has done yeoman work throughout the summer
preparing for the Constitution Day commemoration. The speaker for the meeting
was arranged by Compatriot Bill Floyd and will be Dr. Edward M. Silbert, a retired Associate Professor of History from
U.S.F. He will speak on the differences between the Articles of Confederation
and the Constitution.
Going forward, the minutes will be sent separately and no longer
be part of the newsletter. Instead the newsletter will focus on notes,
announcements, and reports from chapter officers, updates on various programs, and the “revolutionary notes” the editor, Bob
Yarnell, includes in every issue. So, chapter officers and committee
chairmen are encouraged to send any pertinent information they wish included in
the newsletter to the editor.
The most important agenda item for the September meeting is the
election of a nominating committee. Therefore, we will need to take
nominations from the floor and then vote for 3 if more than 3 people have been
nominated. And, yes, you are to fell free to
self-nominate. President Skillman has already let it be known he is
willing to serve an additional term. Even if the other officers also
agree to be re-nominated, the committee will need to find a new Vice President,
as the current VP is no longer able to do the job properly due to family
matters.
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American Revolution Notes.
Since the speaker will be discussing the Constitution, we’ll turn our attention
to the Naval War this month.
In 1779 John Paul Jones raided along the English coast. With help of Ben
Franklin, he was able to replace his sturdy but small ship with a larger,
albeit nearly obsolete, French discard. He renamed it the Bonhomme Richard in honor of Franklin’s Poor Richard’s
Almanac. He proceeded into the North Sea to continue raiding British
merchant ships. On Sept. 23, the HMS Serapis
spotted Jones’ ship and two engaged in, what is now, perhaps, the most famous
single ship duel of the war. After an exchange of several broadsides, The
Bonhomme Richard was seriously damaged, on fire, and
her ensign had been shot away. Seeing this, the British Captain shouted
across the waves “Have you struck, sir?” In response, it has been
recorded that Jones replied “I have not yet begun to fight.” His men then
managed to grapple the two ships together and the crew from the American ship
boarded the British ship. After a brief, but intense hand to hand fight,
the British captain surrendered. After the war, John Paul Jones’ feats
during the war faded into obscurity but were rescued in the early 20th
century and now he is remembered (not without some other claimants dissenting)
as the “father” of the American Navy.
The other significant September naval engagement occurred in September 1781.
Washington had already launched his campaign to trap Cornwallis at
Yorktown. But to accomplish this would require that the British Navy be
prevented from rescuing Cornwallis and his army. A British fleet
operating in the Caribbean as well as it’s French counter part both headed north in a game of cat and
mouse. On September 15, the two fleets engaged near the mouth of
Chesapeake Bay. With the help of some confused orders and mistakes on the
British side, the French fleet succeeded in forcing the British fleet away from
the Bay, thereby closing the trap on Cornwallis.
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PROGRAM SCHEDULE
Below is the tentative program schedule for the 2011-2012 year. As always
send along any suggestions for speakers.
September Constitution Day, Speaker Dr. Edward
M. Silbert + Nominating Committe
Election
October EMT/Fire
Medal and Law Enforcement Medal + Nominating Committee Slate of Officers
November TBA + joint meeting with
CAR + Election of Officers
December Installation of
officers
January
February
March
April
JROTC luncheon
May
Miscellaneous Reminders and Notes.
Chapter Website—always remember you can find
information about the chapter and programs on the chapter website. http://www.patriot-web.com/
One of the duties of the Chapter Chaplain is to send
cards to our members who are sick. If you know of anyone that I need to send a
card to, please mention it at our next meeting. Another duty is to send a
sympathy card to the family of a member who has passed away. I have been remiss
in these areas and am asking your help. I need your input.
Jack C. Bolen
Chaplain
Regrettably, I will not be present at the September meeting, as I will be
attending a mini-reunion of my college class. I know VP Bob Yarnell and
Director-at-Large Dick Young will do a splendid job in my absence.
I look forward to seeing all of you in October.
With best regards,
John Skillman
President