Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

November 2013

 

Contents

          Meeting announcement

          Important program notes

          Misc. Chapter news and notes

          Revolution education note

          Program Schedule

          Misc. reminders and information

 

The November meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, will be on November 16th at the Piccadilly Cafeteria, located at 11810 Dale Mabry Highway North, Tampa, Florida (813-963-1660). This is our annual joint meeting with the Fort Brooke Chapter of the CAR.  In addition to their presentation, we will be awarding our Law Enforcement Medal and we will hold election of officers for 2014.

 

 

Wreaths Across America

We heard at the October meeting that the formal laying of the wreaths part of the Wreaths Across America program will be at 12:00 Noon on Saturday December 14.  Our Chapter is supporting the only private veterans' cemetery in the country at the Tampa American Legion Post #5 at 3810 West Kennedy Blvd.  There will be a short ceremony at Noon followed by the actual placement of wreaths on the more than 700 veterans' gravesites.  Our Color Guard has been invited to participate in the ceremony.  Everyone in the Chapter is invited to attend. 

 

The Chapter is an official sponsor of Wreaths Across America and this cemetery.  Anyone interested in purchasing a wreath for placement at this, or any other, veterans' cemetery can do for $15, but you are encouraged to use the Chapter order form so we will get credit for your donation.  Our Secretary, Mike Frayn, sent out by e-mail the procedures for ordering the wreaths.  Copies will also be available at our November meeting.   You can go to their website www.wreathsacrossamerica.org for more information. 

 

 December Officers Installation Luncheon

Following the new tradition started in 2012, this meeting will be held at a location other than the Piccadilly.  This year arrangements have been made to meet at the Rusty Pelican Restaurant at 2425 N Rocky Point Dr. in Tampa.  The price of the luncheon is $24.50 each, $49.00 per couple.  Reservations, meal selection and payment must be made in advance.  You will have a choice of salmon or chicken.  Same date (December 21), same time (11:30), just a different location.  More information will be provided soon. 

 

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 Four members of the Chapter attended the DAR BBQ at Lettuce Lake Park in Tampa On Sunday November 3rd.  

They were Charles Klug, Alan Bell, Dick Young, Jerry Walters. 

 

Florida Society SAR BOM Meetings (Orlando)

                January 24-25;                May 2-4;                www.flssar.org

National Society Annual Congress (Greenville, SC)

                July 18-24;                www.sar.org

Veterans’ Memorial Park (Tampa)

                December 7 11:00 AM  

              Pearl Harbor Day Ceremony;                    Groundbreaking for WWII Memorial

                www.veteransparkhc.com

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American Revolution Notes:  Skirmish at Gloucester, New Jersey.

 

This month’s note is about a skirmish in New Jersey that was important to the career of Lafayette.

 

November 25, 1777:

 

 After British Gen. Howe captured Philadelphia, he sent part of his army across the Delaware to Gloucester, New Jersey.  Gen. Washington reacted to this by detaching forces under General Nathaniel Greene across the Delaware just north of Gloucester.  Greene was accompanied by the  Marquis de Lafayette, a young French officer who had accompanied Washington at the Battle of Brandywine. Lafayette had been wounded in the foot in that battle, and, while it was not fully healed, he was eager to join the action. Greene ordered Lafayette out on a reconnaissance mission to determine the location and strength of Cornwallis' army.

Lafayette led 350 men toward the British position. He carefully scouted the British camp, at times personally coming within firing range of British sentries. He then led his men in a surprise attack on a forward picket line composed of Hessian soldiers. The 400 Hessians  were caught completely unprepared, and began a disorganized fighting retreat toward the main British camp, with Lafayette and his men giving chase. Cornwallis sent some grenadiers to provide covering fire as the Germans retreated, and Lafayette withdrew under cover of darkness, returning to Greene.

Lafayette's reconnaissance was a success. He suffered only one killed and five wounded, against 60 casualties on the British side. It is believed that word of the operation was instrumental in a decision by Congress to award him a commission as a major general in the Continental Army.

 

 

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Below is the tentative program schedule for the remainder of this year and next year.  As always send along any suggestions for speakers.

 

2013

December - Officer Installation

2014

 

January        George Washington and/or Mt Vernon

February      Alexander Hamilton

March          USO of Tampa

April            ROTC Recognition

May            Victory Ship and Museum

 

 

 

Misc. Reminders and notes:

 

Chapter Website—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 that 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.

Jack C. Bolen           

Chaplain