Tampa Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

February 2015

 

Contents

        Meeting announcement

        Editor’s note

        Revolution History note

        Program Schedule

        January Meeting

        Color Guard

        Misc. reminders and information

 

The February meeting of the Tampa Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution will be on Saturday, February 21st at the Piccadilly Cafeteria, located at 11810 Dale Mabry Highway North, Tampa, Florida (813-963-1660).  The meeting starts at noon but many members arrive early for a time of conversation and fellowship.  The speaker for Feb. will be Steven Dante.  He is on the committee of the Florida Friends of Hermione-Lafayette. In 1780 the new French Frigate of Liberty "the Hermione" sailed across the Atlantic bringing to Boston the Marquis de Lafayette sent by the King of France in support of America 's fight for independence.  After 16 years under construction the exact replica of the Hermione, one of the world's most remarkable wooden tall ship is getting ready to retrace its famous visit to the iconic ports of the war of Independence from April to July 2015.  Mr. Dante will give us more information about this during his talk.

 

 

Ed. Note: I was saddened, as I’ m sure you all were, especially the members who have been around since the 80’s and 90’s, to hear of the death of Marty Miller.  As we get older and experience more of life we become more cognizant that quality people are the most precious asset.  I shall miss Marty. 

 

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American Revolution Notes

 

This month we turn our attention to a little known but important skirmish at Moore’s Creek, North Carolina, on Feb. 27, 1776.    Even prior to Lexington and Concord, Patriot sentiment and activity had already rendered royal control of the colony tenuous, at best.  Therefore, when news of Lexington and Concord reached N. Carolina., the Royal Governor began to recruit loyalist to help him establish firmer control of the colony.  A force of several hundred loyalists was raised from the back woods and they were ordered to the coast to join the Royal Governor and the troops he had assembled.  However, a force of Patriots, under the command of Col. Caswell and Col. Lillington was determined to block the union of the two loyalist forces.   Lillington positioned his men on the bank of Moore’s Creek, where the loyalist would have to cross to join the governor.  The patriots removed some planks from the bridge and awaited the loyalist.  The battle lasted barely an hour and the combination of surprise, fire power, good leadership on the patriot side and poor leadership on the loyalist side, resulted in resounding victory for the patriots.  While a small affair, it had huge implications in N. Carolina. The Royal Governor never regained control of the state (colony), loyalist recruiting was hampered, patriot recruiting increased and there would be no more fighting in N. Carolina until Cornwallis’ 1780-1781 campaign.

 

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PROGRAM SCHEDULE

Below is the tentative program schedule for spring 2015.  As always send along any suggestions for speakers.

      

March       Thomas Jefferson

April          ROTC Recognition

May           Safety Harbor Museum

 

 Park and Museum

 

January Meeting

Our Chapter is an official partner in the Vietnam 50th Anniversary Commemoration, as is the National Society - SAR. 

Our January meeting was the Chapter's first official Commemoration event.  We had a great presentation by two officers of the Tampa Chapter of the Vietnam Veterans' Association, Mike O'Dell and Jim Fletcher.  Jim spoke about the good things that the VVA is doing for these Vietnam Veterans and their families in the Tampa area.  We also recognized those compatriots at the meeting who served in the military during the Vietnam War era.

 

SARVietnam_Vets.jpg

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Color Guard

 The Tampa Chapter Color Guard - The Hillsborough River Camp of the Sons of Liberty Brigade - presented the colors at the marker dedication by the Hernando Chapter of Colonial Dames XVII Century at Chinsegut Hill Manor House in Brooksville on February 15.  Representing the Chapter were Color Guard Commander Alan Bell and Compatriots Terry Doan, John Sessums and Dick Young. 

 

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Members of the Color Guard are asked to wear their uniforms to the February meeting as a Color Guard recruiting activity.  We will review the basics for a colonial militia uniform.  There will be catalogues and internet excerpts for review.  We need more members in our Color Guard so that we can cover more events without calling on the same few people all of the time

 

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Misc. Reminders and notes

 

Chapter Website—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 that are sick. If you know of anyone that should be sent a card to, please mention it to the chaplain at our next meeting. Another duty is to send a sympathy card to the family of a member who has passed away.

 

Chapter officers and committee chairman are encouraged to send any pertinent information they wish included in the newsletter to the editor.