THE JEFFERSONIAN GAZETTE THE THOMAS JEFFERSON CHAPTER OF THE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION FALL 2012 ISSUE THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Compatriots, Since I last wrote to you in the spring Gazette a number of significant events have taken place. In April we remembered the birthday of Thomas Jefferson and attended the annual Graves Mountain meeting. On the fifth of May we participated in the dedication of the Convention Army historical marker to support VASSAR President and Thomas Jefferson Compatriot Phil William s efforts to mark the location of the Hessian POW Barracks. In late June, Thomas Jefferson Compatriots supported the special wreath laying ceremony for the NSSAR President General at the Grave of Thomas Jefferson at Monticello. In July and August, several Thomas Jefferson Chapter members supported VASSAR and DAR events by giving presentations or by their attendance at dedications and grave markings. However, September proved our most active month. I want to thank every member who attended the VASSAR Semi-Annual on the 14th and 15th of September, but I particularly wish to recognize Compatriot Geoff Cobham whose efforts to coordinate the event resulted in the best Semi- Annual meeting in memory. For his efforts, the State Society recognized Geoff with the Virginia Society State Service medal (the Madison Medal), which he richly deserved. Other TJ compatriots who deserve individual recognition for service at the Semi-Annual are Tom Connor, Mackey Tilman, Rev. Canon Nick Minich, Trice Taylor, Mack Halsey, Mark Chapman and some of the wives. Now we are nearing the end of this amazing year and my hope is that you will support the annual Ladies Night Black Tie Dinner on the sixth of December. This year we have arranged for a very special program, which I know will be both informative and entertaining for you and your ladies. Compatriots we have accomplished great things working together this year. Mark R. Day President Thomas Jefferson Chapter SAR
UPCOMING EVENTS (COMPATRIOTS, MARK YOUR CALENDARS, PLEASE) Nov. 12th Veterans Day. Downtown Mall Parade (A Monday) Dec. 6th LADIES NIGHT DINNER, GREENCROFT, 6:00 Cash Bar, 7:00 Dinner Jan. 3rd BOM at WCBR at 4:00 Feb. 22,23 VASSAR Annual Meeting, OMNI Hotel, Richmond Mar. 2nd CHAPTER BREAKFAST, FCC, 8:45, OFFICER INSTALLATION Mar. 9th Guilford Court House commemoration Mar. 16th Madison s B-Day, Montpelier, 1:30 April 12th Jefferson s B-Day, Monticello, 10:00 (A Friday) Apr. 13th Graves Mountain,[ In lieu of regular Chapter Breakfast.]*** 10:30, Central Va. Chapters, Apr. 26th Dogwood Memorial Ceremony, McIntire Park May 2nd Board Meeting, WCBR, 4:00 May 27th Memorial Day, County Off. Bldg., 11:00 June 1nd CHAPTER BREAKFAST, FCC, 8:45 PAST EVENTS The Spring Campaign began with the commemoration of President Madison s Birth Day at Montpelier. Seen here are VASSAR President Williams and VASSAR Chaplain Minich with Compatriots from the Richmond and Culpeper Minutemen Chapters. A Flag Certificate presentation ceremony honoring the University of Virginia took place in front of the Rotunda. The certificate was received by Leonard Sandridge. To his left are VASSAR Flag Chair Sheap and Father Minich. Behind are Chapter Guardsmen Dawson, Simpson and Chapter President Day Seven Central Virginia Chapters gathered at Graves Mountain on a beautiful day and enjoyed a scrumptious luncheon. Highlights included a talk by Vassar President Williams on The American Revolution in its Global Context and the presentation of the 25-Year Membership Pin and Certificate to Compatriot Tom Connor.
Every year the Chapter presents ROTC Certificates and Medals and a $50 check to Outstanding Cadets and Midshipmen. Presenting here are (L. to R.) Compatriots Schultz, French, Wallenborn and Chapman. The Chapter presents 18 Awards to High, Middle Elementary, Schools, Public and Private, around Central Virginia. These are Citizenship and JROTC Awards. We thank all the Compatriots who take the time to go to these schools. It means a great deal to the students, teachers and the parents. Seen here presenting the coveted Minuteman Award at Fork Union Military Academy are Compatriots Tilman and Hague. As always, we thank Past President Kelly for representing the Chapter at the Vietnam Memorial wreath laying ceremony. The Chapter thanks Lea Schultz, the lone eagle, who attended the Memorial Day celebration. The Chapter played host to a Road Side marker ceremony honoring The Convention Army at the Barracks, 1779-81. This was a VASSAR Presidential Initiative. Representatives from Chapters all over the State attended. The VASSAR Color Guard, 15 men strong, put on a fine display and a musket salute that sent the horses running in the distance. President Williams gave the keynote address. Honorees included the County Board of Supervisors Chair, the President of the Albemarle Historical and descendants of land owners who owned the land on which the prison encampment was built. Descendants of militiamen who guarded the 4,000 prisoners of the Battle of Saratoga were also present. The event enjoyed NPR, Television and Front Page News coverage.
Your Chapter played host to a 2nd Presidential Initiative by organizing a Private Wreath Laying for then President General Larry and First Lady Barbara Magerkurth at Mr. Jefferson s grave. VASSAR Officers, VASSAR Color Guard, State Chapter Presidents and Compatriots came from around the State. Representatives of the DAR and C.A.R. added to quite a large gathering. The President General, VASSAR President Williams and Monticello CEO Leslie Bowman all gave remarks. The first Saturday in June, compatriots met for breakfast at Farmington. That fine morning we were treated to an excellent presentation Penurious Patriot: Jefferson s Claims for Republican Civic Virtue by Billy Wayson, PhD. He presented a case for why, with all his skills as a financial and farm manager, timing and some bad luck, left Jefferson nearly bankrupt at his death. Following the Immigration and Naturalization at Monticello, the Jack Jouett DAR hosted a commemoration at Jefferson s grave side. The Thomas Jefferson Chapter always arranges a speaker for this event. Kudos go to Chapter President Day, who stepped up to the plate for the occasion. The Fall Campaign opened with a most graciously hosted Garden Party at the lovely home of Robin and Mack Halsey. The ladies, and a few of the gents, put on a splendid pool side picnic. Pictured below are newly inducted Compatriot John Kenny together with sponsor Mack Tilman and Compatriots Cobham, French and Connor, clearly enjoying the occasion. Compatriot French was honored at the event with a Good Citizenship Medal for his generous gift to the Bredin-Fiery Endowment fund.
October brought us to our Chapter dinner the highlight of which was an illuminating talk by Dr. David Lewis who spoke of Jefferson s personally contructed composite bible. It was 12 years in the making, presenting the Greek, Latin, French and English side by side for each Verse. He titled it, The Life and Morals of Jesus of Nazareth. VASSAR President Williams, in addition to participating in almost all of the events noted above, has visited quite a few Chapters, inducted Officers and given talks. He has been to the Jefferson Memorial, Washington s tomb, a Joint Rev War/War of 1812 grave marking in Fincastle, and marched in the DC Memorial Day Parade. He has attended two Leadership Meetings at HQ in Louisville, the National Congress in Phoenix and the Atlantic Middle States Conference in Delaware. Additionally, he joined in commemorations with fellow Compatriots in Connecticut where he visited Governor Trumbull s House and his Committee of Safety War office next door and Nathan Hale s School House. A week later, the evening after the State Semi-Annual, President Williams flew to New York to join with NY Compatriots and the DAR to commemorate the Battle of Saratoga. The canon crew was positioned on Bemis heights in front of General Gate s HQ. And the first weekend in October, he joined the PG at the confluence of the Kanawha and Ohio Rivers, site of what some argue was the first battle of the Revolution October of 1774. This bloody Battle of Point Pleasant was between Governor Dunmore s militia and Chief Cornstalk s Indian Confederation.
VASSAR NEWS - Compatriots, the Annual Meeting will be held at the OMNI Hotel on Fri./Sat, Feb. 22nd/23rd. This promises to be memorable and will culminate in VASSAR President Williams handling over the reigns as State President to Kent S. Webber at the Sat. evening Banquet. Compatriot Williams will then become the State National Trustee. VASSAR Chaplain Minich will also be stepping down (remaining the TJ Chaplain). Treat yourselves and your Ladies to some, or all, of this event. If you can t do it all, here some times and events around which you might wish to make arrangements. Sat. at 10:45, the State Oration Contest, 2:00 the Awards Ceremony in the historic Old House Chamber at the State Capitol ( 2 blocks away), and 6:00/cash Bar, 7:00/Banquet Dinner. Scenes from Yorktown NSSAR NEWS The 2013 Congress will be in Kansas City, July 5-11, 2013. COMPATRIOT BOOK REVIEW, CRITIC S CORNER Your Publicist highly recommends what is widely regarded as the single most definitive work on the frightening choices American Colonists had to make at the outset of the American Revolution. While maybe a third of the Kings subjects were able to remain ostensibly neutral during the Revolution, the remaining two thirds had to choose sides. The name of the book is, TORIES Fighting for the King in America s First Civil War, by Thomas B. Allen. { Other compatriots interested in sharing their critiques of Revolutionary War era books, please submit, preferably by email, your brief reviews to the Publicist. } OFFICERS Mark R. Day., President; Mark Chapman Vice President; G. McNeir Tilman, Treasurer; Geoff Cobham, Secretary,Membership Secretary and Event Coordinator; Rev. Cn. N.F. Minich, Chaplain; Stuart E. Jones, Registrar; Pat Kelly, Historian; Harvey H. Hague, Chancellor; W. M. Wallenborn, Surgeon;and Henry P. (Phil) Williams III, PhD, Publicist. BOARD OF MANAGERS M. Day, M. Chapman, Pat Kelly, K. Wallenborn; P. Williams; Cn. N. Minich; H. Hague; and, T. Conner. COLOR GUARD P. Kelly, T. Taylor, H. Dawson, B. Simpson, H. Hague