Volume 44, Number 1 www.passar.org/PCC Winter 2015

President’s Message

Phil Anders

1

PASSAR Winter Mtg Feb 6 & 7

PCC Monthly Meeting Feb 9 1000

Washington’s Birthday Celeb. Feb 21 1030

PCC Monthly Meeting Mar 2 1000

PCC Monthly Meeting Apr 6 1000

Upcoming Events

Here’s hoping that this newsletter reaches you in a

slightly warmer spell than as I write it on the eve-

ning of the 7 degree forecasted overnight, and that

the Holidays were both Happy and Joyful for you

and your families.

December was a busy month for us with the regular

BOM/Chapter meeting on the 1st followed by multi-

ple Color Guard events, as follows:

December 9 - Honors at Compatriot Dick

Randolph’s funeral services, Narberth, PA

December 13 morning - Wreaths Across

America, Philadelphia National Cemetery

December 13 evening – Saint Lucia celebration,

Old Swedes’ Church, Bridgeport, PA

December 19 evening – March-in, Valley Forge

NHP, Valley Forge, PA

Those Color Guard activities concluded a calendar

year that saw your Guard fall out for a total of 35

distinct events on 24 separate dates; many of these

occur in multiples, such as Memorial Day or the 4th

of July when/where troopers are called upon to go

both early in the AM and late in the afternoon to

different geographic locales . Others may fall in

back-to-back chronology, but require the fellows to

“layover” between them until the next event (8:00

AM flag-raising, followed by a plaque recognition

at 11:00, same general site, but different propo-

nent). Much thanks, and credit, goes out to CPT

Jim Willis and the hardcore group of men who man

the flags at many, many of these events. Six men

made 15 or more of the events during the year.

As to our monthly meeting structure or concept,

inquiries have been made by some new Compatri-

ots about the term BOM, ”What is it?” and “Am I

allowed to come?”

BOM stands for Board of Management and re-

fers to the elected Officers and three (3)

Classes of Directors consisting of 4 mem-

(Continued on page 2)

Meeting Location

The Board of Management meetings are held at the

Landmark Americana Tap & Grill, 629 W. Lancaster

Ave., Wayne, PA

(NW corner at Old Eagle School Rd),

Phone 610-995-1001

2

bers each (currently) for the years 2015, ’16,

and ’17. These men have the RIGHT TO

VOTE on business matters which are dis-

cussed during the meeting which com-

mences at 10:00.

ALL Compatriots are welcome, and invited, to

attend the BOM meeting whenever held

(almost every month now, except for July

and August) - - it is a time and way to be-

come aware of, and involved in the work-

ings and activity of the Chapter. It is just

that, under the By-Laws, only the persons in

Para. 1 above may VOTE (Except during

the Annual Meeting held in October)

At approximately Noon of each meeting date,

we break for a luncheon and fellowship,

which is then usually followed by a speaker/

presentation on some topic of historic inter-

est.

In summary, you may arrive by 10:00 and at-

tend any 1, 2 or 3 portions of the day OR

arrive by 12:00 for lunch and the speaker,

OR come about 1:00 for JUST the speaker.

Attire is customarily a blazer or suit coat and

tie, with SAR member’s rosette. First-time

attendees are welcomed and presented with

this symbol of their membership in the Soci-

ety.

(Continued from page 1) material to the council and then wait for the Eagle

Scout to send in his application form requesting

the necessary material. The program is an annual

program with local winners selected in January;

state winners in February and national winners

recognized at the National Society's Annual Con-

gress in July.

We are not expected to participate in the Courts

of Honor but should participate in the scout coun-

cil's annual recognition program.

lf you are retired or contemplating retirement and

seeking a challenging and rewarding outlet, par-

ticipation in this program is a true answer to your

quest.

SCOUTING OPPORTUNITY

Since 1983 Philadelphia Continental Chapter has

supported the National Society's program of recog-

nizing Eagle Scouts through a scholarship pro-

gram. We have recognized over 8000 Eagle Scouts

throughout the greater Philadelphia area . The top

award is 58,000.00 cash with descending amounts

for second place and lesser amounts at the state

and local levels. Enrollment in a college program

are encouraged but not mandatory.

We have worked through the local scout councils

by furnishing Eagle Scout Certificates, literature

describing the program and application forms.

Cradle of Liberty and Chester County Councils

prepare the certificates with names, dates and in-

clude them with the Eagle Scout packet for use by

the scout troop as they make arrangements for

presentation at a Court of Honor. We furnish the

INSTALLATION DINNER

This year’s edition of the Annual Officers’ Installa-

tion Dinner was held on the 2nd Thursday evening

in November for the very first time, a move which

we have determined will be perpetuated into the

future. It moves it away from the night before the

Veterans ‘Day Parade at the Coatesville Hospital in

which our Color Guard marches on an annual basis

AND a PASSAR quarterly meeting weekend as

well when some members may be travelling out of

town.

The evening of November 13th saw some 29 of

your fellow Compatriots and their guests, totaling

over 50 persons in all, gathered at the Overbrook

Golf Club for the annual black-tie event to honor

the outgoing Officers and to usher in the newly

elected core of Officers and Directors (whose

names, positions and contact information is pre-

sented elsewhere in this edition). The traditional

Silent Auction, as ably organized by Compatriots

Jim Sanborn and Greg Shively, was held with many

items of historical interest going “on the block”.

The proceeds from these efforts and contributions

go directly to help support the various youth-

oriented programs of the Chapter.

3

Awards given at the Installation Banquet

Bronze Color Guard Medal to Ellis Adams &

Jim Hall for 300+ points and 50% participation

in CG events of 2012, 2013 & 2014.

Bronze Roger Sherman Medal to:

Jonathan Jacobs for Chair of the Public

Relations Committee for 2012 thru 2014.

Quincy Jones for services as Chair of the Stu-

dent/Teacher Awards Committee for years 2006

to 2014 and Chapter Secretary for years 2009 to

2012.

William Rheiner for service as Chair of the

Greenspan Scholarship Committee for years

2012 thru 2014.

Joseph Stokes, Jr. for his service as Chair of the

Membership Committee for the years 2008 thru

2014.

Jim Hall & Ellis Adams receive their awards from

President Anders

Above:

Jonathan Jacobs receives his Roger Sherman award from

Phil Anders

Left: Ellis Adams and Phil Anders with Lydia Freeman, Presi-

dent of the Huguenot Society of PA

Tom Showler, Michael Freeland and Jan Showler at the In-

stallation Dinner

4

The Hermione Sails

For over 16 years French citizens have contributed for a

civic project to build a replica sailing ship, the Hermione,

the vessel that carried the Marquis de Lafayette from

France to Rhode Island in 1780, carrying the news of a

French army under Comte de Rochambeau dispatched to

join the Continental Army in the War of Independ-

ence. The replica ship has been launched and will sail in

celebratory commemoration to the US in summer 2015. Its

first port will be Yorktown, VA, June 5-7, and then up the

coast for celebrations at historic ports of call. Its schedule

is to be at Fort Mifflin on June 25, then at Penns Landing, June 26-28, and in NYC, July 1-4. It will sail back

to France in late July. Go to www.Hermione2015.com for details. These will be exciting public events.

PHILADELPHIA CONTINENTAL CHAPTER

COMBINED ACTIVITY SCHEDULE 2014

February

5th Williamson School Celebration 6:00PM

6th & 7th PASSAR Quarterly Meeting, Holiday Inn-Harrisburg Hershey 9:00AM

9h Board of Management Meeting 10:00AM

21st George Washington Birthday Celebration, City Tavern

Color Guard march-off to Washington Square 10:30 AM

Color Guard to Independence Hall 11:15 AM

Color Guard returns to City Tavern 11:45 AM

March

2nd Board of Management Meeting 10:00AM

Ned Little received the Distinguished Service Medal for his

service as Chapter Genealogist for the years 2012 thru 2014.

This is the highest medal that may be awarded by a Chapter

President, who may present only one for each year of his ad-

ministration, for conspicuous service rendered to a Chapter

within his term.

Compatriot Little has been directly responsible for the acces-

sion of 113 new Compatriots to the ranks of this Chapter over

his term of Office, and has also processed 51 Supplemental

applications during that time resulting in the proof of those

additional Revolutionary War ancestors. He has turned over

more than 140 OPEN inquiry files to his successor, Kelsey

Brown.

Banquet Award

PHILADELPHIA CONTINENTAL CHAPTER 2015

OFFICERS and COMMITTEE CHAIRS

OFFICE NAME PHONE E-Mail

PRESIDENT Philip M. Anders 610-918-0213 philmlyco@verizon.net

1ST VICE PRESIDENT Ellis C. L. Adams 484-351-8634 frandam59@comcast.net

2NDVICEPRESIDENT George M. Clarke 610-687-8111 george.m.clarke@verizon.net

SECRETARY Jonathan M. Jacobs 215-229-1185 jjparlia@yahoo.com

TREASURER John M. Briggs 610-649-0866 435jmb@comcast.net

ASST TREASURER L. Carl Fletcher 610-430-0755 cfletch514@yahoo.com

GENEALOGIST C. Kelsey Brown 215-659-1686 whtwav2@aol.com

REGISTRAR John F. Mitchell, III 610-630-1575 johnfmtc@aol.com

CHANCELLOR Michael W. Freeland, Esq. 610-649-0707 freelanm41@comcast.net

CHAPLAIN Kenneth L. Hanson 610-382-2040 HansonKenL@cs.com

HISTORIAN James H. Willis 484-266-0026 olddogjw@gmail.com

SURGEON Frederick R. Rude, DVM 215-402-8536 frude@aol.com

CPT of the GUARD James H. Willis 484-266-0026 olddogjw@gmail.com

SGT at ARMS Philip M. Anders 610-918-0213 philmlyco@verizon.net

AIDE to PRESIDENT James F. Hall 610-696-7788 james.hall@msn.com

COMMITTEE CHAIRS

AMERICANISM Gregory J. Shively 609-569-1226 greg.shively@comcast.net

KNIGHT ESSAY John F. Mitchell 610-630-1575 johnfmtc@aol.com

POSTER CONTEST George M. Clarke 610-687-8111 george.m.clarke@verizon.net

STUDENT/TEACHER Quincy T. Jones 610-688-5532 norquin881319087@yahoo.com

AWARDS George M. Clarke 610-687-8111 george.m.clarke@verizon.net

BSA EAGLE SCOUT TBD

GREENSPAN William H. Rheiner 610-489-3012 brheiner@verizon.net

ROTC/JROTC James F. Hall 610-696-7788 james.hall@msn.com

CAR/DAR Lanny R. Patten 610-520-9577 pattenlr@gmail.com

COMP. DATABASE Philip M. Anders 610-918-0213 philmlyco@verizon.net

FINANCE Ellis C. L. Adams 484-351-8634 frandam59@comcast.net

FLAG CERTIFICATE J. Thomas Showler 215-632-4229 oberlin65@verizon.net

GRAVES Joseph R. Stokes, Jr. 610-431-4751 N/A

LONG RANGE PLAN Philip M. Anders 610-918-0213 philmlyco@verizon.net

MEMBERSHIP Joseph R. Stokes, Jr. 610-431-4751 N/A

MILITARY AFFAIRS BG Richard D. Merion 610-692-1760 rmerion@verizon.net

PROGRAMS James H. Willis 484-266-0026 olddogjw@gmail.com

PUBLIC RELATIONS Jonathan M. Jacobs 215-229-1185 jjparlia@yahoo.com

NEWSLETTER L. Carl Fletcher 610-430-0755 cfletch514@yahoo.com

NOMINATING Philip M. Anders 610-918-0213 philmlyco@verizon.net

Webmaster Bruce S. Edmonds 215-881-8514 Bepg123@comcast.net

5

BOM - Class of 2015 BOM - Class of 2016 BOM - Class of 2017

Gregory Shively W. Bruce Hustis John Ace Gibson

Douglas W. Campbell Jonathan M. Jacobs Robert Michael Gosner, Jr.

Joseph R Stokes, Jr. Lanny R. Patten James F. Hall

C Charles Smith, Esq. James H. Sanborn Ned Allen Little

6

Harriton House

By Lanny Patten

For our annual George Washington Birthday luncheon, the guest speaker will be Bruce Gill the Executive

Director/Curator of Harriton House. Harriton House was the home of Charless Thompson, located in Bryn

Mawr, PA. Details of Irish- born patriot Charles Thomson (1729-1824), Secretary of the Continental Con-

gress, keep being uncovered, at least to me. After visiting his N.

Ireland birth site in May, I recalled his home at Harriton House,

Bryn Mawr, PA (now a public historic site) and his burial site at

Laurel Hill Cemetery, Philadelphia. Now it is learned that he gave

land for a churchyard cemetery and church to found the Lower

Merion Baptist Church in 1808. His funeral service was conducted

here. The seven acre site and original building exist today. At a

building renovation in 1887, the main sanctuary window was dedi-

cated to Charles Thomson. And history lives. Use the website

www.LowerMerionBaptist.org for more of the story.

Main sanctuary window at Lower Merion Baptist Church

Upper Left: The full window

Lower Left: The center portion of the window

Above: The lower panels of the window

7

ANNUAL GEORGE WASHINGTON’S BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION

FEBRUARY 21, 2015

Be sure to make reservations early for you, your family and your guests for the Chap-

ter’s annual George Washington’s Birthday Celebration at 10:00 AM Saturday, February

21st, at the City Tavern. This year as last, a contingent of hearty souls will be led by our

color guard in a march from the City Tavern,

138 South 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA at 10:30

AM sharp to the Washington Square Eternal

Flame. This is the site of the Revolutionary War

Unknown Soldier Tomb, where a brief cere-

mony will be held and a wreath set in place.

The party will then march off to the Plaza in

front of Independence Hall for a second wreath

laying at General Washington’s statue. Those

not directly involved in the ceremony will

watch from the north side of Chestnut Street. Following this ceremony, all hands will

return to the City Tavern for a reception upstairs in the Long Room.

This is a most anticipated event with a cash bar available. After ample time for libations,

renewing old friendships and making new ones, luncheon will be served at 12:45. The

entrée selection is Colonial Turkey Pot Pie, preceded by a Tavern Country Salad and, for

dessert, Fresh Fruit Cobbler served warm. Cost of luncheon: $40.00

George Washington’s Birthday Luncheon Reservation

Saturday, February 21, 2015

City Tavern, 138 S. 2nd Street, Philadelphia

A cash bar reception will commence upon our return from Independence Hall.

Pot Pie Veg.

Name __________________________________________ ______ ______

Guests__________________________________________ ______ ______

__________________________________________ ______ ______

__________________________________________ ______ ______

Total @ $40 each ___________

Send check payable to PCCSAR to John Briggs, 435 Williams Rd, Wynnewood, PA 19096-1632

DEADLINE FOR RESERVATIONS IS 2/16/2015

Philadelphia Continental Chapter – SAR 3346 N SMEDLEY ST PHILADELPHIA, PA 19140-4901

8

George Washington’s Birthday Luncheon

Saturday, February 21, 2015

City Tavern