THE JEFFERSONIAN GAZETTE

THE THOMAS JEFFERSON CHAPTER OFTHE SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION

SPRING 2011 ISSUE

THE PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE

Compatriots, It is with a heavy heart that I write my last missive as Chapter President. A big thank you to all of you that supported the Chapter events and programs the last three years. A huge thank you to Phil Williams, Geoff Cobham, Trice Taylor, Ken Wallenborne, Jim Parrish, Father Nick, Stuart Jones, Lea Scouten, Lea Shulz, Harvey Hague, Tom Conner, Mackey Tilman, and most everyone else who supported my feeble efforts as President. I have met three cousins who share a common Revolutionary War ancestor since my term as Chap-ter President began through the SAR. I have greatly enjoyed all of the SAR events and Programs we offer and will continue to travel to The Crossing of the Dan, Guilford Courthouse, Martin’s Station and Yorktown. I also ask that we support VASSAR President Phil Williams in his upcoming year and Mark Day as he assumes Thomas Jefferson Chapter President duties. As we approach the Fall, Thanksgiving, Christmas and the New Year, we and our Country face many challenges from enemies from within and without. I ask each of my SAR Compatriots to take a moment and ask our Creator to bless and protect our Country and families. I hope to see all of you at the December 1st Ladies Night at Greencroft. Please accept my most sincere wishes for an enjoyable and rewarding Holiday Season and a New Year. God bless all of you.Pat KellyPresidentThomas Jefferson Chapter

VASSAR Color Guard at the Grave of Thomas Nelson, Jr., Yorktown Thomas Jefferson Chapter Members Trice Taylor and Pat Kelly are seen on right. Chaplain Minich and VASSAR President Elect Williams also in attendance.

UPCOMING EVENTS (COMPATRIOTS, MARK YOUR CALENDARS, PLEASE)Nov. 3rd Board of Mgrs. Meeting, WCBR, 4:00Nov. 10th DAR/Natuional defense Luncheon, GreencroftNov. 1th Veterans’ Day observance, County Off. Bldg., 11:00DEC. 1st LADIES NIGHT DINNER, GREENCROFT, 6:00Jan. 4th SAR Board Meeting, WCBR, 4:00

Feb. 24-26 VASSAR ANNUAL MEETING, Richmond, Past Chapter President Williams to be installed as VASSAR President Mar. 3rd CHAPTER BREAKFAST, FCC, 8:45, OFFICER INSTALLATION by VASSAR President Elect Kent WebberMar. 10th Guilford Court House commemorationMar. 16 Madison’s B-Day, Montpelier, 1:30April 13th Jefferson’s B-Day, Monticello, 9:00Apr. 14 Graves Mountain,[ IN LIEU OF REGULAR CHAPTER BREAKFAST.] 10:30, Central Va. Chapters, VASSAR President Williams, speakerApr 27 Dogwood Memorial Ceremony, McIntire ParkMay 3rd Board Meeting, WCBR, 4:00May 28th Memorial Day, County Off. Bldg., 11:00June 2nd CHAPTER BREAKFAST, FCC, 8:45June 22nd Special Wreath Laying ceremony for NSSAR President at Monticello, 2:00July 4th Jefferson Graveside, joint with Jouett DAR, Keynote Speaker, Chap. President Mark Day, 10:45Sept. 6th Board and Semi-Annual Planning Group Meeting, WCBR, 4:00Sept. 9th ANNUAL GARDEN PARTY, DARs and C.A.R. reps invited to the home Robin and Mack Halsey, 4:00

Sept. 14,15 TJ Chapter Hosts the VASSAR SEMI-ANNUAL MEETING, HOLIDAY INN- UNIVERSITY, VASSAR PRESIDENT WILLIAMS PRESIDING

Oct. 4th CHAPTER DINNER MEETING, Greencroft, 6:00

PAST EVENTSPresident Monroe’s birthday commemoration on April 16th saw a beautiful early spring day and a good turn out by Thomas Jefferson Chapter including, left to right back row, Compatriots French, VASSAR President Elect Wil-liams, VASSAR and Chapter Chaplain Minich, Chap-ter President Kelly and Chapter Secretary Cobham. In front are Compatriot Fiery with his C.A.R. grandson.

Later that month, the Board of Managers gathered at Com-patriot Harvey Hague’s spectacular Blue Ridge Mountain re-treat “High Ground”. They actually worked, but were anxious to finish the business and enjoy each other’s company and the breathtaking view.

The October Chapter Dinner at the Greencroft Club bore witness to the induction of two new members, Compatriots Lawrence George (left of President Kelly) and Mark Chapman (to the President’s right), to-gether with their sponsors, Compatriots Taylor and Parrish. The highlight of the evening was the stirring story of the re-discovery of the body of Patriot John Paul Jones, perfectly preserved in a lead-lined casket filled with French brandy. Compatriot Wallenborn delivered a moving and well-researched account of how the “Father of the U.S. Navy” was exhumed and repatriated to America during Theodore Roosevelt’s administration. This heroic figure of the Revolution now lies in a crypt, in a marble sarcophagus, at the U.S. Naval Academy.

After a long summer, Compatriots and their wives gathered for the Annual September Garden Party, so graciously hosted by Ducie and Compatriot Minich on a beautiful September afternoon. Regents from the Shadwell and Albemarle DAR Chapters, as well as the C.A.R. National President and her parents, all brought greetings. And, we were all wonderfully entertained by our perennial favorite Patrick Bond, dressed as Uncle Sam, who gave us his National History Day “National Winner” performance – a very creative script of his own creation.

COMPATRIOT BOOK REVIEW, CRITIC’S CORNERYour Publicist recommends, for you driving pleasure, the Audio Version of Ron Chernow’s book, George Washington – A Life. It is a great book and a great book on tape.

{ Other compatriots interested in sharing their critiques of Revolutionary War era books, please submit, preferably by email, your brief reviews to the Publicist. }

OFFICERS Patrick Kelly., President; Mark Day, Vice President; Tom Conner, Treasurer; Geoff Cobham, Secretary, acting Membership Secretary; Rev. Cn. N.F. Minich, Chaplain; Stuart E. Jones, Registrar; Pat Kelly, Historian; Harvey H. Hague, Chancellor; W. M. Wallenborn, Surgeon; Robert B. Rogers, Jr., Assist. Treasurer; Geoffrey Cobham, Event Coordinator, and Henry P. (Phil) Williams III, PhD,Publicist.

BOARD OF MANAGERSPat Kelly, K. Wallenborn; P. Williams; J. Parrish; Cn. N. Minich; H. Hague; and,T. Conner. Emeritus: Rev.R. Richardson, T. Bass, T. Taylor

COLOR GUARD P. Kelly, T. Taylor, H. Dawson, B. Simpson, H. Hague

NSSAR NEWS – The 2012 Congress will be in Phoenix, Arizona, July 6-12, 2012.

VASSAR NEWSThe Col. Fielding Lewis and James Monroe Chapters joined forces to mount an extraordinary Semi-Annual meet-ing in Fredericksburg, Virginia. The Mayor turned out and a red carpet was rolled out for the SAR. Seen below, a VASSAR Color Guard led parade including TJ Guardsmen Taylor and Kelly and, back in the crowd, Compatri-ots Williams and Minich and their wives.