D Bj Am35 THE . cbg Bicentennial v.4 onnecticut no.7 GAZETTE The Charier Oak VOLUME IV NUMBER 7 JULY/AUGUST 1975 WARNER IN CONNECTICUT ARBA HEAD PRESENTS LAST FLAG TO "FIRST BICENTENNIAL STATE" The last Bicentennial flag for Connecticut is taken for a John Warner laid a wreath on the grave of Revolution­ ride by a member of the Connecticut Parachutists on July ary War Governor Jonathan Trumbull in Lebanon on 3. He is pictured here on his ivay down to the Lebanon July 3. Green, where he landed right on target. Connecticut became the nation's "First Bicentennial of professional parachutists. "The drop," said George Cyr, State" in June and was recognized for its achievement by ARBCC Program Coordinator, "symbolized that the Bi­ ARBA Administrator John Warner who attended cere­ centennial flag now flies over the entire state." monies in the state at Hartford and Lebanon on July 3. In addition to presenting the "last flag" Warner also With the presentation of three flags in historic Lebanon awarded a "first flag" for Connecticut when he presented to the towns of Sprague, Ledyard and Sharon, the Nut­ a Bicentennial flag to the first military unit in Connecticut - meg state became the only state in the nation which has to qualify under the new Bicentennial Armed Forces In­ all its cities and towns officially recognized by Washington stallations and Commands Program. A former Marine him­ as Bicentennial Communities. self, Warner made the presentation to Hartford's Company In honor of Warner's visit and the state ARBC's accom­ B, First Battalion 25th Marines, 4th Marine Division, plishment, Connecticut Governor Ella Grasso officially MRTC. 0 proclaimed July 3 as "Bicentennial Community Day" in Connecticut. Warner arrived at Bradley Field at 8:50 a.m. and made PU3S The three Bicentennial flags which Warner presented a television show appearance before going on to a recep­ cW were parachuted onto the Lebanon town green by a group continued on next page m.M WARNER continued from page 1 tion and press conference at the Sheraton-Hartford Hotel, hosted by the Hartford Bicentennial Committee. He also toured the SNET Co.'s Bicentennial Van and viewed Connecticut's Bicentennial Conestoga Wagon, des­ tined to join the national Bicentennial Wagon Train next June on its trek to Pennsylvania. Lebanon was chosen as the site for the presentation of the final flags because of its historical importance during the Revolutionary War. The Revolutionary War Office there was the site of hundreds of meetings of Revolution­ ary leaders to plan strategy for the war. Warner toured the War Office and the home of Revolutionary War Gov­ ernor Jonathan Trumbull. He also laid a wreath on Gov­ ernor Trumbull's grave and viewed murals depicting local scenes of the Revolution, painted by artist David Wagner. The day included performances by the Westbrook Fife and Drum Corp, the Tories, a junior fife and drum corp Artist David Wagner points out a detail from his paint­ from Deep River, the Nathan Hale Ancient Fifers and ing of the signing of the Declaration of Independence to Drummers, and the 2nd Connecticut Regiment of Led- John Warner. The mural of the painting of Bunker Hill is yard. visible on the left. Honored guests of the day included Mrs. Georgia Ire­ land, Region I ARBA Coordinator, Harlan H. Griswold, pleting "The Battle of Bunker Hill" (see photo). The third Chairman of the ARBCC and the Connecticut Historical mural has received much attention and was recently on Commission, Vice Chairman Whitney Brooks, John Shan­ display for Black History Week at the G. Fox and Co. store nahan, CHC Director, and chairmen from several Bicen­ in Hartford. It depicts the Marquis de Chastelleux, chief tennial Committees in towns throughout the state. of the French engineers under Bochambeau being met at the ferry crossing in what is now East Hartford. The troops are a Black regiment from Rhode Island that were attached to the French encampment at Lebanon under Lauzun dur­ ing the winter of 1780-81. Wagner has also painted murals for the towns of Lisbon and Plainfield. In the Town Hall of Plainfield, where Wagner served as First Selectman, are scenes of Washing- ton's arrival there and the 3rd encampment of Rocham­ beau's army. The Lisbon work depicts the Marquis de Lafayette stopping at Burnham's Tavern in Newent (Lis­ bon) on the way to Rhode Island. With him are a detach­ ment of 2000 men made up of General Glover's Marble- head men and the Kentish Guard Units of General Var­ num. With the Connecticut Bicentennial Conestoga Wagon in the background are (I. to r.): Georgia Ireland, ARBA Region I Director; Elmer Gladding, Connecticut Horse Chairman for the Wagon Train Pilgrimage, John Warner, ARBA Administrator and ARBCC Program Coordinator, George Cyr. a a a a PAINTER DAVID WAGNER THE REVOLUTION FROM BUTTONS TO BATTLES Painting the events and men of eastern Connecticut im­ portant during the Revolution in a series of mural-size canvasses is the ambitious project of Plainfield painter This painting by Wagner shows the meeting of the Mar­ David Wagner. The Town of Lebanon will hang six of his quis de Chastelleux and the Black Rhode Island Regiment works at the Lyman Hall High School to commemorate in Connecticut on January 5, 1781. some of the many significant events in which Lebanon A native of Connecticut, David Wagner began his paint­ played a part. ing career in Spain and was a successful landscape and Already completed is a painting of the Signing of the protrait painter in Europe. His interest in the regional his­ Declaration of Independence by the four Connecticut dele­ tory of Connecticut began when a friend asked him to do gates, William Williams of Lebanon, Roger Sherman, Sam­ a painting of an early American forge. He has since painted uel Huntington and Oliver Wolcott. The painting measures his colorful canvasses on events of the Revolution that no 5'4" x 10' and required 210 hours of work to complete. artist ever before chose as a subject. The second work shows the painter John Trumbull com- a « » • 2 UNIQUE CITYSCALE GRANT PROGRAM The National Endowment for the Arts has announced a new matching grants program called "Cityscale." It em­ phasizes the "little elements"—benches, street lights, signs, plantings, paving and other details that have the potential for making our cities more humane, efficient places. En­ dowment guidelines prohibit the use of funds for property acquisition, construction and renovation, and the program is primarily for planning and design, to provide communi­ ties with the initial impetus for exploring ways to revitalize life in public places. Local governments are eligible to ap­ ply for 50-50 matching grants not expected to exceed $50,000. Part of the matching may consist of in-kind con­ tributions, and private funds are also acceptable. Applying for an Endowment grant is relatively simple. The actual application form requires only basic informa­ tion, a proposed budget breakdown, and a program narra­ tive. But elements such as demonstration of broad com­ munity support, clear response to a public need, favorable impact on the local economy and development, local en­ dorsement of the project by government officials and community groups are also involved. With "Cityscale," imagination can go a long way towards making a success­ ful proposal, with an opportunity to emphasize what is unique about a community. The deadline for application is November 3, 1975. For further information contact: Mr. William N. Lacy Architecture and Environmental Arts Program National Endowment for the Arts On the road in Connecticut, Boh and Helen Bergmark Washington, D.C. 20506 stop in Madison to accept the official Connecticut Bicen­ (202) 634-4276 tennial plaque from George Cyr, ARBCC Program Co­ « « 6 « ordinator. RHODE ISLANDERS CROSS AMERICA KEEP AMERICA BEAUTIFUL AWARDS Connecticut Bicentennial committees and other organi­ One step at a time, Bob and Helen Bergmark, a War- zations involved in environmental projects are eligible to wick, Rhode Island couple, are walking across the United apply for the Keep America Beautiful awards. Each year States. Their trip, officially called the "Rhode Island Bi­ (since 1953) the national, nonprofit, nonpartisan public centennial Walkathon," is sponsored by the Rhode Island service organization recognizes programs that contribute ARBC and the Rhode Island Heart Association. Every mile substantially to a cleaner environment. Awards are offered they cover they will be raising money for the Heart Fund. to ongoing programs for outstanding achievement. Appli­ By walking 20-25 miles a day, the Bergmarks expect to cants may be a state, county, community, region, a busi­ reach California in November. ness, communications, youth (school or organization), and The idea started as a joke, Bob Bergmark said, but other local organizations or chapters of national groups. noted that they have been walking long distances as a To be eligible, an applicant must be "conducting an on­ hobby for years and received enthusiastic support for the going program, aiming to improve the environment, in­ plan. The couple, both 46, are accompanied by two of volving citizen education and action and including, but their children, Paul and Susan, who follow them in a car not limited to, activities to control littering." Criteria and carrying food, clothing and equipment. After reaching Bal­ entry blanks are available from Keep America Beautiful, timore, they will follow US Rte. 50, and will pass through 99 Park Avenue, New York, N.Y. 10016. Deadline for ap­ Cincinnati, Vincennes, Dodge City and Pueblo. plication is August 31, 1975. Winners will be notified by Rhode Island Governor Philip Noel has issued proclama­ October 31, 1975 and awards will be presented at a ban­ tions for the Bergmarks to present to the governors of quet in Washington on December 5.