PageTHE 1 WILLIAM FEW CONSTITUTIONThe William Few Constitution T H E N EWSLET TER OF THE C O L O N E L W I L L I A M F E W C HAPTER G EORGIA S OCIETY , S ONS OF THE A M E R I C A N R EVOLUTION *** CHARTERED IN 1977 *** March 20, 2017

Volume 2, Issue 1

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

President’s President’s Message 1 40th Anniversary Celebration 1 Message Chapter Awards 2 Individual Awards and Recognitions 3 By William J. “Bill” Tankersley Special Ceremonies 4 Special Ceremonies (Continued) 5 Fund Raiser for Mount Vernon Assn. 6 What a privilege and a pleasure it has been to Chapter Officers and Facebook Page Link 6 serve as your chapter president! I truly appreciate and feel very honored and humbled by the trust you have placed in me to carry out the duties of the office COME HELP US CELEBRATE OUR for which I was chosen. My goal for our chapter has 40th BIRTHDAY! always been for us to meet as many of the goals and objectives set forth by the National and Georgia The Colonel William Few Chapter of the Societies of the Sons of the American Revolution as Georgia Society of the Sons of the American possible, and to do the very best job we possibly can Revolution requests the honor of your presence at at meeting these patriotic, historical, and educational our 40th Anniversary Celebration and 1st Quarter goals and objectives. Chapter Meeting of 2017 to be held Monday evening at 6:30 the 27th of March 2017. As you know, 2016 was a monumental year for our chapter. As a testament to that fact, our chapter Our celebration will be held at the Snelling received the following ten awards at the GASSAR Center, 3165 Washington Road, Augusta, GA annual conference and awards banquet on January 30907. Wearing of business attire, Revolutionary 27-28, 2017. War Uniform or Colonial Era Clothing is requested. 1. Compatriot Don Thomas, Sr., and his lovely wife First Vice President Sonny Pittman will present Pat won the GASSAR John Dooly and Nancy Hart a slide presentation about the research he has been Education Outreach Awards, respectively, for a conducting on the life of Colonel William Few, Jr. And we will be inducting NINE new compatriots significant contribution of their time and efforts in an into our chapter. The $25 price per person for outstanding manner to our youth and adult education outreach program. The Thomas’s each received a attending includes the buffet meal, drink, dessert, plaque and a check for $200, for a total of $400. tax and gratuity. Congratulations, Don and Pat, and most importantly, Please make your reservation with Chapter THANK YOU for your time and contributions to our President Bill Tankersley by March 23, 2017. youth education program and your Traveling Trunk You can send a check for $25 per person sessions. payable to: Colonel William Few Chapter SAR, C/O William Tankersley, 2645 Louisville Road, 2. Our chapter received the GASSAR Dr. Lyman Appling, GA 30802. Or you can call Bill at (706) Hall Education Outreach Award given in recognition 825-5810 or email him at [email protected] to of the most improved chapter education outreach confirm your reservation and pay by debit/credit program compared to 2015. We received a certificate card or check at the door. and a check for $200. (Continued on page 2)

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President’s Message Continued from Page 1

10. Our chapter received three Revolutionary War 3. Our chapter received the GASSAR Education Outreach Streamer & Certificate in recognition of Patriot Grave Marking Certificates for marking the graves of Revolutionary War Patriots Reuben history, patriotism, and educational presentations to over 1,000 students and adults in 2016. Blanchard, James Cartledge, and Samuel Cartledge. We also received three white stars to go on our 4. T.W. Josey High School JROTC Cadet Jalene Patriot Grave Marking streamer. Smith received $400 for winning 2nd place in the GASSAR Outstanding Cadet contest. Compatriot I wanted to say THANK YOU to all of our chapter Bill Colbert has worked hard with our JROTC members who helped make 2016 a successful year in program instructors and we plan to present her meeting the goals and objectives of the SAR. We certificate and medal at our March 27 chapter look forward to another successful year in 2017. meeting. Thank you Compatriot Colbert! Yours in patriotism, 5. Our chapter received the GASSAR Distinguished Chapter Award Certificate and William J. (Bill) Tankersley Streamer - for meeting the goals and objectives of President, Col. William Few Chapter SAR the GASSAR in such program areas as Chairman, GASSAR Public Safety & Heroism membership recruitment and retention, chapter Committee reporting, Flag respect, Board of Manager attendance, scheduling regular meetings, community involvement, and youth program activity.

6. Our chapter received the GASSAR Membership Award Certificate and Streamer - for recognizing our outstanding effort in retaining 90% or more of our membership and submitting dues on time.

7. Our chapter received the Billy Thompson Americanism Award Certificate and Streamer - Chapter of Excellence - for excellence in conducting programs and activities that promote the ideals of our National and State Societies. President Tankersley receiving chapter awards at

8. Our chapter received the Billy Thompson the 2017 GASSAR Annual Meeting

Americanism Award Certificate and Streamer - Chapter of Distinction - for outstanding service in conducting programs and activities that promote the ideals of our National and State Societies.

9. Our chapter received the NSSAR President General's Award Certificate and Streamer - Chapter of Distinction - for outstanding service in conducting programs and activities that promote the ideals of our National and State Societies.

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Congratulations to Cadet Jalene Smith A message from Past President Bill Colbert The Col. William Few Chapter, SAR,

participated in a Command Inspection and Awards Ceremony on February 22nd at T.W. Josey High School. We were privileged to present the SAR "Outstanding Cadet" award to Cadet/Major Jalene Smith in recognition of her having been chosen as runner up in the Georgia SAR Enhanced JROTC Essay contest.

Cadet Smith received monetary awards from the Congratulations to Don and Pat Thomas Georgia Society and our chapter as well. Jalene is a Compatriot Don Ray Thomas, Jr., of the Col. truly outstanding young woman and very deserving

William Few Chapter, is the 2016 Winner of the of this award. We will be recognizing her and her John Dooly Education Outreach Award. Don was senior instructor, Lt. Col. Kurt Barry at our March honored at the 2017 Annual Meeting with a check 27th meeting. for $200, a plaque, and a certificate from outgoing State President Allen Greenly. The John Dooly Education Outreach Award was initiated to recognize an SAR member that has made significant contributions to education outreach as it relates to the American Revolution.

Patricia Thomas, Regent of the Stephen Heard Chapter DAR, is the 2016 Winner of the Nancy Hart Education Outreach Award. Patricia was also honored at the 2017 Annual Meeting with a check for $200, a plaque, and a certificate from outgoing State President Allen Greenly. The Nancy Hart Education Outreach Award recognizes a female who has significantly contributed their time and efforts in an outstanding manner to youth and adult education JROTC Cadet/Major Jalene Smith of Josey High outreach programs. presented with Outstanding Cadet award by Past President Bill Colbert

Elijah Clarke Grave Dedication Friday, February 10, 2017 The weekend of celebration for the Battle of Kettle Creek was especially exciting on Friday, February 10, 2017, when activities sponsored by the William Few and Atlanta chapters SAR, Elijah Clarke and Stephen Heard chapters NSDAR, Friends of Elijah Clark State Park, and the Lincoln County Historical Society joined to sponsor a variety of activities at the Elijah Clark State Park in

Lincolnton, just east of Washington, Georgia. A Don and Pat Thomas honored at the 2017 GASSAR regional Colonial Color Guard of militia and Annual Meeting Continental Line participants from across the

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Elijah Clarke Grave Dedication Continued from Page 3 Southeast, including the Georgia Society SAR Color Guard and Elijah Clarke Militia Unit, joined the festivities with musket firings and representations of colonial lifestyle. The park is the site of the grave of Georgia’s most famous Patriot fighter, Col. Elijah Clarke, whose grave was marked by an SAR Patriot Grave Marker on Saturday. The day kicked off at 10:30 a.m. at the restored cabin and Elijah Clark Museum with a variety of demonstrations on colonial lifestyle, Col. William Few Chapter President William “Bill” including demonstrations of colonial attire, a Tankersley providing remarks at the Colonel Elijah Traveling Trunk display, period dulcimer music, Clarke grave dedication. and musket demonstrations. Authors of new period books were on hand for book signings: Dr. 238th Anniversary - Battle of Kettle Creek David Noble of “Patriots in Georgia Saturday, February 11, 2017 Revolutionary War Engagements 1776-1782” and The National Society SAR Historic Site Event, Dr. John Turrentine of “Defining the Founding sponsored by the Georgia Society Sons of the American Fathers and their Spirituality Examined”. Revolution, took place February 10, 11 & 12, 2017 in Washington, Wilkes County, Georgia and at the Federal A free indoor chili cookout and dessert buffet Monument on War Hill. On Friday afternoon, February was served at noon compliments of the Friends of 10th, a U.S. Army Military Historian conducted a Elijah Clark State Park, Stephen Heard and Elijah walking tour of the Kettle Creek Battle Site. That Clarke Chapters NSDAR, followed by a wreath evening, The Kettle Creek Battlefield Association, ceremony and grave dedication at 1:30 at the Georgia Society SAR and Kettle Creek NSDAR hosted Elijah Clarke gravesite. The dedication ceremony a dinner and Revolutionary War program in honor of featured remarks by Compatriot David Noble, the Kettle Creek Patriots. whose 832-page book released in December 2016 highlights 42 engagements and the men who Saturday morning, February 11th, the Georgia fought them in Georgia during the Revolution. Society SAR Elijah Clarke Militia Honor Guard with He spoke on recent studies at Kettle Creek that Musket Salutes raised the 1776 Colors of the are effectively locating the burial sites of many of Revolutionary War on the Wilkes County Courthouse the participants and re-writing the history of how Flag pole. The Georgia Society SAR combined Color that remarkable historic engagement took place. Guard & Militia gathered at the Revolutionary War monument on the Washington City square to Salute and Honor the Wilkes County Militia - (the Heroes of the Hornets’ Nest) and all Revolutionary War Patriots. The Georgia Society SAR Elijah Clarke Militia and other re- enactors with black-powder muskets presented a dramatic portrayal of the Battle of Kettle Creek in Fort Washington Park behind the Wilkes County Courthouse. Saturday afternoon’s pageantry at the Kettle Creek Battlefield included Continental Army and Georgia Militia musket volley salutes as SAR/DAR/CAR, Hereditary Organizations and local, state and national officials presented Wreaths to honor the Heroes of the Hornets’ Nest--the Wilkes County Col. William Few Chapter President William Militia for their 1779 Victory at Kettle Creek. “Bill” Tankersley presenting a wreath at Colonel (Continued on Page 5) Elijah Clarke’s grave site

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Battle of Kettle Creek 238th Anniversary Following Mr. Elliott’s talk, several SAR Continued from Page 4 chapters and other patriotic and lineage societies participated in a formal wreath laying ceremony th On Sunday morning, February 12 , Georgia Society followed by musket and cannon volleys and the SAR officers and chapter officers and Compatriots playing of Taps. First Vice President Sonny joined the Local NSDAR Chapter in a Memorial Pittman presented the Chapter wreath during the Service honoring the Wilkes County Militia (Heroes of Battle of Brier Creek ceremonies. the Hornets’ Nest) and the SC Upper 96 Militia who together defeated the Loyalists at the Battle of Kettle Creek in a Memorial Service in the Phillips Mill Baptist Church.

Compatriots (L-R) Jim Brady, Bill Colbert, Alan Smith, and Sonny Pittman attending the 238th Anniversary of the Battle of Brier Creek

Col. William Few Chapter First Vice President Sonny Pittman presenting the Chapter wreath during the War Hill Battle site ceremonies at Kettle Creek

238th Anniversary - Battle of Brier Creek Saturday, March 11, 2017

The Brier Creek, Wiregrass and Col William Few GASSAR Color Guard in full dress uniform at the Chapters, with support and encouragement from the Battle of Brier Creek Anniversary Ceremony Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, are

joined as one in our determination to hold an Annual

Day of Commemoration Ceremony at the Battle of Brier Creek site in Screven County, Georgia. And, we are equally determined to have the battle area recognized as a state or national park in honor of the many Revolutionary War Patriots that sacrificed their lives on this battlefield.

We are indebted to Mr. Andy Chisholm for allowing us access to his land and the site where pickets were arrayed during the original battle. The guest speaker for this year’s commemoration ceremony was archaeologist Daniel T. Elliott, who spoke on "The Revolutionary First Vice President Sonny Pittman preparing to War in the Savannah River Valley." render honors at the Battle of Brier Creek 238th Anniversary Ceremony

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Fund Raiser for Mount Vernon Association

Thank you to Chapter Parliamentarian Jerry Brigham

We would like to thank Chapter Parliamentarian Jerry Brigham for his idea and hard work on setting up a drop in on February 22 to honor George Washington's Birthday at "That Place" coffee shop on Pleasant Home Road. The event was a great success as we raised $100 for the Mount Vernon Association. Thanks to Compatriot Brigham and all the other compatriots who participated!

Compatriots and guests enjoying coffee and cake at

“That Place” for our chapter’s Mount Vernon Copy of the Chapter’s first program (cover) Association fundraiser held on Washington’s Birthday generously provided by Compatriot Al Beveridge

2017 Officers of the Colonel William Few Chapter SAR

President: William J. “Bill” Tankersley First Vice President: Sonny G. Pittman Second Vice President: James A. “Jim” Brady III Secretary/Treasurer/Chancellor: John Garcia, Sr. Registrar: Alton O. McCloud Chaplain: David R. Titus Sergeant at Arms: Jerry Brigham

Link to Chapter Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/groups/335299529991642/

Colonel William Few, Jr. 1748-1828