The Magazine Williamsburg Chapter Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution By signing the Declaration of Independence, the fifty-six Americans pledged their lives, fortunes, and sacred honor. Nine died of wounds during the Revolutionary War, Five were captured or imprisoned. Wives and children were jailed, mistreated, or left penniless. Twelve signers’ houses were burned to the ground. No signer defected. Their honor, like their nation remained intact. Vol. XXVI

I hope you and your families have continued to stay safe. I encourage you to get the vaccine as soon as possible in accordance with the guidelines. The sooner we get vaccinated the sooner we will be able to return to holding in person events. Our joint Chapter meeting hosted virtually by the Thomas Nelson, Jr chapter was held on Saturday, January 9. VASSAR President Bill Schwetke attended virtually and conducted the officer installations for both chapters. Bill provided an inspirational account of how an individual, in this case sentinel Billy Flora, a free Black Patriot at the south end of the Great Bridge, made a difference during the on December 9, 1775. As the British advanced 6 abreast across the narrow bridge, Flora stood his ground to fire 8 rounds before retiring to the breastworks. This slowed the British enough to allow the main Patriot force to man the breastworks, stop the British advance and cause them to retreat back across Great Bridge. He closed by challenging the attendees to make a difference for their respective chapters and the Virginia Society. The VASSAR annual meeting, a virtual event, will be Friday, February 5 and Saturday, February 6. We will send the meeting info out as soon as we receive it, but please take the opportunity to attend virtually to learn about the workings of the Virginia Society from the comfort of your own home. Our February speaker is Cliff Fleet whose bio is in the newsletter. I would encourage all to attend to learn how Colonial Williamsburg is facing its current challenges and to show him our appreciation for the partnership with CW. Other virtual event opportunities in February include the Crossing of the Dan on February 20th and the Leedstown Resolution event on February 27th. Secretary Milt Holt will Eblast the details out to you once we receive them. Please review the separate articles concerning mentors and judging for the Virginia History Day. There are many ways that you can support the chapter and our outreach goals. I encourage you to be an active participant. I welcome your suggestions and comments on how to improve our chapter. Feel free to contact me at any time. You may also attend our virtual Board of Managers meetings on the first Monday of each month at 10 AM. Just let me know a couple days in advance so that I can send you the Zoom invitation. I will close by echoing Bill Schwetke’s challenge to select an activity of interest to you and make a difference in 2021. Roger W Cross, III

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 1 Chapter News

Monday February 1, 2021 10:00 BOM meeting by Virtual ZOOM February 5-6 VASSAR Annual Meeting will be a Zoom meeting.

Snipped by Harley’s puter Saturday February 13, 2021 Installation of 2021 Officers was conducted by VASSAR President William Schwetke using 12 PM ZOOM Chapter meeting Zoom.

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 2 Cliff Fleet is president and CEO and the Colin G. and Nancy N. Campbell distinguished presidential chair of the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. A corporate executive, teacher, community volunteer, board member and consultant, he has enjoyed a broad and deep career with leadership roles across a variety of disciplines and organizational sizes. Whether leading from the head of the board room table, meeting with union leaders, teaching undergraduate students or navigating a triathlon course, Fleet has the rare ability to quickly understand and adjust to the dynamics of any setting in business or the community, where he gives generously of his time. His talk will be on the Progress of Colonial Williamsburg today and into the future.

Most recently, Fleet served as chair of the Jamestown-Yorktown Foundation and as president and CEO of 22nd Century Group, Inc., a biotechnology company. After leaving PM USA, Fleet advised numerous businesses and nonprofits as a managing partner at SIR, a strategic management consultancy based in Richmond, Virginia.

A native of Virginia, Fleet earned four academic degrees from William & Mary, including graduate degrees in history, business administration and law, a distinction shared with approximately 14 other alumni since the university was established in 1693. Fleet enjoys learning new things and teaching, and he has a strong passion to develop people and serve the community.

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 3 Registrar's Corner

DID YOU KNOW? The Genealogical Research Library at

SAR headquarters in Louisville, Ky., was just awarded Trip Advisor’s Travelers Choice Award for 2020. Although temporarily closed due to Covid-19, the library is a must visit when in the area.

CHAPTER UPDATE: We have four applications in the pipeline waiting final approval, including one final submittal by Ron Losee, plus one

supplemental. There is lots of current interest and activity with seven applicant files in progress, including two sons of DAR members, a memorial application, two supplementals and two other potential prospects.

Hunt Berryman - Registrar

Email: [email protected]

Seeking your assistance and hopefully possible input for our monthly meetings. "Speakers Wanted" If you have heard or know of a speaker who you think the membership (and guests) would be interested in hearing at one of our luncheons next year, please contact VPres. Steve Mcguffin at [email protected] Your serious interest and potential response to this matter will be greatly appreciated!

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 4 CHAPTER AWARDS

The Chapter Nominates Jan Brown for VASSAR’s Good Citizen Award

The Williamsburg Chapter has nominated the Rev. Jan Brown for VASSAR’s Good Citizen of the Year Award. Jan is a truly remarkable woman. She is an ordained Deacon serving as the Archdeacon of the Episcopal Diocese of Southern Virginia and Deacon at Williamsburg’s Bruton Parish Church. One of Jan’s proudest accomplishments is the Spirit Works Foundation Center for the Soul, a community recovery organization that she founded. The Foundation delivers services for children, youth, and adults living in recovery from the disease of addiction. Deacon Brown enjoys a special relationship with our SAR Chapter. On several occasions she has delivered an inspiring sermon at the annual 4th of July Service of Prayer and Thanksgiving cohosted by the Chapter and Bruton Parish Church. Jan has always been responsive to requests from the Chapter to offer prayers as well as sermons at SAR sponsored events. The Chapter was pleased last July to present Jan Brown with its SAR Bronze Good Citizenship Medal. It is our hope that the Virginia Society will agree with the Williamsburg Chapter and honor a highly deserving Jan Brown with VASSR’s Good Citizen of the Year Award. The award is scheduled to be announced later this month.

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 5 Virginia History Day 2021 District 6 Hampton Roads

If you are interested in supporting the Williamsburg Chapter’s youth educational goals, please consider volunteering to be a judge for Virginia History Day 2021. Additional details are provided below. Tom Campbell and I participated last year and found the experience very rewarding. You can choose the category and age group that you would like to judge when you register as a judge. I chose the video documentary category and was very impressed with the quality of the submittals. The winning documentary can be viewed at the link below. I think you will be impressed. https://youtu.be/4B2vUfpPc0k

All student projects will be related in some way to this year's NHD Theme, which is “Communication in History: The Key to Understanding”.

All 2021 VHD contests will be held virtually due to the pandemic. As a reminder, there are no specific qualifications necessary to serve as a VHD judge. All that is required is a general interest in history, the ability to give quality feedback to students, and the ability to be kind and supportive to young people. The platform that is being used is user friendly. You will be invited to a training session on how to navigate the judging platform later this spring.

Judging for the District 6 (Hampton Roads) contest will take place between March 9th and March 14th. Judges will be able to view and evaluate student projects at their own leisure during this window. Student interviews will take place on Sat, March 13th. All judges need to be available for several hours that day. There will be more precise information on how long the interview process will take once the Coordinator knows how many students have registered for the contest. To register as a judge for the contest, simply go to the District 6 or State Contest websites (linked here) and click "Create Account" --> "Judge" on the tool bar at the top of the screen. A digital flyer with general information is attached. This is a great way to safely support the chapter when we all are not traveling and spending more time at home. If you have any questions, please contact me.

Roger Cross

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 6 www.williamsburgsar.org Page 7 The was an engagement during the American Revolutionary War fought on 17 January, 1781, between American Colonial forces under Brigadier General Daniel Morgan and British forces under Lieutenant Colonel Sir Banastre Tarleton, as part of the campaign in the Carolinas (North and South ).

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 8 The History Channel

The Crossing of the Dan On February 14, 1781, American troops led by Gen. Nathaniel Greene crossed the Dan River in South Boston, Virginia to achieve one of the greatest victories of the Revolution. This is a great video of the Revolution events leading up to and including the brilliant maneuvering tactics done by Gen. Greene. ↓ https://youtu.be/KkZbD71Bhfs

February 27, 1766 In reaction to the British Parliament’s Stamp Act of We, who subscribe this paper, have associated 1765. Roused by danger and alarmed at attempts, and do bind ourselves to each other, to God, foreign and domestic, to reduce the people of this and to our country, by the firmest ties that country to a state of abject and detestable slavery by religion and virtue can frame, most sacredly destroying that free and happy condition of and punctually to stand by and with our lives government under which they have hitherto lived, and fortunes, to support, maintain, and defend each other in the observance and execution of these articles. If any attempt shall be made on the liberty or property of any associator for any action or thing to be done in consequence of this agreement, we do most solemnly bind ourselves by the sacred engagements above entered into, at the risk of our lives and fortunes, to restore such associate to his liberty and to protect him in the enjoyment of his property. Richard Henry Lee

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 9 NEW MEMBER SUPPORT

We have always tried to be a friendly and welcoming chapter. To that end, our chapter meetings included a social time before the official start of a meeting. That gave us an opportunity to greet old friends and welcome new members to the chapter. We added to that approach by establishing a new member's table so that our New Member Orientation Board member could answer questions and make sure new members that attended the meetings were welcomed and introduced to existing members. Of course, with COVID-19, we have not been able to hold in-person meetings and, consequently, the new member's table has been sidelined for the time being. In order to make sure that we welcome all new members more directly, the Board has agreed with the idea of establishing a team of mentors. The expectation is that a mentor will call each new member assigned to him. The mentor would follow up with them by phone or email approximately once every month or two to make sure their questions are answered and to let them know they are welcomed into the chapter. I would like to thank Tom Campbell, Richard Durst, Ben Fegan and Jim Hess for agreeing to be mentors for our new members that joined the chapter in 2020. Of course, we will need additional mentors to welcome new members in 2021. If you would like to support this chapter effort to assist new members and help ensure the growth of our chapter, please contact me.

Roger Cross [email protected]

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 10 Flag Recognition A continuing review of our flags from the Revolution to the present.

US Garrison Flag 1795–1818 also known as The "Star-Spangled Banner“ flag

The 15-star and 15-stripe U.S. Garrison flag which flew over Fort McHenry following the Battle of Baltimore in the War of 1812. Seeing the flag during the battle, and again the following morning, inspired Francis Scott Key's song The Star-Spangled Banner, now the U.S. national anthem. During the battle a smaller "storm flag" was flown; it was replaced by this larger flag early the next morning, which is the flag Key saw then. This larger flag is now displayed at the National Museum of American History in Washington, D.C.

The Williamsburg chapter, National Society, Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR), presented the NSSAR Flag Recognition certificate to Ms. Glenda Wade. The certificate is presented to individuals and organizations who correctly display and care for the flag of our nation. Pictured left to right is Ms. Wade and George Corbett, chairman of the Williamsburg SAR chapter Flag Recognition Committee. Photo Credit: Karen Corbett

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 11 IN MEMORIAM PHOTO by Linda W The Life of Carl Floyd Jr. 1946-2020 Louis Carl Floyd, Jr. (Always known as Carl by friends and family) was a Texas resident when he was born at the Public Health Service Hospital on Staten Island, New York, on February 28, 1946. His dad (who grew up in Texas) was in the Public Health Service and had served as the ship’s physician when it was deployed in the North Atlantic during WWII.

During his growing up years, Carl lived in many places but always remain a Texas resident. He graduated from high school while living in San Pedro California. After graduation he visited his aunt and uncle in Midland, Texas, where he helped his uncle on the ranch. He had fond memories of working there. At the end of that summer, he moved to Austin and began college at the University of Texas where he studied history, zoology, anatomy, and physics to prepare for dental school.

In September of his junior year, he met a girl name Susie Simpson. It was love at first sight for each of them, and they got married 15 months later. When they were first dating, they discovered that they both loved history and had both visited Williamsburg as children. They decided they would retire there, and 48 years later in 2013, they did!

Carl attended dental school for four years in Houston. Then the three of them, Carl, Susie, and their German Shepherd moved to Virginia where he served at Fort Myer’s dental clinic for two years. Carl then transferred to the Army Reserves and retired after 20 years. He was in private practice in Arlington until 2006, when he sold his practice and retired.

Carl and Susie had a boy named Steve and a girl named Jennifer. Among the many activities they enjoyed was karate. After several years of hard work, Carl, Steve, and Jennifer all became 2nd degree black belts.

Both Carl and Steve are in the SAR, and Susie and Jennifer are in the DAR. Carl was very proud of his patriot, Joseph Scott, who lived in southwest Virginia. He served under Washington for three years, participated in many battles, and survived the brutal winter at Valley Forge. After his three-year term, he traveled back home only to return when called to fight at King’s Mountain.

He will be missed by all who knew him.

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 12 From the Chaplain Jim Morford February is Black History Month, and we remember the parts played by people of African descent in the War for Independence. Crispus Attucks, a man of both African and Native American parentage, is considered the first casualty in the fight for independence when on March 5, 1770, he was killed during the Boston Massacre. African Americans served as sailors in the Continental Navy as well as soldiers in the during the Revolution. Most blacks who contributed to the struggle for independence performed routine jobs, a few were spies serving as orderlies for British military leaders. All who contributed to our nation’s precious liberty did so in whatever capacity they could. No matter what the skin color of our patriot ancestors the blood they shed was red.

A Prayer for Healing Most Gracious God, Through your will and the guarantees of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution of the , all people in this nation are created with equal opportunity regardless of the color of their skin. Let us pray that in this month when we honor the contributions of Americans of African descent, that you call forth from us our better angles to guide us to become a more tolerant people. Tolerant not only of race but also tolerant of thought and expression. Help us to understand that hate is not healthy, and that hate will not heal. We know that in our hearts we are a caring and tolerant people. We pray that care and tolerance will flow from the many to quell the hatred of the few. We pray for your healing presence in the heart of our wounded nation. AMEN

www.williamsburgsar.org Page 13 Williamsburg 2021 Chapter Officers

President Roger Cross [email protected] Registrar Hunt Berryman [email protected] Newsletter&WEB David Westenberger [email protected] Vice-President Stephen McGuffin Secretary Milt Holt Asst Secretary Duncan McIver Jr. Treasurer Jeff Wooldridge Public Relations Harley Stewart Historian Steve Perger Jr. Chaplain James Morford Sergeant-at-Arms Stephen Holm Past President William Greaf At-Large James Swords At-Large Gerald Sailors Color Guard John Lynch

February 13 Chapter ZOOM meeting Will be done via ZOOM. An email will be sent in early February to all members, Respond to it for your RSVP by February 11. A link will be sent to the RSVP requests.

The Battle of Beaufort, also known as the Battle of , was fought on February 3, 1779, near Beaufort, , during the American Revolutionary War. The battle took place not long after British forces consolidated control around Savannah, Georgia, which they had captured in December 1778.

Brigadier General sent 200 British regulars to seize Port Royal Island at the mouth of the Broad River in South Carolina in late January 1779. Major General , the American commander in the south, sent South Carolina Brigadier General from Purrysburg, South Carolina with a mixed force composed mainly of , but with a few Continental Army men, to meet the British advance. The battle was inconclusive, but the British withdrew first and suffered heavier casualties than the Americans.

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