Governor Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10 Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

REPORT OF ACTIVITIES FROM 1 APRIL TO 30 SEPTEMBER 2016

02 April 2016 – The B.O.M. meeting was attended by four members of the Governor Oliver Wolcott Sr. Branch #10. This meeting was held at the Red Barn in Westport, Ct.

01 April 2016 – IRS Form 990 was filed successfully.

16 April 2016 – Our annual meeting was held at Marino’s Restaurant in Torrington, Ct. New member Guy Mauri was inducted into the Society by compatriot Ken Buckbee. Membership stands at 105. Election of officers was conducted and new officers were inducted by CTSSAR Secretary and immediate past President Paul Selnau. New officers are: President - John R. Harrison Vice President – Peter Stothart Secretary – Jon King Treasurer – Ken Buckbee Registrar – John Lilley Chaplain – Derek Brockhoff Historian – Peter Stothart Program consisted of members of the Crew of the Raven – reenactors of Pirating and Privateering. Author Patricia M. Hubert gave a review of her book “Major Philip M. Ulmar – A Hero of the Revolutionary War.

25 May 2016 – Members of the Governor Oliver Wolcott, Sr, Branch #10 joined in the Red White, and Blue Memorial Service which honors all who have served with the United States military since the Revolutionary War plus those who have supported our country. This event roams from town to town within Litchfield County and this year it was hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church in Salisbury. The focus of this years service was the significance of Salisbury in the Revolutionary War effort. This area, with its iron industry, was critical in casting cannons and other weapons of war. PRESS – article and photos in the Waterbury Republican American newspaper.

30 May 2016 – The Governor Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10 marched in the Litchfield Memorial Day parade. The General Wolcott’s Sixth Militia Brigade (Color Guard) was in the parade with the membership and fired their muskets as the parade progressed.

04 July 2016 – The regular meeting of the Branch was cancelled as it fell on Independence Day.

04 July 2016 – The General Wolcott’s Sixth Brigade (Color Guard) participated in the Independence Day memorial service for Governor Oliver Wolcott, Sr. and for Colonel Benjamin Tallmadge. These services were held in the Litchfield’s East Cemetery. Both services were done in conjunction with the Mary Floyd Tallmadge Chapter of the DAR.

04 July 2016 – The General Wolcott’s Sixth Militia Brigade participated in the “Let Freedom Ring” ceremony conducted on the East Green in Litchfield. Color Guard members, along with members of the Connecticut Line stood a flag line with the 13 flags of the original 13 Colonies. This ceremony was first conceived by author Eric Hatch of Litchfield in 1963. Hatch is the Founder of the First Litchfield Artillery and his ceremony includes one cannon salute for each of the original colonies in the order of their ratifying the constitution. As the names of the new states are called (in the order of ratification – by date) a SAR member parades that states flag to the forefront and then returns following the cannon blast. At precisely 2:00 P.M. all of the churches in town ring their bells (the official time of the signing of the Declaration of Independence). This ceremony was ratified by Congress and is done all across the United States of America simultaneously.

01 August 2016 – The regular scheduled meeting of the Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10 was held at the Montfort House in Litchfield. Seven new members were inducted into the SAR during this meeting. They are: Matthew Roush, John Roush, Henry Roush, Mark Blair, Richard Nickerson, Brian Simmons, and Steven Todd. The Branch #10 membership stands at 114 now.

05 September 2016 – The regular scheduled meeting of the Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10 was cancelled due to the conflict of it falling on Labor Day.

The Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10 was presented with a “Partners in Patriotism” certificate

9 September 2016 – Dedication of the NSDAR commemorative marker beneath the Crowninshield Revolutionary War Patriots stained glass window located at the Litchfield Historical Society museum. This stained glass window was dedicated on 5 July 1907 in honor of the 3,000 Revolutionary War patriots. The General Wolcott’s Sixth Militia Brigade (our Color Guard) participated and was asked to fire three musket salutes to the patriots as part of the closing ceremony. Our Branch joined with the DAR (State and local) in this ceremony and all joined in the museum for refreshments and comraderie after the ceremony. PRESS - Article and photos in the Waterbury Republican American newspaper. On-Line news on www.Litchfield.BZ

11 September 2016 – The SAR Flag Recognition Certificate was presented to the Knights of Columbus of Canaan, Ct. for their continuing annual 9-11 ceremony held on the grounds of St. Joseph’s church in Canaan. Compatriot Ken Buckbee made the presentation to Nick DeAngelis of the Knights of Columbus. The Canaan ceremony flies a 20’ x 40’ flag from a ladder truck of the Canaan Volunteer Fire Department during the ceremony. – PRESS coverage by Waterbury Republican American newspaper and by the local radio station.

Respectfully submitted;

John R. Harrison, President Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch #10

10 October 2016