PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION www.amrev.org VOLUME 21 NUMBER 3 FALL 2011 LET FREEDOM RING! The Society held its 43rd annual Let Freedom Ring celebration on the 235th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. The festivities began with a delightful luncheon at the Sheraton Society Hill, once again in the familiar confines of The Hamilton Room, where President Benjamin C. Frick made some welcoming comments and traditional toasts were made. After lunch, the Society Colors were paraded up Walnut Street to Independence Square. The parade was followed by many Society members, and even more members of the public, no doubt drawn to the vocal cadence of the Color Guard Battle Cry. The colors were presented and posted beneath the unusual sight of scaffolding and decorative scrim adorning the familiar façade of Independence Hall, as our most famous landmark has begun to show some wear and tear, and is undergoing a significant Captain W. Steven Mark leads the Color Guard parade from renovation. One Dock Street towards Independence Square Regardless, warm weather and blue skies As 2pm approached, the collected dignitaries Shane Wallace, 15, and Melissa Jewel welcomed the crowds of celebrants and proceeded up to the Liberty Bell Center for Wallace, 12 (John Morton). They were onlookers, and the throng was greeted by the ceremonial bell tapping right at 2pm joined at the ceremony by Mayor Michael the jubilant sounds of The Philadelphia EST. This year’s brigade of Bell Tappers, all Nutter and his family, GSR President Terry Boys Choir and Chorale, and our Master of descendants of signers of The Declaration Davenport and his family, and GSR VP Ceremonies, Chris May of CBS Channel of Independence, were: Christopher Haines Richard Patterson. 3. The ceremonies commenced with an Belman, 17, Anneke Erin Belman, 15, and invocation by Reverend G. Clayton Ames Brendan Richard Belman, 10, (all descended III, followed by welcoming words and from Samuel Chase, William Ellery and - Leif A. Zetterberg, LFR Chairman patriotic remarks by Dr. Roy Almquist, Oliver Wolcott); Kelsey Elisabeth Dobyns, - William H. Dutcher III , Luncheon co- “John Adams” in character, Superintendent 16 (Thomas Heyward, Jr.); Angelica Rose Chariman Cynthia MacLeod, and Society President Mason, 14 (Thomas Nelson, Jr.); Alexander - Lanny S. Patten Frick. Hayes Wahlig, 13 (John Hart); Samantha PAGE 2 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2011 PAGE 3 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2011 Our 42nd annual celebration of Independence Day benefitted from From the Color Guard Lancaster Chapter Update President's Message good weather, at least for July in Philadelphia. Many of us marveled at thoughts of our ancestors in their wool clothing, enduring long Twenty members of the Lancaster County Chapter and their nineteen As Hurricane Irene blew through the Philadelphia area a couple debates on independence, often with the windows closed to prevent of weeks ago, I was amused by our culture of instant and constant guests met for the eighty-sixth annual meeting of the Chapter at the prying ears. The day’s festivities proceeded flawlessly due to the Meadia Heights Golf Club on May 1st 2011. The highlights of the communication. Twenty-four hours a day information on exactly meticulous planning of Chairman Vice President Leif A. Zetterberg, what to expect and exactly when to expect it, even if the information meeting were the election of officers for the 2011-2012 term, and a Vice Chairman William H. Dutcher, III, and the committee. At the very interesting presentation on early American Coinage. was not exactly correct. Maybe our colonial ancestors would have request of the City of Philadelphia, our bell tappers were joined this appreciated warning of approaching hurricanes, but I find that the year by two recently naturalized citizens. volume and the immediacy of news demanding our attention tends The new officers and Executive Committee members are: to obscure what is really important. I hope that you can sit back Regent David Christopher Hill Byrne In September the Society hosted a reception at The Union League Vice Regent Edwin Richard Miller and leisurely enjoy the latest effort of our Newsletter Committee for new and prospective members. The reception was very well and our new Editor Schuyler C. Wickes. We will strive to keep you Secretary Peter Laurence Hill Byrne attended, despite the lingering travel difficulties from Tropical Treasurer Peter Laurence Hill Byrne informed without being too blustery, and we hope you will find some Storm Lee. Yes, there is a weather theme here. We have a number importance in the activities of your Society. Registrar William Wistar Hamilton, III of prospective members who are very interested in the Society and Chaplain Edwin Richard Miller have made good progress on their applications. If you have someone Solicitor Michael Howle Ranck, Esq. The Society recently sponsored the marking of the grave site of you would like to propose, the Society and the Membership Com- Revolutionary War soldiers at the Valley Friends Meeting House, Historian Paul Harnish Ripple, M.D. mittee are anxious to work with you and your candidate to make Executive Committee Silas Kendrick Eshleman, III, M.D. near Valley Forge Park. This project was headed by Harvard C. sure you have smooth sailing. Wood, IV, and Harvard and President Emeritus Curtis P. Cheyney, Executive Committee Joseph Howard Frantz The Color Guard had an excellent turnout for this year’s Let III participated in the ceremony for the unveiling of the memorial -Benjamin C. Frick, President marker on June 19th. Freedom Ring ceremonies. The Guard, led by Captain W. Steven Mark, paraded the colors to Independence Square. They were led One ringing in particular includes a ceremony where veterans from by three pipers and a drum from The Watson Highlanders, and Update every state of the Union gather. Upon reading details of their states’ followed by many members of the PSSR. Along the parade route, The Normandie citizens involvement at the D-Day landings at Normandy Beach, 1st Sgt Richard Walkup and 2nd Sgt Eric Guenther led the Guard each veteran rings the bell in memorial and celebration. The WWII in its newly adopted Cadence Call, which concluded with a rousing - Liberty Bell - Museum is currently considering building a dedicated “Bell Tower” echo of COLOR GUARD across Washington Square. With limited for the Normandy Bell, so that it can be heard the same way it would practice and excellent execution, the Cadence Call certainly turned You may remember this bell, which was first rung here in have been heard 235 years ago, rather than in an enclosed pavilion. a few heads and drafted many more parade followers. Philadelphia at Independence Hall on July 4, 2004, and then was We wish them good luck. at the National Constitution Center for many months. Captain Mark was pleased to have two of his grandchildren with him for this his last year as Color Guard Captain. Pictured with From 2003-2005, the PSSR was integrally involved with bringing Captain Mark are Rebecca Taylor Keys Mark and Reagan Thomas the Normandy Liberty Bell to Philadelphia for the Let Freedom Ring Peery Mark (a life member of the PSSR). ceremony. This bell is an exact replica (prior to the crack), cast in France to the exact metallurgic specifications as the Liberty Bell -Capt. W. Steven Mark and Timothy E. Games in Philadelphia, and was commissioned privately by a Frenchman New Regent David C. H. Byrne in Memory of the US involvement at Normandy, France in WWII. It was gifted to the U.S. by a group of citizens of Normandy. As a perfect replica, the ringing captures the original sound of the Liberty Bell, something that had not been heard in Philadelphia in CONTENTS CONTRIBUTORS quite some time. However, for several years after LFR 2004 and a short stint at the Let Freedom Ring 1 CONTRIBUTORS Constitution Center, it had no permanent home or sponsor, and President's Message 2 William H. Dutcher III remained in storage in Philadelphia. But since then, we are pleased The Normandie Liberty Bell 2 Benjamin C. Frick, Esq. to share with you that it has found a new home. From the Color Guard 3 Winchell S. Carroll It was donated to the National WWII Museum in New Orleans on Lancaster Chapter 3 Dr. David M. Humphrey Veterans Day - Nov. 11, 2009 by an organization called Normandie Musket Ball 4 Dr. W. Steven Mark Memoire. The dedication was made by Admiral Brac de la Perriere, Liberty Hall 4 Daniel Murphy, Esq. Commander of the French Legion of Honor and President of The End of an Era 4 Andrew R. Sullivan Normandie Memoire, at a ceremony at the museum. Also attending The Capture of a Traitor 5/6 Schuyler C. Wickes the dedication was the French Military Attache and other French This Month in History 6 diplomatic personnel. New Members Elected 7 PhotoGRAPHY From Sea to Shining Sea 7 Amanda Muckle Calendar of Events 8 Lanny R. Patten TODAY: It currently resides in the Louisiana Memorial Pavilion at Picture and update courtesy of Tom Czekanski the museum, and is rung on several key occasions during the year. Director of Collections and Exhibits PAGE 4 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2011 PAGE 5 PENNSYLVANIA SOCIETY OF SONS OF THE REVOLUTION FALL 2011 and as a result he headed for Chesapeake Bay eventually defeating The Capture of a Traitor Washington on September 11, 1777 at the Battle of the Brandywine Presenting... John Andre and Benedict Arnold and thereafter taking over Philadelphia while Washington moved By Daniel Murphy, Esq. to Valley Forge. Burgoyne (and his mistress) moved south intending to meet Howe In 1990, my genealogist (Walter B.