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The Patriot
Latest News from Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York
& Fraunces Tavern® Museum
Summer 2015
Message from Society President Ambrose M.
Richardson III
Sons of the
Revolution in
the State of
New York
P: 212-4251776
Office Hours:
Mon-Fri 9-5
With our newly designed website up and running, the time has
come to dust off The Patriot, the Society newsletter. If you follow
our Facebook page, or read The Messenger or visit Fraunces
Tavern, you have a sense of how busy we have been, with new
members, increased visitorship, and both new and traditional
events. In the past six months, I count at least eighteen events,
including new exhibits displaying portions of our world-class
collections, and not including board and committee meetings and
events of related organizations. Pictures can only tell some of the
story.
As important as our public face is what goes on behind the
scenes, particularly with our five landmark buildings, which will
soon be more legally compliant and structurally sound than they
have been for decades. The upgrades include a modern and
functional kitchen exhaust for our bustling Fraunces Tavern
Restaurant and the restoration of three of our historically
significant facades (Facade Restoration Project), including the
cast iron and sheet metal facade at 24 Water Street, plus the
repairs and improvements required due to flooding of 2012's
Hurricane Sandy. We have been blessed by the extraordinary
efforts of members and staff. Thank you to all who have
contributed to the mission over the past year.
Annual Events Recap
This Society calendar year (Oct-Sept) has been full of wonderful
community involvement and fraternal events, including those led
by the Color Guard, Membership Committee and Fraunces
Tavern Museum. Below are a few highlights from this year.
238th Nathan Hale Day - September 22, 2014 - City
Hall Park
Annually the Society honors the Yale graduate and martyred spy, Nathan
Hale who was hanged for treason by the British on September 22, 1776. The
Park statue was presented by the Society to the City in 1893.
Location:
54 Pearl Street
New York, NY
10004
MEMBERSHIP
EVENTS
COLOR
GUARD
FRAUNCES
TAVERN
MUSEUM
FRAUNCES
TAVERN
RESTAURANT
BOARD OF
MANAGERS
Nathan Hale Day Chairman, Michael Coneys and New York City Department of Parks &
Recreation, Manhattan Borough Chief of Operations, Namshink Yoon with the Mayor's
Proclamation
Members of the SRNY's Color Guard at the Nathan Hale Statue in City Hall Park
Evacuation Day Stated Meeting - November 24, 2014
This dinner is hosted annually by the Society at Fraunces Tavern to
commemoration the celebration of the evacuation of British troops from
American soil on November 25, 1783. The 13 original toasts given that night
at Fraunces Tavern by men, including George Washington, are retold to great
"Huzzahs!" all around. It is a boisterous event that members enjoy celebrating
each year.
Ambrose M. Richardson III reading the 13th Evacuation Day toast "May the remembrances of
the day be a lesson to princes."
Young Members Event - December 10, 2014
The Young Members Committee got together with the
Knickerbocker Chapter of the DAR at Pier A in early December
to share some drinks and laughs. The two groups have met
several times over the year, promoting a successful fellowship
between them.
Members of the Knickerbocker Chapter DAR and SRNY Young Members Committee at Pier
A, NYC
Tallmadge Day Stated Meeting - January 26, 2014
This year's 110th Tallmadge Day dinner was snowed out and rescheduled for
March 23. This event commemorates the birthday of Frederick Samuel
Tallmadge, the second President of the Society, whose generosity enabled
the organization to acquire Fraunces Tavern in 1904. At this year's dinner the
Society was thrilled to host and honor L'Hermione Director of Maritime
Operations, Marc Jensen. Mr. Jensen is L'Hermione's Maritime Ambassador,
an expert sailor, and is currently aboard the ship as it sails along the United
States East Coast.
Admiral J. Robert Lunney, Past SRNY President presents Director of Maritime
Operations Marc Jensen, with GSSR Citation
George Washington Birthday Ball - February 20, 2015
The 138th George Washington Birthday Ball was held at The Union League
Club. This annual event is held to honor America's first President and raise
funds for Fraunces Tavern Museum. The 2015 Distinguished Patriot Award
was presented to Beth L. Hill, CEO & President of Fort Ticonderoga. The
evening was full of ceremony and dancing.
138th George Washington Birthday Ball table setting at The Union League Club
Past Society President, James R. Grayshaw and wife, Susan (left) & President, Ambrose M.
Richardson III and wife, Josie
Board Members - Steward Chairman, David N.S. Tisdale-Woods (left) Flag Day Chairman,
Steven Trusnovec (center) and Master of Ceremony, Anthony Wellman (right)
Board Member, Christopher Norfleet (far left), March of the 3rd New Jersey Regiment,
Captain Bloomfield's Company (center) and Board Member, Thomas Rogers (far right)
President, Ambrose M. Richardson III and 2015 Distinguished Patriot Award winner, Beth L.
Hill, President & CEO Fort Ticonderoga
Fraunces Tavern Museum Staff (L to R) Linsford A. Bennett, Jacqueline Masseo, Xichee
Moua, Jessica B. Phillips, Colyn Hunt, Brian H. Horne
Fraunces Tavern Museum's New Objects
In 2013 Elizabeth & Stanley DeForest Scott made the promised gift of
a Tobias Conraf Lotter (1717-1777) hand-colored copperplate engraved map of
early New Amsterdam for the exhibition, Defining Lines. This generous and
welcomed gift was made official in June of 2015.
New Museum collection item, mid-1700s map of New Amsterdam on exhibit now in Defining
Lines at Fraunces Tavern Museum.
On February 11th the Museum accepted a generous donation of an
archeological lot of twenty pieces. This thoughtful and benevolent gift was
made by Brad Bocksel, treasure hunter.
SRNY Executive Director, Jessica B. Phillips and hunter, Brad Bocksel reviewing and storing
the donated artifacts
Family Night Stated Meeting - April 27, 2015
Family Night commemorates the 240th anniversary of the historic Battles of
Lexington and Concord in the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The dinner
is hosted at Fraunces Tavern Restaurant and was well attended. The evening
welcomed new Society member, Kevin Lehman and thirty-one members who
achieved forty and fifty years of membership. The Fraunces Tavern Museum
Annual Book Award was presented by Board Member and Book Award
Committee Chairman, Kenneth Chase.
Fraunces Tavern Museum Book Award Chairman, Kenneth Chase (center) with honorable
mentions, Tim McGrath (left) for Give Me a Fast Ship and Phillip Papas (right) for Renegade
Revolution.
New Exhibition Opened May 22 - Lafayette
Running from May 22 to December 2016 the exhibition, Lafayette,
complements the docking of the Marquis de Lafayette’s replica ship,
L’Hermione at South Street Seaport on July 4th weekend.
Executive Director and Curator, Jessica B. Phillips shares, “I’m always
excited to put rare objects on display, like Lafayette’s calling card and the
General’s sash which the Marquis bled on at the Battle of Brandywine.”
Twenty Lafayette-related historic objects, several which have never been
exhibited, are available for view in the Museum’s Loeb Gallery. Accompanying
Lafayette’s calling card and the general’s sash, is also a pair of officer’s
pistols gifted by Lafayette to fellow Continental, David Miller. All artifacts are
from the Museum’s collection.
Plaster Jean-Antoine Houdon bust of Marquis de Lafayette from the 20th century - Collection
of Fraunces Tavern Museum
Memorial Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
On Memorial Day members of the Color Guard laid a wreath at
the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument.
SRNY President, Ambrose M. Richardson III (left), Color Guard Chairman, David N. S. TisdaleWoods (center) and Color Guard Member,Carl McCarthy (right) after presenting the wreath
at the Soldiers' and Sailors' Monument, NYC
Annual Knox Trophy Awarded
Every spring the SRNY presents a West Point Cadet with the Knox Trophy.
This year's recipient was Colt Thompson.
Brigadier General John C. Thomson III (left) President and Knox Trophy Presenter, Ambrose
M. Richardson III (center) and recipient Colt Thompson (right)
Fraunces Tavern Museum Evening Lecture Feature
The Museum hosts a monthly evening lecture series (free for Museum
Members and SRNY Members). The May speaker, Carol Berkin presented to
a sold out crowd on her book, The Bill of Rights: The Fight to Secure
America's Liberties.
Revered today for articulating America's founding principles, the Bill of Rights
was a political stratagem executed by James Madison to preserve the
Constitution, the Federal government, and the latter's authority over the
states. By pulling back the curtain on the political, short-sighted, and selfinterested intentions of the founding fathers in passing the Bill of Rights,
Berkin revealed the inherent weakness in these arguments and what it meant
for the country today.
May Museum evening lecturer - Carol Berkin
98th Annual Flag Day Celebration & Parade - June 12, 2015
The celebration marked the 238th anniversary of the adoption of
the American Flag by the Second Continental Congress in June
1777. The celebration kicks off with a parade from City Hall Park
to the grandstand in front of Fraunces Tavern. Marchers included
the NYC Department of Sanitation Pipes & Drums of the
Emerald Society and other genealogical societies like the DAR.
Every year the SRNY host an essay contest for young students.
The title of the essay is "What the American Flag Means to Me."
This year's winners were Christina Garcia of the Immaculate
Conception School and Yasmin Douek of P.S. 2.
Christina Garcia reading her winning essay for Flag Day 2015
Yasmin Douek reading her winning essay for Flag Day 2015
Night at the Museums - June 23, 2015
The 2015 Night at the Museums was a great success for all
Lower Manhattan cultural institutes who participated. Fraunces
Tavern Museum saw 347 visitors from 4-8pm. Historical
balladeer, Linda Russell, and the Tricorne Dance Ensemble
provided music and Colonial dance lessons throughout the
evening.
Message from the Society Color Guard
Chairman, David N. S. Tisdale-Woods
The Color Guard is one of the most important and visible
embodiments of our Society! The Guard is critical to ensuring
the mission of the Society by presenting colors at public functions
in order to commemorate, glorify and promote the ideals and
acts of America's Revolutionary patriots. We are always looking
for new Color Guard members to ensure we continue to achieve
this now and in the future.
2014 Society Color Guard representing at the Flag Day Parade
We participate in over fifteen annual community events in and
outside the New York City area. Besides the standard flying of
the National and Society color we always fly a select few of the
over 300 Revolutionary War reproduction flags from the Guards
collection, which is kept at Fraunces Tavern Museum.
Please consider becoming a Color Guard Member and showing
your Society pride. Joining the Color Guard is easy - Learn More
HERE.
Upcoming Events
Check the website for all upcoming and updated Society events,
including Museum and Color Guard events.
Fri. – Sun., July 3-5 – Open House
INDEPENDENCE DAY OPEN HOUSE
$1 Fraunces Tavern Museum Admission all weekend
Friday, July 3 – Walking Tour
A Toast to History: Independence Eve
8pm – 10:30 (Happy Hour at the Tavern starts at 8pm, tour begins at
9pm)
Led by Jennifer Patton
Cost: $25/General admission; $20/Museum Members
(Ticket price includes a pint of Samuel Fraunces Ale to enjoy at the
Tavern before tour starts)
Created as a condensed version of our traditional July 4th walking tour
with a social ‘twist,’ spend the evening of July 3rd strolling the streets
of the Financial District with FTM’s very own Director of Education and
Public Programs to learn about the City’s rich Revolutionary War
history. Whether you are a novice or history buff, you’ll be sure to walk
away with a new fact or two to drop while celebrating the 4th with
friends and family the next day. Advanced ticket purchase required.
Saturday, July 4 – Walking Tour
Annual Revolutionary War New York Nighttime Tour
3am – 7am
Led by James Kaplan
Cost: $20/General admission; $15/Museum Members
For the 13th year in a row, join veteran guide James S. Kaplan & learn
about important Revolutionary War heroes, some of which are buried
in Lower Manhattan. Watching the early morning sun rise from Trinity
Church, you’ll be fascinated to discover just how pivotal New York City
was throughout the war for independence. Advanced ticket purchase
required.
Sunday, August 30 – Parade
Commemoration of the Battle of Brooklyn
Muster 1pm – Green Wood Cemetery, 500 25th Street, Brooklyn, NY
Contact Color Guard Chairman, David Tisdale Woods if can
participate.
Tuesday, September 22 – Wreath Laying & Ceremony
Commemoration of the Execution of Nathan Hale
12Noon – Statue of Nathan Hale City Hall Park
Color Guard Muster 11:30pm – Contact Color Guard Chairman, David
Tisdale Woods if can participate.
Monday, September 28 – Board Meeting
5:30pm – Flag Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum
If you plan on attending please contact the office:
[email protected]
Thur. – Sun., October 1-4 – General Society Triennial
Colonial Williamsburg, Virginia – 42ndGSSRTriennial
Saturday, October 17 – Wreath Laying
Commemoration of the Surrender at Yorktown
Muster 1:30pm – Grave of Alexander Hamilton
Contact Color Guard Chairman, David Tisdale Woods if you can
participate.
Monday, October 26 – Board Meeting
5:30pm – Flag Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum
If you plan on attending please contact the office:
[email protected]
Sunday, November 8 – Massing the Colors
Muster 3pm – Saint Thomas Church, 5th Ave at 53rd St.
Contact Color Guard Chairman, David Tisdale Woods if can
participate.
Monday, November 23 – Board Meeting
5:00pm – Zabriski Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum
Monday, November 23 – Dinner
Evacuation Day Celebration
6:30pm – Cocktails Flag Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum
7:30pm – Dinner, Bissell Room, Fraunces Tavern Restaurant
Friday, December 4 – Annual Meeting
5:30pm – Flag Gallery, Fraunces Tavern Museum
If you plan on attending please contact the office:
[email protected]
Learn More
New Society Website Design
Check it out: www.sonsoftherevolution.org
Sons of the Revolution in the State of New York |sonsoftherevolution.org | 212-425-1776
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