Gov. Jonathan Trumbull Branch 13 – Chartered Oct 5, 2019
L to R: Compatriots Russ Wirtalla, PG John “Jack” Manning, Damien Cregeau and Paul Selnau
Saturday Oct 5th, President-General John T. “Jack” Manning presided over the the chartering ceremony for the Gov. Jonathan Trumbull Branch No. 13 at the War Office in Lebanon. Following the oath of office given by PG Manning to State President Damien Cregeau and State Secretary Paul Selnau who will be the new branch officers, PG Manning toured the War Office and both the Gov. Trumbull house and that of his son, Jonathan Trumbull, Jr.
For additional information on this event and other Color Guard Activity.
2019 NSSAR Fall Leadership – New England members
From L. to R. VPG Tim Mabee-VT, Wayne Mallar-ME, Bob Bossart-MA, Kevin Mullen-VT, PG John T. “Jack” Manning-NH, Dave Perkins-CT, Bill Battles-MA, Ethan Stewart-CT, Richard Brockway-NH
238th Anniversary of the Battle of Groton Heights
Sunday September 1st, 2019
Members of The Connecticut Line along with Capt. Nathan Hale Branch President Stephen Taylor participated in two ceremonies commemorating the 238th Anniversary of the Battle.
Link to Photos: Ceremony at Colonel Ledyard’s Cemetery and Ceremony inside Ft. Griswold
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Celebrating the 240th Anniversary of the
Invasion of New Haven on July 5th, 1779
On Saturday July 13, we celebrated the 240th Anniversary of the Invasion of New Haven. It was a great success. We had over 75 people attend this event along with the Mayor Toni Harp of New Haven. There was also an encampment of the Connecticut Line on the top of Beacon Hill next to the 1812 bunker which was surrounded by Fort Wooster, which no longer exist. We had a combined 3-volley musket salute after the unveiling of the new tablet. Refreshments were served by the Friends of Fort Wooster and the New Haven Museum. There are many people that came together to make this event happen and I would like to thank you all. Special Thanks to the SAR George Washington Endowment Fund for providing the funding for the new tablet.
Ethan A. Stewart, Sr.
Past Connecticut SAR President
General David Humphreys Branch No. 1 Secretary
Program Booklet: Event Program
Link to Photos: https://photos.app.goo.gl/rSCax7TvgZMJwzBs6
Link to Song: https://youtu.be/Y_Bof4TDBzg
Link to Musket Salute: https://youtu.be/yuRJ_39wyeY
Link to Speech by Mayor Toni Harp: Speech
Celebrating 250 Years of Liberty
Enjoy this Facebook link to 250th activity across the SAR
New Signage in East Haddam for the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse
On May 8, Real Property Steward, Dave Packard along with his son John, installed the new signage at the Nathan Hale School House just inside the stone wall entrance way to the property. The graphics were done by Camaro Signs of Norwich. The material were purchased from Montville Hardware and Lowe’s in Waterford. Funding came from the property budget and a donation from the Nathan Hale Chapter DAR.
244th Anniversary (April 19, 1775), Patriots Day 2019 in Concord, MA
Members of the Connecticut Line marching towards North Bridge during the 3-mile parade route in Concord. Despite early morning thunderstorms, the rain stopped and a good time was had by all who participated in the events of the day, including our young drummer boy.
Link to pictures from parade: Patriot Day Pictures by Lydia Cumbee
November 10 Grave Marking of Daniel Jackson and the dedication of the new entrance way and memorial marker at the Christ Episcopal Church Cemetery in Stratford, CT
Grave Marking and Dedication Program
Pictures from the Daniel Jackson Grave Marking Ceremony and Entrance way Dedication – Set 1
Pictures from the Daniel Jackson Grave Marking Ceremony and Entrance way Dedication – Set 2
October 20 Grave Marking of Captain Elisha Beach of Hebron, CT by the Connecticut Line and the New Hampshire Color Guard – Patriot Ancestor of New Hampshire State President Russell Beach Cumbee
Pictures from the Capt. Elisha Beach Grave Marking Ceremony
Recent State Color Guard Events in September
243rd Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill
Members of the Connecticut Line participated in the commemorative exercises in Charlestown, Massachusetts on Sunday June 17th along with members of the MASSAR Color Guard. Following an memorial service at Church of St. Frances de Sales, we paraded up Bunker Hill Street to the Bunker Hill Monument grounds where the annual commemorative exercises are held, which concludes with a 3 volley musket salute and a wreath laying at the Connecticut and New Hampshire gates. Following the days events, the Connecticut Line had lunch at Warren Tavern before starting our journey home!
Pictures from Bunker Hill Bunker Hill Program Bunker Hill Site Map
See Facebook below for addition pictures and video.
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Connecticut SAR – Annual Meeting in Wethersfield
At the meeting on April 21, the following State Officers were elected for the 2018-2019 term of office:
State President . . . . . . . . . . Damien M. Cregeau Registrar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gregory E. Thompson
1st Vice President . . . . . . . . Tyler D. Smith Chaplain . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William J. Lane Jr
2nd Vice President . . . . . . . Timothy C. Wilkins Historian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Gary S. Pitcock
Recording Secretary . . . . . . Paul H. Selnau Chancellor . . . . . . . . . . . . . .William P. Fenn
Corresponding Secretary . . . David J. Perkins Auditors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Ian T. King/Eric F. King
Treasurer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .Donald T. Studley Assistant Treasurer. . . . . . .Richard W. Kendall
National Trustee . . . . . . . . . .Kenneth D. Roach
Alternate National Trustee . . David J. Perkins Pictures from the Annual Meeting
In addition to the State Officer elections, we also had Youth Awards for Eagle Scout and JROTC, with each winner receiving a medal and certificate along with a check for $500.
For their service to the SAR, the following medals were awarded: Patriot medal was presented to outgoing state president Ethan Stewart; Silver Roger Sherman medal to Paul Selnau and Meritorious Service medal to David Packard. Patriot Grave Marking medals were also presented to Tyler Smith and David Packard.
The highlight of the day was the presentation of the State’s 1st Challenge Coin to several of the State Officers by President Ethan Stewart. The rest of the 50 coins were purchased by the members present at a cost of $10 per coin. An additional 100 coins have since been ordered and are available for sale. Please contact Ethan Stewart for more information at sarethan@optonline.net
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2017 ‘Wreaths Across America’ in Lebanon, Milford and Bantam
Members of the 7th CT Regiment along with Dan Dudley participated in ‘Wreaths Across America’ at the Lebanon War Monument and also honored Governor Huntington at his burial site. The Lebanon Militia joined us at both locations. CT Color Guard members in uniform were Dave Packard, Dan Dudley, Jim Rothgeb, and Tyler Smith. WAA Pictures from Lebanon See Facebook below for addition pictures and video.
The General David Humphreys Branch participated in the ‘Wreaths Across America’ ceremony with the Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter DAR. (Regent Barbara Stewart) We had 8 Branch members present. Ethan Stewart Sr., Ethan Stewart Jr., Bill Lane, Rich Kendall, Bob Donahue, Dave Walker and Mike Chuckta. For the first time the Capt. David Humphreys Company Second Regiment Ct. Line 1783 was present. Two members of Humphreys Color Guard participated which were Mike Chuckta and Bob Donahue. Also participated was the State Color Guard Commander David Perkins. They finished off the ceremony with a 3-volley salute. Milford Mayor Ben Blake and State Reps. Pam Staneski and Charles Ferraro were guest speakers. The Freelove Baldwin Stow Chapter raised enough money to purchase 120 Wreaths ($15.00 each) which were placed on Veterans graves by all the people present. WAA Pictures from Milford
We had a very cold and well attended Ceremony yesterday in Bantam, all branches of the service were represented for the placement of seven wreaths. In addition to several DAR and SAR members, and the general public, we also had two early teens dressed in WW I period clothing. It made for a very successful ceremony. The following members of the Wolcott Detachment were present: Paul Selnau, Ken Buckbee, Derek Brockhoff, John King, Martin Spring, Jim Klaneski, and Doug Grove.
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Christmas Tree Lighting on the Lebanon Green with members of the Connecticut Line Color Guard at the Gov. Trumbull War Office
The event included the lighting of the tree, Christmas Carols, and a visit from Santa. Following the program, visitors were able to stroll around the Green on the candlelit walking path, visit the historic homes which were open for tours and enjoy the bonfire behind the Library.
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Veterans Day 2017 in Torrington with members of the Wolcott Branch
Members of the Gov. Oliver Wolcott, Sr. Branch participated with various other patriotic and military organizations in a Veterans Day program by placing wreaths to honor our veterans. Color Guard members, Jim Klaneski and Jon King, represented the SAR at the ceremony which was held at Coe Park in Torrington, Connecticut on November 11, 2017. The Torrington Veterans Support Committee organizes this ceremony annually.
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Nathan Hale Award Presentation at the U.S. Coast Guard Academy on Saturday September 30, 2017
The CT-SAR established the Nathan Hale Award in the Fall of 2015. It is a cash award given to a cadet who excels in Security Studies. Providing the award is a way of recognizing the USCGA as the only service academy in Connecticut and thanking them for their continuing support of the CT-SAR by having cadets participate in our annual fall cleanup at the Nathan Hale School House in East Haddam. Naming the award after Nathan Hale is appropriate since the USCGA is in New London, one of the two locations where he taught. Presenting the award to a cadet who excels in Security Studies connects to Nathan Hale’s role as a spy. The award is presented at the USCGA’s Parents’ Weekend Fall Awards Ceremony. The recipient for this year was 1st Class Cadet Andrew Brown. Fall Cleanup East HaSAR State President Ethan A. Stewart, Sr. (l) and DAR State Regent Alice E. Ridgway (r) hosted a joint grave marking ceremony at the Christ Episcopal Church cemetery for 18 revolutionary war patriots buried there. Mayor John A. Harkins (c) of Stratford read proclamations for the effort put fore by both organizations. Following a speech by Connecticut SAR 1st VP Damien Cregeau on patriot and signer of the U.S. Constitution William Samuel Johnson, a wreath was laid at the head of the new SAR/DAR marker unveiled earlier that day. The Connecticut Line / Living History unit and the 6th Connecticut Regiment did a combined 3 volley musket salute and Connecticut State o
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SAR Flag certificate presented to the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield – 12 June 2017
State awards chairmen Dave Perkins presented the SAR Flag certificate on behalf of the Connecticut SAR to Hilary Micalizzi, President of the Keeler Tavern Museum in Ridgefield on Sunday June 12th. Also present was Sara Champion of the DAR Drum Hill Chapter, who is a member of the board of directors for the museum. The Keeler Tavern was a major host during the recent Battle of Ridgefield reenactment in April.
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NSSAR Alexander Hamilton Award – 16 May 2017
1/C Frederick M. Scott V was presented with the Alexander Hamilton Award by Wayne Mallar, Vice President-General for the New England district. Fred was a member of the Glee Club, was class President for 2 years. He also had 10 members of his family including his fiance there the awards ceremony and graduation on Wednesday. They live in Southborough, Massachusetts. Fred’s first duty station is in Boston, followed by duty in Panama Canal and Columbia. State President Ethan Stewart along with past VPG Doug Wood attended the awards ceremony.
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240th Anniversary of the Battle of Ridgefield – April 27, 1777
The Connecticut Line took part in the re-enactment along Main Street in Ridgefield on Saturday April 29th. With about 100 American and British soldiers in total, the battle was a huge success. The sponsor of the event was Jerusalem Masonic Lodge #49 of Ridgefield. The links below with take you to pictures & videos & news of the battle:
CTSSAR Pictures & Video
Keeler Tavern
Danbury Newstimes
You tube video – Battle of Ridgefield
Photos: Barbara Stewart, DAR
