Please join us in a joint commemoration and grave marking with the Daughters of the American Revolution for Ann Fleck. National President of the DAR in 1985 and 1986, Ann was very active in Massachusetts as Honorary President General and Honorary State Regent for decades Before her death, Ann presented at many of MASSAR’s state functions as Color Guard Drummer.
The National President General of the DAR Denise Doring VanBuren, and Massachusetts Historian General Laura McCrillis Kessler, will present this event. Both the Sons and Daughters will lay wreaths at the Ann’s headstone to honor the long and faithful service of Ann and her husband Ray to our societies. The Daughters will provide light refreshments after the ceremony.
Please let us know of your intention to join us at this ceremony here. Social Distancing will be observed. Face masks are required.
Please join the Massachusetts Society in the unveiling of its inaugural plaque honoring Revolutionary War Soldiers and Sailors buried at the First Parish Burial Ground. This is the first in a series of unveilings of plaques to be placed at cemeteries across the state to commemorate those who fought in the American Revolution.
The unveiling will take place in Gloucester at 10:00 AM on October 10, 2020. Dignitaries will attend from the City of Gloucester, Gloucester Veterans Services, Gloucester City-Owned Cemeteries Advisory Committee, SAR and the Society’s Henry Knox Color Guard will be in attendance. The plaque will be presented to the City of Gloucester by MASSAR State President, Edgar Hoak and MASSAR Awards and Medals Chairman Joseph Gauthier. The Color Guard will fire a 3 volley salute in honor of those who fought for our freedom.
Parking for the First Parish Burial Ground is in the Oval Playground off Morton Place Gloucester MA 01930 (see directions below).
Program of Events
- 10:00 Invocation / Presentation of Colors / Pledge to the Flag — Henry Knox Color Guard
- 10:05 Welcome / Introduction — Edgar S Hoak, President, Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution
- 10:15 Remarks of the Director of Veterans Services — Adam Curcuru, Director of Veterans Services
- 10:20 Unveiling — Joseph Gauthier Massachusetts Society Sons of the American Revolution
- 10:30 Musket salute with black powder — Henry Knox Color Guard
- 10:40 Benediction / Retire Colors — Henry Knox Color Guard
- 10:45 Refreshments at the Veterans Center
Directions
The Cemetery Committee will open the parking area at 9:00am.
- Route 128 North to Gloucester MA
- Go over the A. Piatt Andrew Bridge which brings Route 128 over the Annisquam River
- At the first rotary, take the first Right onto Washington Street.
- After 0.2 miles take a Right at George’s Coffee shop onto Centennial Ave.
- After about 500 feet go Right onto Harvard Street (easy to miss).
- Go right on Morton Pl and park on the grass in the playground.
The Rhode Island State Society graciously offered to host our October 31 fall meeting. When arrangements were made last fall, if anyone had suggested that we would need a contingency plan in case of world wide pandemic, we would have thought it a very odd suggestion from a very odd compatriot. But here we are.
As of today the Varnum Memorial Armory in East Greenwich, RI, our host venue, has limited access, and is not open for groups our size. The governor of Rhode Island has extended Phase 3 openings until the end of September. Quarantine restrictions are still in place. We have members travelling from seven different states for our meetings.
After consultation with fellow-member John Adams and the Rhode Island State Society, we have decided to change the format of our October 31 meeting from our usual in person meeting and luncheon program to a Zoom meeting. I toyed with the idea of moving the meeting to an outdoor venue. If October 31 is a glorious autumn day, that might work out fine, but if October 31 is a cold and rainy autumn day, it would bomb. So Zoom it is.
The fall meeting of the the New England District Council will be a Zoom meeting on October 31 at ten o’clock. We will set it up and send out instructions and links for signing into the meeting in late October. We will send out the agenda in advance, and I will ask the members of the several state societies and national committees for reports in advance or “live” at the Zoom meeting.
What I shall miss most is the camaraderie of our members and the attendance of family members. However, we shall get our business done through the medium of Zoom.
Pro Patria,
Bob Walsh
President, New England District Council
A meeting of the New England District at the home of General John Stark with a private tour of the property. Details of the meeting will follow as the date approaches.