THE NAPLES CRIER
Florida Society sons of the American revolution
SINCE 1975  NAPLES CHAPTER NEWSLETTER  JANUARY 2015
Dr.
Teresa Valcarce wants
to see Congress keep a promise it made in 1783.
Back then, the year the Revolutionary War ended, Congress agreed to display a portrait of Bernardo de Gálvez in
the Capitol to honor the Spanish statesman's efforts to aid
the colonies in their struggle
against Britain.
A group out of Pensacola,
Fla., meanwhile, wants to see
Gálvez granted honorary citizenship, an honor bestowed
Dr. Teresa Valcarce on such notables as Lafayette
and Churchill.
Never heard of Bernardo de Gálvez? Exactly.
He is perhaps the Rodney Dangerfield of the American Revolution. But Valcarce, a Spanish immigrant
who obtained her citizenship six years ago, and the
Pensacola group hope to remedy that.
Gálvez was governor of Louisiana during the reign of
King Carlos III. He sent arms and supplies to the colonists and, after Spain's entry into the war in 1779, led
attacks on British outposts in the Gulf Coast area.
His actions, according to the U.S. Commission for the
Preservation of America's Heritage Abroad, "relieved
British pressure on Washington's armies." In Pensacola, when Spanish ships were slow to attack the British
capital of West Florida, Gálvez sailed into the harbor
This fine event was held at the Country Club of
Naples. The banquet room was decorated with
typical Christmas decorations and some of the 90
attendees were dressed in period apparel.
The festivities started at 5:30 PM with a social. We
had a very talented string quartet of junior high age
students who played classical selections from the
1700s. It was fun to talk with the parents
accompanying the young people. There were
snacks and mulled cider, a drink typical of the
Revolutionary period to sustain the crowd until
dinner.
The dinner meeting
started at 6 PM
with the Posting of
the Colors by the
Bernardo
de
Gálvez Camp #13
SAR Color Guard
commanded
by
Don
Cahill.
Participants
included
Mike
Garey,
Ron
Benson,
John
Naples Color Guard (left to right)
Compatriots Phil Ballou, Mike Gar- McCullough,
ey, Roy Richardson, Ron Benson, Larry Fehrenbaker,
Larry Fehrenbaker, and John Phil Ballou and
McCullough.
Commander Don Roy
Richardson.
Cahill
not
shown.
Gálvez (Continued on page 4)
In keeping with the
Dinner (Continued on page 2 Minutes)
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a great evening and I would encourage more of our
SAR members to attend these affairs in the future, if
past traditions of the Color Guard, we only had one the opportunity arises. Shirley Hoerle was the chair
chandelier stabbed by a flag during the posting person for this affair. Excellent!
ceremony. Sometimes we have even stabbed the door A Good Time Was Had By All!
frames! Who knows what we are capable of doing in
the future!
- John McCullough, President
The meeting progressed with the DAR opening ritual
combined with parts of the SAR ritual. We then had
welcoming remarks by Trudy Withey, DAR Regent
and John McCullough, SAR President.
The dinner was served buffet style which allowed the
guests to choose their favorites. The menu was typical
of the colonial period and some of the dishes were
peanut soup, Virginia Ham, baked fish, mashed
potatoes, mashed sweet potatoes, 2 asparagus dishes,
green beans, chipped peanuts and a dessert of peach
cobbler served with ice cream. Everyone seemed to
be very pleased with the dinner and there was no
shortage of food.
Dinner (Continued from page 1)
Left to Right Trudy Withey, Regent Big Cypress DAR
and Larry Fehrenbaker, SVP FLSSAR
Colonial re-enactors of the Big Cypress DAR and Naples SAR
Color Guard portray their patriot ancestors in period clothing for
their role during the American Revolution
Our main entertainment for the evening was presented
by Kay Yarbrough. She played the role of a wife of a
revolutionary soldier who was writing a letter to her
husband. It was a moving performance and it
contained many of the anxieties that a military wife
would have for her husband and her family. These
emotions are as applicable today as they were then.
In summary, I would say this was a very enjoyable
evening and it was expecially heartening see that the
attendees were circulating and making new
aquaintances and renewing existing ones. There were
several people attending that were perspective
members of both the DAR and the SAR.
The DAR ladies are to be congratulated on providing
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Bernardo de Galvez Camp #13 Color Guard members and Big
Cypress First Vice Regent Shirley Hoerle discussing the
evening’s program.
Past President Roy Richardson and his wife, Dory Richardson
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Other photos taken at December 12th DAR/SAR Colonial
Christmas Dinner
Wendy and Naples SAR Registrar Ed Lary
Naples SAR Secretary Robert White and wife, Vicki.
1st. VP Mike Garey and wife, Victoria Toter
Compatriot W. James McBath, III and Big Cypress DAR
Registrar Patricia Schaar
Past Registrar Ronald Benson
Naples SAR President John L.
McCullough addressing the group.
Photos courtesy of Larry and Jeanne Fehrenbaker
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Gálvez (Continued from page 1)
alone, according to the Defense Department's "Hispanics in A merica's Defense."
"Shamed and inspired by his example of personal leadership and
bravery, the remaining ships followed," the report says. Gálvez's
coat of arms later included a ship with a flying pennant that says,
"Yo Solo," or "I alone."
"As Lafayette was the symbolic representative of France, Bernardo
de Gálvez should be the symbolic representative of Spain," says a
report sent to Congress by Pensacola residents backing honorary
citizenship. "Both countries provided vital support to the continental government, yet Spain's influence often has been overlooked."
It's not as if Gálvez has been entirely forgotten. Galveston, Texas,
is named after him. A 15-cent postage stamp was issued in his honor in 1980.
He is lesser known than other Revolutionary War heroes, such as the Marquis de Lafayette, whose portrait
hangs in the House chamber, and Thaddeus Kosciuszko, who has a bust in the Capitol and a street named
after him in downtown Los Angeles, albeit a very short one.
Washington has a statue of the Spaniard astride a horse, a 1976 bicentennial gift from Spain, but it often
draws the same response from passersby: Who?
"I gave a talk to 200 people in Galveston, Texas, and three people raised their hands when I asked if they
knew where the town's name came from," said Thomas E. Chavez, author of "Spain and the Independence
of the United States: An Intrinsic Gift."
Recognition of Gálvez, he said, "will open up a whole new world of information about the birth of our nation and will take an already beautiful story and make it better."
Valcarce was unaware of Gálvez's role in the revolution until she visited Mobile, Ala., site of one of his
battles.
"We were just walking around the city," she said. "Suddenly, I saw the symbol of Malaga." It was a statue
of a fisherman carrying baskets on his shoulders — identical to one in the Spanish province where Gálvez
was born. At the time, Valcarce was living in Malaga (then a sister city of Mobile). Then she spotted a
plaque describing Gálvez's exploits.
That was 16 years ago. Recently, Valcarce read an article in a Spanish newspaper saying the Continental
Congress had accepted a portrait of Gálvez.
That launched the 45-year-old mother of three from the Washington area on a mission to get a newly commissioned portrait of Gálvez hung in the Capitol. "I am only asking my country to keep its word," she said.
The Continental Congress in 1783 voted to accept New Orleans merchant Oliver Pollock's offer of a portrait of Gálvez "to be placed in the room in which Congress meet[s]," according to the Journals of the Continental Congress. But whether a portrait was ever put on display is unclear.
Valcarce, who works as an administrative assistant, has pored through historic records, visited congressional offices and raised the matter with the Spanish prime minister during a recent gathering at the Washington home of Spain's ambassador to the U.S.
"The guy who picks up the phone at the Historical Office of the Senate calls me 'the Lady of the Portrait,'"
she said.
Valcarce has lined up support for her cause, and a group is ready to donate a new portrait.
"If we make a promise to hang a portrait of the Spanish hero of the American Revolution in the U.S. Capitol building, and we can honor that promise without spending a nickel, why don't we?" said Joseph W.
Gálvez (Continued on page 5)
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Gálvez (Continued from page 4)
Dooley, president general of the 33,000-member National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.
The case of honorary citizenship was floated in the past, but gained new impetus after Gálvez was named a
Great Floridian by the state in 2012. "Almost everyone in Pensacola knows about this
magnificent Spaniard," said Nancy Fetterman, a volunteer historian.
Rep. Jeff Miller (R-Fla.,1st congressional district), who represents the area, introduced the citizenship legislation, lining up the support of the Florida House delegation.
But it won't be easy. The last time Congress awarded honorary citizenship was in 2009
to another Revolutionary War general, the Polish-born Casimir Pulaski.
Rep. Jeff Miller
Others conferred the honor were Lafayette; Winston Churchill; Mother Teresa; Pennsylvania founder William Penn and his wife, Hannah; and Raoul Wallenberg, the Swedish diplomat who rescued thousands of Jews from Nazi death camps.
Honorary citizenship has been proposed for others, including Anne Frank, Alexander
Solzhenitsyn and Anwar Sadat. None got it.
By Richard Simon of the Los Angeles Times (February 2014) [email protected]
Copyright © 2014, Los Angeles Times
113TH
2D
Conferring honorary citizenship of the United States on Bernardo de
count of Galveston and Count of
y Madrid, Vis-
IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED
4,
Mr.
(for himself and Mr.
introduced the
twice and referred to the Committee on the Judici
joint resolution; which was read
Conferring honorary citizenship of the United States on Bernardo de
y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston
Count of
Whereas the United States has conferred honorary citizenship on 7 other occa
sions during its history, and honorary citizenship is and should remain an ext
raordinary honor not lightly conferred nor frequently
Whereas Bernardo de
y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston and Count of
was a hero of the Revolutionary
who risked his life for the
freedom of the United
people and provided supplies, intelligence,
and strong
support to the war effort;
Whereas Bernardo de
recruited an army of 7,500 men made up of SpanResolution (Continued on page 6)
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Resolution (Continued from page 5)
ish, French, African-American, Mexican, Cuban, and Anglo-American forces
and led the effort of Spain to aid the United States colonists against
Whereas during the Revolutionary War, Bernardo de
and his troops seized the
Port of New
and successfully defeated the British at battles
Rouge, Louisiana, Natchez, Mississippi,
Alabama;
Whereas Bernardo de
led the successful 2-month Siege of Pensacola,
Florida, where his
captured the capital of British West Florida and left
British with no naval bases in the Gulf of Mexico;
Whereas Bernardo de
strating bravery
was wounded during
Siege of Pensacola, demon
endeared him to the United States soldiers;
Whereas Bernardo de
George Washington as
Whereas Bernardo de
tionary War;
victories against
British were recognized by
deciding factor in the outcome of the Revolutionary War;
helped draft the terms of treaty that ended the Revolu-
Whereas the United States Continental
declared, on October 31, 1778, their
gratitude
favorable sentiments to Bernardo de
for his conduct towards
the United
Whereas after the war, Bernardo de
served
of New Spain and led the
effort to chart the Gulf of
ico, including Galveston Bay, the largest bay on
the Texas coast;
Whereas several geographic locations, including Galveston Bay, Galveston, Texas,
Galveston County, Texas,
Louisiana, and St. Bernard
Louisiana, are
named after Bernardo de
38
38
Whereas the State of Florida has honored Bernardo de
with the designation of Great Floridian;
Whereas Bernardo de
played an integral role in
Revolutionary War and
helped secure the independence of
United States: Now, therefore, be
Resolution (Continued on page 7)
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Resolution (Continued from page 6)
1
2
by the Senate and House
the United States
3 That Bernardo de
4 and Count of
Representatives
America in Congress assembled,
y Madrid, Viscount of Galveston
is proclaimed posthumously to be
5 an honorary citizen of the United
Dr. Teresa Valcarce
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Thursday, January 15, 2015, Luncheon Meeting
Annual Rumbaugh Oration Contest,
Reservation form is on last page
Friday-Saturday, January 30 to 31, 2015
2015 Winter Florida Society SAR Board of
Manager Meeting (all compatriots welcomed)
THE FLORIDA HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER at the Florida Mall
1500 SAND LAKE ROAD, ORLANDO, FL
GPS ADDRESS: 8001 S. Orange Blossom
Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
See the Winter issue of The Florida Patriot for a
registration form:
(http://www.flssar.org/FLSSAR/Tabs.asp)
From: Ed Butler
Date: December 18, 2014 at 11:39:23 AM
EST
To: Compatriots
Subject: Gálvez becomes a U.S. Citizen
Dear fellow compatriots,
The President signed House Resolution 105
into law on December 16, 2014, conferring
honorary U.S. citizenship to Bernardo de
Gálvez, making him only the eighth person in
our country's history to receive this honor.
Thursday, February 12, 2015, Luncheon
Meeting
Annual JROTC Recognition Program
Naples Chapter SAR Officer Nominations
for 2015-2016
Thursday, March 12, 2015, Luncheon Meeting
Naples Chapter 42nd Charter Day and
2015-2016 Officer Election and Installation
Review of Collier County Schools Social
Studies Program with Wendy Hodgson
Thursday, April 9, 2015, Luncheon Meeting
Poster Contest Judging
Collier County JROTC Program Course
Work, Teams and Community Service
Presented by one of the Senior Instructors
Just one week ago a portrait of Gálvez was
hung in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee
meeting
room.
Thus, there were two national-level actions recognizing this Spanish hero of the American
Revolution
in
one
week!
We are witnessing a surge in interest for this
Spanish hero who helped us become the United States of America. All members of the SAR
should be proud to know that our efforts are
contributing to this surge in interest.
Friday-Sunday, May 1 to May 3, 2015
Spring & Annual Flor ida Society SAR
Board of Manager Meeting (all compatriots
welcomed)
THE FLORIDA HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER at the Florida Mall
1500 SAND LAKE ROAD, ORLANDO, FL
GPS ADDRESS: 8001 S. Orange Blossom
Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Thursday, May 7, 2015, Luncheon Meeting
Program: TBA
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Thanks for the assistance of PGs Brock and
Dooley and DAR President General, Lynn Forney Young.
Merry Christmas to all.
Ed Butler
President General 2009-2010
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Minutes BOD Meeting 12-11-14
Treasurer's Report- Dick Hazen reported we are in good shape financially. Total Assets $17,165, Total Liabilities $4,095 as of Dec 10th.
Secretary's Report- Our initial Chapter Annual Report has been submitted to the FLSSAR by Rich Wright.
We have several members who have not paid their dues and we will be providing reminders.
Registrar's Report- Ed Lary was unable to attend, but has since provided his report showing one approved
member application. He has 4 applications in the approval process and 5 applications in work. This is
more good news for the Chapter.
Education Report- The final approval of our programs in the Collier District schools was received on Nov.
19th. This delayed approval adversely affected the Rumbaugh Oration Contest, yet we have one home
schooled student planning to enter and another contestant from the public schools considering!
Planning for the Rumbaugh Contest is in work with the selection of judges.
Bernardo de Gálvez Camp #13 Color Guard-Don Cahill gave an update of the revised requirements for the
awarding of medals to Color Guard members.
Nominating Committee-We have selected nominating committee members consisting of John McCullough,
Mike Garey and Ed Lary. With the increase in new members, we are trying to work them into the officer ranks and committee chairmanships to provide new thought and to give our old members a rest.
We are asking that our present officers, committee chairmen and others to provide the names of candidates for our new leadership.
Welcoming Letter-Mike Garey is putting together an informative letter or memo for new members that will
provide them more details on our Chapter to aid in their understanding of our purpose, organization
and outreach programs.
Item of Interest- Bernardo de Galvez for whom our Color Guard is named was the Spanish governor of the
Gulf Coast region during the Revolution. He led the attacks on the British forts in that region thus aiding the American Colonies in gaining their independence from Britain. Congress has approved legislation to make him an honorary citizen of the USA.
Our Chapter has received funding from the FLSSAR Endowment Trust Fund as reimbursement for some of
our program expenditures.
Discussions concerning our membership directory are in work!
John McCullough, President
HELP
Photos are fun and add to the news and memories of fellow compatriots; BUT, we need someone to take and forward photos to your editor at [email protected]. All photos are welcome! Please bring your digital camera or smartphone to the next SAR event or luncheon
meeting.
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Naples Chapter of the FLSSAR Officers (2014-2015)
President: John L. McCullough*
email: [email protected]
Immediate Past President:
Lawrence G. Fehrenbaker, Sr., MD *
email: [email protected]
1st Vice President: Michael E. Garey*
Email: [email protected]
2nd Vice President: E. Richard Wright*
email: [email protected]
Secretary: Robert M. White, Sr., Ph.D.*
email: [email protected]
Treasurer: W. Richard Hazen *
email: [email protected]
Asst. Treasurer: Donald B. Cahill 1
email: [email protected]
Chancellor: James M. McGarity, Esq. *
email: [email protected]
Chaplain: Charles E. Cortright
email: [email protected]
Registrar: J. Edward Lary 1
email: [email protected]
Historian: Donald B. Cahill
Bernardo de Gálvez Camp #13:
Color Guard Commander Donald B. Cahill
Sergeants-at-Arms: 1) Donald B. Cahill,
2) John L. McCullough
Naples Crier Editor and Webmaster: I. Harris Tucker Email: [email protected]
* Board of Directors for (2014-2015)
1
At-Large Member Board of Directors for (2014-2015)
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Thursday, January 15, 2015, Luncheon Meeting
The Annual Rumbaugh Oration Contest will be held at our January Luncheon Meeting
at The Club at Longshore Lake
The reservation form is on page 12.
All Naples Chapter members are welcome at Florida Society SAR Board of Manager Meetings.
The next meeting (2015 Winter Florida Society SAR Board of Manager Meeting) will be held FridaySaturday (morning), January 30 to 31, 2015, at
THE FLORIDA HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER at the Florida Mall
1500 SAND LAKE ROAD, ORLANDO, FL
GPS ADDRESS: 8001 S. Orange Blossom Trail, Orlando, FL 32809
Florida State meetings provide an excellent setting for acquainting chapter members with fellow compatriots and learning more about the activities of other state chapters.
A business session is usually scheduled Friday morning and afternoon with a banquet dinner in the evening. The Color Guard is composed of Color Guard members from various state chapters and presents a
colorful introduction to the banquet.
This year offers a unique opportunity to meet NSSAR officers. Florida compatriot Lindsey Cook Brock
(Jacksonville Chapter) is President General and Rev. Dr. Randy D. Moody (Caloosa Chapter FLSSAR)
is Chaplain General.
Registration form: See the Winter Issue of The Florida Patriot for a registration form:
(http://www.flssar.org/FLSSAR/Tabs.asp)
Naples Chapter Color Guard, Donald B Cahill, Commander
Members:
Jim Applegate
Phil Ballou
Ron Benson
Don Cahill
Ron Cormier
Larry Fehrenbaker
Mike Garey
Jay Jewett
John McCullough
Jim McBath
Jim McGarity
Roy Richardson
Chuck Sweeney
Rob Withey
All Compatriots are encouraged to join in the fun. On occasion some have donned a tricorn with white shirt and blazer
and participated.
Commander Donald B. Cahill
email: [email protected]
Commander Donald B. Cahill
FLSSAR Trivia
Current membership is at 2,016 members -May 2, 2014. Largest Chapter is Palm
Beach; Smallest chapter is Panama City
The oldest Chapter is Miami accredited in 1898 and the newest Chapter is South Shore
accredited in 2013.
The largest Chapters are Palm Beach (148), Saramana (147), Clearwater (135) and
Jacksonville (134). The smallest is Panama City (18).
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The Naples Crier
c/o I. Harris Tucker
8919 Park Road, Apt 4015
Charlotte, North Carolina 28210-7612
January 2015
LUNCHEON MEETING
RESERVATIONS for THURSDAY
January 15, 2015
The Club at Longshore Lake is very accommodating and will provide special diet meals, if advised a
week in advance. To enable the Club at Longshore Lake to better accommodate us for both room size
and meal quantities, we are asked to provide them with the number of reservations a few days before each
meeting. Accordingly, compatriots and others planning to attend the luncheons are asked to let us know
by telephone, email or by completing the reservation form below and
mailing your check payable to Naples Chapter SAR:
c/o Donald B. Cahill, Assistant Treasurer, 700 110th Avenue North, Naples, Florida 34108-1820
Tel: (239) 597-8896; Email: [email protected]
________ Luncheon (s) @ $23. = _____________
Your name (Print) ________________________________________Non-Sugar dessert__________
Guest names (Print) ______________________________________ Non-Sugar dessert__________
Additional names may be printed on reverse side.
Send your reservation & payment to be received by Thursday, January 8, 2015
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