Today's DAR
It was a wonderful honor to attend the 244th anniversary of the Battle of Yorktown where Cornwallis surrendered the British troops to George Washington and his French and Spanish allies, effectively ending the Revolutionary War. Many members of the National Board, led by our President General, Ginnie Sebastian Storage, and including Chaplain General Mernie Crane, Recording Secretary General Colleen Joyce, Organizing Secretary General Marguerite Fritsch, Treasurer General Gina LaCroix, Registrar General Marcy Carter-Lovick, Historian General Cindy Addison, Curator General Renee Pace and Reporter General Adele Lancaster.
Attending Yorktown Day Festivities
The first event on Saturday evening attended by your National Officers was the Victory Celebration Dinner. It was a beautiful night as we enjoyed hors d’oeuvres in the courtyard of the American Revolution Museum in Yorktown mingling with Daughters and members of many other lineage societies. Dinner was delicious! The program, “A Soldier’s Wife During the Revolution” by Lady Washington was simply mesmerizing. The portrayal of Martha Washington by Katharine Pittman from the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation was remarkably interesting. She stayed in character, even answering questions from the audience. Why Lady Washington? The term First Lady wasn’t documented until 1838 referring to Martha Washington but didn’t gain popularity until Eleanor Roosevelt.
Sunday morning, Yorktown Day, October 19, started early with perfect weather as the Comte de Grasse Chapter welcomed attendees to enjoy coffee, tea, and homemade pastries at the Custom House owned by the chapter. Built circa 1720 by Richard Ambler, it has been open to the public on Sundays from June to October since 1930 at no charge. It is one of twelve remaining custom houses in the United States. We toured the Custom House and learned of a ghost, Anne, who resides in the meeting room upstairs. Anne didn’t make an appearance while we were there, but the docent had experienced her. We were treated to the Fife and Drum Corps in the courtyard of the Custom House, setting the mood for the day. We toured the newly completed kitchen on the grounds and were privileged to view the Paul Revere teapot proudly displayed on the mantel.
We then walked to York Hall to honor Governor Thomas Nelson, Jr., who served not only as the Governor of Virginia, but served Virginia as a Brigadier General, a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, and a delegate to Continental Congress. President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage laid a wreath in memory of Governor Nelson.
It was a moving ceremony, led by the Virginia Society SAR, starting with "The Fifes and Drums of York Town" marching to the Thomas Nelson Monument honoring all who had given the ultimate sacrifice through every U.S. war.
A quick stop at the Yorktown Victory Monument. Ninety-Eight feet high, it overlooks the York River harbor and is visible from the river.
The visit concluded at the American Revolution Museum in commemoration of “America’s Monumental Victory at Yorktown.” The national anthems of France, Spain and “The Star-Spangled Banner” were played remembering France and Spain’s role in our fight for freedom. Greetings were brought from representatives from both France and Spain. The assembly recognized the 300th anniversary of Rochambeau’s birth. The keynote speaker, Christian Di Spigna, Executive Director of the Dr. Joseph Warren Foundation, spoke on Dr. Warren’s contributions to American Independence, starting in 1765 with the Stamp Act until he was killed in action at the Battle of Bunker Hill on June 17, 1775. The Major General died close to the end of the battle with a musket ball to the head. He is considered to be one of the Founding Fathers because of his sacrifices during the ten years prior to Bunker Hill. Mrs. Storage and Mrs. Rugh laid a wreath in honor of the Victory at Yorktown, October 19, 1781.
Many thanks to Virginia State Regent Kathy Rugh, Comte De Grasse Chapter Regent Gail Kohlmeyer, and the Comte De Grasse Chapter Daughters for a lifetime of memories in two short days.
