Fall brings lots of colorful leaves and lots of activity. There is a lot on our calendar with often overlapping events. Semi-Annual finishes summer, then we have Point Pleasant, Kings Mountain, our Community Awards Meeting, Yorktown, the FCHC/DAR Genealogy Workshop, Valley Forge, Veteran’s Day, our Chapter Awards Meeting, Great Bridge, the SAR/DAR Christmas Party, Wreaths Across America, and several grave markings and other wreath layings. Your attendance at these events, in mufti and in uniform, is much appreciated. We always have a good time and it reflects well on our chapter to be well represented.
If you scroll down to Birthdays and Service Anniversaries you will see that November is the birth month of Major General Artemas Ward. Ward began public service as the township assessor for Worchester County, MA in 1751 and served in various capacities until 1795, his last service was as a US Congressman from Massachusetts. His military service began in 1755 as a major in the 3rd Massachusetts Militia Regiment. He fought in the French and Indian War and rose to the rank of colonel and commanded the 3rd Massachusetts. In 1774, with rebellion brewing, the 3rd Massachusetts resigned en masse, reformed as patriot militia, and elected Ward as its colonel. A short time later the Massachusetts Committee of Safety promoted Ward to General and gave him command of the entire Massachusetts Militia. After Lexington and Concord Ward moved his headquarters to Cambridge where he directed the overwatch of British forces in Boston. Then both New Hampshire and Connecticut placed their militias under his command. When the Continental Congress formed the Continental Army under Washington’s command they also promoted Ward to Major General and made him Washington’s second in command. Ward resigned from the army in 1777 due to his poor health, but continued to serve the revolution in various public offices, including delegate to the Continental Congress. We honor his birth this month and give thanks that our ancestors had men such as Artemas Ward to lead and organize them in the chaotic first days of the Revolution.
I hope as our nomination committee makes its calls asking chapter members to serve in various offices that you remember the example of Artemas Ward and others who stepped up to give our revolution the advantage of their skill and experience.
Your Servant,
Bill Schwetke, President
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