Maine Society Sons Of The American Revolution

Upcoming Meetings and Events

Sept 12 , 2009 - Regular Society Meeting in Augusta

Nov 14 , 2009 - Regular Society Meeting in Augusta

April 17 , 2009 - Annual Meeting in Portland

Highlights from the Board of Managers Meeting June 13, 2009 in Augusta, Maine

1. BOM authorized Paul E. Salisbury to purchase a 3'X 8' Maine Society SAR Banner for the approximate cost of $156.00.

2. Court Dwyer and Charlie McGillicuddy were asked to help in the selection of a similar uniform for those individuals considering buying or making one for themselves. The General Henry Knox Artillery uniform seems an appropriate choice for members of the Maine Society, unless an individual's ancestor was identified by a different uniform. The militia uniform remains the Maine Society form of dress for those volunteering to serve in the Color Guard.

3. Congratulations to those mentioned in the following:

Current SAR Magazine listing the Martha Washington honorees and Bob Bartlett as the recipient of the State Distinguished Service Award given by the State President, W. Dayton Salisbury.

The photo of Bob and Arlene Bartlett in the Islander Newspaper, Edmund Branch, Adam Bartow, Charlie McGillicuddy, Lance Weddell, with Governor John E. Baldacci and members of the Native American representatives including the sponsor of the bill, Rep. Donald Scotomah of the Passamaquoddy Tribe, establishing Native American Day and designating June 21 as date for remembrance.

4. A Word of Thanks:

To Ron Newton and his Committee for the original revision

To Edmund Branch and Chancellor James Blanchard, as Consultants to the State President, W. Dayton Salisbury, for the preparing the final draft for consideration.

To the members of the BOM for staying with the task until it was completed.

To Kenneth Smith for his help with photos. He reminds us of the need to send material to National and to the media.

To Chaplain Bob Bartlett for leading us in prayer.

To Edmund Branch for making arrangements with the Ground Round.

5. The Constitution and Bylaws of the Maine Society SAR were completely reviewed by Article and Section to prepare them for ratification at the next meeting. Efforts were made to keep them simple and brief and to reflect our current methods of operation. We were guided through legal hurdles by Chancellor, James Blanchard. The work was amicable and polite, but thorough and productive. The revised Constitution and Bylaws include a provision for absentee voting at the Annual Meeting. The line of succession is more clearly described.

6. Ron Newton and Mrs. Eilene Branch are currently sick and need our prayers.

7. On Sunday, at the Cole Museum in Bangor, the CAR held a Flag Day Retirement Ceremony. State President W. Dayton Salisbury attended. He was asked to read Governor John Baldacci's proclamation , June as CAR month.

Respectfully submitted,

WELCOME!
Welcome to the website and welcome to our organization. I hope that our presence on the website has been or will be of some benefit to all of you. We are open to applications for membership. See the section on membership for some suggestions on how to get started. Anyone who has started an application is considered to be a candidate and is welcome at our general membership meetings. If you have specific knowledge of soldiers from Maine who served in the American Revolution, please write to me. If you have thoughts of activities that the organization might pursue or how we might improve what we are already doing, please get in touch with me. Don't be shy! - W. Dayton Salisbury

The Maine Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (MESSAR) is the state affiliate for the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR). It was organized in Portland in 1891. The preliminary meeting was held February 21; a proposed Constitution and By-Laws were presented for consideration February 28, and were adopted March 14. The election of officers followed March 28.

Explore your family history Any man shall be eligible for membership in the Maine Society Sons of the American Revolution who: Being of the age of eighteen years or over and a citizen of good repute in the community, is the lineal descendant of an ancestor who was at all times unfailing in loyalty to and rendered active service in, the cause of American independence, either as an: officer, soldier, seaman, marine, militiaman or Minuteman, in the armed forces of the Continental Congress, or of any one of the several Colonies or States; or as a Signer of the Declaration of Independence, or as a member of a Committee of Safety or Correspondence; or as a member of any Continental, Provincial, or Colonial Congress or Legislature; or as a recognized patriot who performed actual service by overt acts of resistance to the authority of Great Britain.

The memorial above was placed at Valley Forge by the Maine Sons of the American Revolution in the early part of the 20th century.

Maine In 1776-
At the time of the American Revolution, Maine, not a State until 1820, was part of Massachusetts. Because of Maine's remoteness from the authorities in Boston and the Continental Congress in Philadelphia, the inhabitants received little military support despite the proximity of the British across the border in Canada and constant pressure from the Royal Navy along the coast. Apart from Benedict Arnold's ill-fated expedition to Quebec through the wilderness of western Maine, most military action took place up and down the vulnerable coast.

Help Is Needed From MESSAR Members
Your MESSAR Webmaster, Bryan, is working to build the largest online database of Revolutionary War Soldiers buried in Maine. In order to do this, we need your help. Please scout your local cemeteries and historical societies to learn the location of a Revolutionary War grave in Maine. When you find the grave, take a picture of it, document it's location, and then e-mail the photo to the webmaster so we can add it to the database.

�	The SAR in the News
�	Burnham Tavern
�	The Henry Knox Museum
�	Benedict Arnold's March Through Maine
�	The War That Made America - PBS Documentary
�	Maine Revolutionary War Land Grants
�	The Phinney Site
�	Social Security Death Index

Colour Guard News
Visit the Colour Guard website (http://mysite.verizon.net/cemcgill/index.htm) for information on the Colour Guard, how to join, and upcoming events. Visit the website.

Knox Artillery Knox's Artillery
Colonel Knox's Artillery Regiment, Inc. is a group of living history interpreters who participate in battle demonstrations for the public on historic sites as well as in cities & towns along the East Coast of the United States & Canada. Visit their website.