President's Page - Tim Berly
Welcome to the website of the Mecklenburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution! Our organization seeks to maintain patriotism, to respect our national symbols and the value of American citizenship, and to perpetuate the unique ideals that were developed during the period of the American Revolution.
Some of the many activities our Mecklenburg Chapter participates in include:
- Annual commemoration of Revolutionary War battles and events. Our Color Guard, who appear in the uniform of the Continental Army, "America’s first standing army," participates in Charlotte’s Veteran’s Day Parade, U.S. Flag retirement ceremonies, and many other patriotic celebrations. We also have presented the Colors at Carolina Panthers and Charlotte Bobcats games.
- Youth Programs. We recognize our youth through programs for Eagle Scouts, JROTC Cadets, and the Knight Essay and Rumbaugh Oratory contests for secondary school students. Our Chapter provides scholarship awards to the winners of these programs. Winners of these awards are eligible to also participate in similar programs at the State and National level. We also sponsor a patriotic-theme Americanism Poster Contest for fifth grade students each year.
- Participation in patriotic programs, and in historical presentations on the American Revolution to schools and civic organizations.
- An annual recognition program to commend those who have shown outstanding dedication to their work, serving our community through our local law enforcement, fire and EMS agencies; and also through civic organizations.
- Perpetuation and celebration of the landmarks of America’s freedom. We believe in keeping alive the principles that led our ancestors to struggle for their independence, and the symbols that represent that struggle: The Declaration of Independence, U.S. Constitution, our Nation’s flag, and our system of representative government and participatory democracy.
- One of our least known, but most important programs, is the placement of grave markers to identify the final resting place of our nation’s patriot ancestors. We have embarked on a program to dedicate two or more of these each year in and around Mecklenburg County. If you are aware of a patriot’s grave site in Mecklenburg County that has not been marked, please let us know and we will consider so honoring that patriot’s service.
We welcome you to apply for membership if you have an ancestor who fought in the American Revolution or supported the patriot cause in other ways, such as providing supplies to the Continental Army or civil service during the period of the Revolution.
Contact any of our Officers, who will be happy to explain our membership requirements
and help you get started with your application. They will also provide direction to you in completing and submitting it.
While the process may seem somewhat daunting, you will find that you realize many rewards as you trace your family’s history back to the period of the American Revolution, and discover your ties to a patriot who was active in the founding of this great nation.
I invite you to join with us in keeping alive the memory of those founding fathers and patriots who struggled to win the freedoms we enjoy today as citizens of the
United States of America!
Tim Berly,
President
Email Tim
Mecklenburg Chapter, North Carolina Society
Sons of the American Revolution
2010 Chapter Meeting Dates
(All meetings held at the Hilton Executive Park Hotel, 5624 Westpark Drive in Charlotte, NC 704-529-5963. Click here for directions to the hotel.)
16 September, 6:00pm - Our guest speaker will be "Anna Lee", the daughter of General Robert E. Lee! Also Jane Johnson from the Central Library will bring a large Civil War collection of memorabilia from Mecklenburg! Download your RSVP Letter here!
18 November, 6:00pm
2010 Event Calendar
17-18 September 230th Gathering at Sycamore Shoals (Tennessee) and the 265th Birthday of Col. John Sevier, Tennessee's first Governor, in Knoxville, TN.
23-25 September National Fall Leadership Meeting (Trustees) & NSSAR Library Ribbon Cutting Ceremony at SAR Headquarters in Louisville, KY
9 October The Yadkin Valley Chapter celebrates the Battle of Shallow Ford at the Battleground in Huntsville, NC, 10am. For more information, please email Yadkin Valley Chapter President Ellis Hamby or call (336) 467-0890.
23 October Fall BOM Meeting ($20 per person) at the Chapel Hill Country Club. Click here for directions. Download the RSVP form here.
2011 Event Calendar
15-17 April 2011 NCSSAR State Meeting & Convention in Raleigh, NC
8-13 July 121st National SAR Congress at Winston-Salem, NC
