Autumn 2007 Newsletter----------------------------Published by the Hawaii Society Sons of the American Revolution

The mission of the Hawaii Society of the Sons of the American Revolution is to preserve and perpetuate the memory of those men and women whose service and sacrifice during the American Revolution secured independence for the American people and established the United States of America; to unite and promote fellowship among their descendants; inspire them and their communities with a more profound reverence for the principles of the representative government; to encourage historical research and the dissemination of knowledge about the American Revolution; maintain and expand the institutions of American freedom; promote the purposes expressed in the Declaration of Independence and the preamble of the Constitution; and to foster patriotism.

The HISSAR Newsletter is published quarterly by the Hawaii Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, Inc. Jeffrey Bingham Mead, director of communications, is editor. Contact him by email at history@aloha.net or phone at (808) 721-0306. Printed materials should be sent to P.O. Box 183, Honolulu, HI 96810-0183. Submissions pertaining to news and events to the HISSAR and other SAR societies elsewhere are welcomed.

The Hawaii Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (HISSAR) is on the Internet. Our address is www.hawaiisar.org and it provides visitors with ready-access to information about the Hawaii Society, joining our ranks, getting involved, and educational resources about the American Revolution and the War of Independence.

Fall General Membership Meeting a Success!

From the President’s Desk

Quote-of-the-Month

News Briefs

Published Articles

Calendar

The Hawaii Society held its annual Fall General Membership Meeting on Friday evening, November 16. The setting was the Oahu Veterans Center near Radford High School in Foster Village. Compatriot Jack Miller chaired the event this year. Compatriot Alan David McCullough, featuring period cuisine from a Martha Washington recipe book, served a colonial tavern supper.

Dinner included:
Salt and Herb Crusted Oak and Hickory Smoked New York Strip Steaks
Colonial Green Beans and Bacon
Colonial Corn Bread
Colonial Biscuits
Colonial Mashed Potatoes OR Colonial Fried Potatoes and Onions
Colonial Strawberries with Quince Cream
Colonial Mulled Cider

An invocation was delivered by 94-year-old Compatriot Elbridge M. Smith, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the recitation of the SAR Pledge. Col. Louis A. Torraca, Jr. (USA Ret.) delivered the President’s Welcome to assembled guests that included a delegation from the Aloha Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution. The Presentation of Thank You’s by Compatriots Miller and McCullough followed this.

All attendees were given an opportunity to propose a toast to their Revolutionary War ancestors. Humorous and witty toasts quoting Colonial and Revolutionary War leaders and ancestors were welcomed and aired. A special 250th birthday toast in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette was delivered by Compatriot Jeffrey Bingham Mead. The evening closed with a benediction by Hawaii Society Chaplain Jeffrey Bingham Mead and recitation of the American’s Creed.

Hawaii Society President Lou Torraca (L) with Roger Monsarrat.	Compatriot Bill Settle	Compatriot Lt. Col. Roger Monsarrat (Ret.) with Mrs. Eloise Monsarrat

Time flies! Believe it or not this marks my tenth year as your Hawaii Society President. As I look back on the years I have been truly privileged to serve with so many compatriots dedicated to preserving the legacy of the American Revolution and the sacrifices of our ancestors. The Pledge to the SAR says, “We descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution who, by their sacrifices, established the United States of America, reaffirm our faith in the principles of liberty and our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge ourselves to defend them against every foe.”

I’d like to take a moment to pay my respects to a good, dedicated friend of the Hawaii Sons of the American Revolution. At our Fall General Membership Meeting we learned that Lt. Col. Roger Monsarrat (Ret) has been a member of the Hawaii Society for 64 years! In April 2007 Roger received the Gen. Benjamin O. Davis Award for his years of service to the U.S. Air Force Auxiliary of the Civil Air Patrol. Just one year ago President Bush named his wife Eloise one of 550 nationwide volunteers as a USA Freedom Corps Greeter. She was also a recipient of the President’s Volunteer Service Award. We are truly blessed to have the Monsarrat’s, and from the bottom of my heart I thank you, Roger and Eloise, for all that you have done and continue to do to make our community a better place for all.

Finally, Compatriot Bill Settle has reluctantly resigned as Hawaii Society secretary. I want to extend my thanks and aloha to Bill for his years of service on our board. Chaplain and Communications Director Jeffrey Bingham Mead is filling in until a new secretary is elected to the board. If you are interested please contact me at HawaiiSar@gmail.com.

Patriotically yours,

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“America: Resting securely upon the inalienable rights of man-upon the age-enduring foundations of Justice, Honor, Liberty, and Order; Cherishing ideals that inspire unselfish devotion to the common welfare of mankind; Fostering a spirit of self-reliant industry that seeks the just rewards of worthy achievement and usefulness; Progressing so swiftly that yesterday's vision is overtaken by today's realities; Aroused anew to meet the challenge defined by George Washington –that 'the preservation of the sacred fire of liberty and the destiny of the republican form of government may be entrusted to the hands of the American people.' ”