2008 Atlantic Middle States
Conference
Princeton, New Jersey
August 8-9
Photos by Robert L. "Bob" Bowen, Second Vice President, Virginia Society, SAR - AMS Webmaster
Mid-Atlantic District Vice President General Gary Bond of DCSSAR (L) and North Atlantic District Vice President
General John Moller of NJSSAR conducted the annual meeting of the State Societies represented by their Districts:
New York, New Jersey, Delaware, District of Columbia, Maryland, Pennsylvania and Virginia. The two-day meeting
was well attended with more than 100 Compatriots and guests in attendance. They came from the seven states
making up the two district, plus national officers and candidates from California, Florida, Georgia, Illinois,
Indiana, Kansas, Kentucky, North Carolina, Oklahoma and Texas, A third day (Sunday) was scheduled
for a National Executive Committee meeting led by President General David Appleby.
Friday Night Dinner-Reception
NJSSAR President Frank McGonigle (L) welcomed the conferees during the Friday Night dinner-reception.
Entertainment for the evening was provided by folk singer and balladeer Charlie Zahm, who sang,
accompanied by the bodhrán (hand drum) and guitar.
Saturday Business Meeting
A highlight of the conference was a Genealogy Workshop conducted by current Genealogist General Joe Dooley (R), former Genealogist Generals Chuck Bragg (next to Joe), and Judge Ed Butler (next to Chuck), and former Mid-Atlantic District
VPG John Sinks who has more supplementals than Carter has little liver pills.
Sinks Butler Bragg Dooley
...recommends Footnote.com ...connecting the dots ...ponders question ...moderates the session
(L) - MAD VPG Bond presented former MAD VPG John Sinks with a District-level Meritorious Service Medal. (C) NJSSAR
Vice President John Gebhart served as Conference Chaplain. (R) Former International District VPG Bob Bowen presented Genealogist General Joe Dooley the International Society's Distinguished Service Medal for 2007-08.
Saturday Afternoon Bus Tour
The Delaware River near where Gen. George Washington crossed from Pennsylvania into New Jersey on the way
to his surprise attack against the Hessians at Trenton.
Monument marks the spot believed to be where Gen. Washington loaded his troops in long boats and crossed
the Delaware, arriving in New Jersey on the opposite shore. The boat at right is similar to, but slightly smaller,
than the boats used to transport Washington and his troops.
Conferees paused for a group photo at the site of BGen Hugh Mercer's death following the Battle of Princeton in 1777.
Thomas Clark's farmhouse in which Hugh Mercer died of bayonet wounds inflicted nine days earlier during the
Battle of Princeton. The plaque on the monument around which the Compatriots and guests gathered
describes Mercer's death.
TOUR PHOTOS BY GARY BOND, ERNIE IRISH & MARCILE TRESSLER
Saturday Night Banquet
Saturday Night Banquet speakers included Richard Patterson, Director of the Old Barracks Museum in Trenton, NJ
and President General David Appleby.
President General David Appleby and his wife, Raylene, were presented engraved pewter goblets by (L) Robert and
Janet Locke and (R) John and Charlotte Gebhart.
(L) The District of Columbia was a repeat winner of the Thomas J. Bond, Jr., Mid-Atlantic Membership Award. DCSSAR President Paul Hays accepted the trophy from MAD VPG Bond. (C) VPG Bond presented VPG Moller a District-level
Meritorious Service Medal. (R) VPG Moller presented the Jersey Devil Award plaque to VASSAR President Art Batten.
Virginia was also a repeated winner of this annual award.
No successful conference "happens" without the work of a lot of dedicated people. North Atlantic District VPG John
Moller (R), presented Certificates of Appreciation to (L-R) CAPT George Hill, MD, PHD; John and Charlotte Gebhart;
Janet and Robert Locke; Harry Folger; Gerald DeGroat; Stephen Clarke; Joe Dooley; Marie and John Moller.
Mid-Atlantic District leaders in their finery for the Saturday Night Banquet. (L-R) DCSSAR President Paul Hays, VASSAR President Art Batten, Mid-Atlantic District Vice President General Gary Bond; DESSAR President Davis Wright; PASSAR President Lanny Patten; MDSSAR President Duane Tackitt
The AMS Color Guard, under the command of David Hoover of MDSSAR, presented and retried the Colors
during the Saturday Night Banquet.