Flag Placement Project

By Richard Patten

This past Memorial Day weekend my family and I traveled to several cemeteries in our area to put Betsy Ross flags on graves of Revolutionary War soldiers to honor them. For each cemetery, we had been given a list of soldiers names which showed the location of each grave. Using those lists, we found each grave and replaced the old flag that was there with the new flag that we had been given.

After we finished locating all the graves and placing all the flags, our family had a little memorial service right there at the cemetery. My dad read some prayers, then I read Psalm 23 (The Lord Is My Shepherd). After that, we all sang several patriotic hymns. As we were driving home, our family talked about how it felt to honor those soldiers the way we did. We thought it was very gratifying. It made me think of the musical "Tom Sawyer," when Tom Sawyer sings about gratifaction: "An' ya get that deep down inside gratifaction, gratifying satisfac- Well, I mean that deep down inside gratifaction. Oh, how good ya feel..."

Richard Patten, 11, a CAR member and son of Compatriot Jeff and Helen Patten of Villanova, wrote this note after his family took their free time to place Betsy Ross flags as part of the Chapter's annual grave-flagging project in the 4 county area where about 1500 flags are new each year. Call Joe Stokes, our Chairman, at 610-431-4751, to schedule a patriotic family outing for next year.

Celebration of French Alliance Anniversary at Valley Forge

On May 3 and 4, Revolutionary War re-enactors helped celebrate the 230^th anniversary of America’s early, pivotal alliance with France. “The alliance with France brought renewed hope to the Continental Army encamped at Valley Forge,” said Park Superintendent Mike Caldwell. “Its announcement gave the troops an opportunity to both celebrate and demonstrate the increased military skills learned during that long winter of 1777-78.”

The Treaty of Alliance between France and the United States was concluded at Paris on February 6, 1778, and ratified by Congress on May 4, 1778. It represented France’s recognition of the legitimacy of the rebel government, which England considered a declaration of war. Further, it ensured neither France nor the United States would make peace with England until American Independence was recognized.

A special wreath-laying ceremony took place on May 4 at the Waterman Monument by the Washington Memorial Chapel commemorating the Alliance and French and American soldiers who fell in combat with the British. Lieutenant Colonel Didier Gros, Assistant Military Attaché to the French Embassy spoke at the chapel and reviewed the troops of the Second Pennsylvania Regiment.

Lt. Col. Didier Gros with Win Carroll