Central
Coast Chapter Minutes for June 18, 2016
Meeting to Order: 1:20 PM
Invocation by Nate Maas
Pledges of Allegiance &
SAR
Guest: Dave Evers
Sunshine Report: Earl Rader’s
treatment will be done by October and the prognosis is good.
Secretary’s Report: May
Minutes accepted as read.
Treasurer’s Report: Account
balance is $2,379.78.
Guest Speaker: Our own Nate
Maas was introduced as the guest speaker for June. Nate is a former history
teacher and is now a school principal in north SLO County. Nate is also an
Asst. Scout Master after being the Scout Master for Troop #308. Nate extolled
the benefits of travel and outdoor adventures for our youth and remembered trips
to the Sierras and Santa Catalina Island.
Nate’s topic was the Battle
of Long Island in August 1776 and the fallout (Nate provided handouts). George
Washington was able to escape Long Island with his army still intact and spent
the next few months avoiding the army of Lord Cornwallis. At years’ end
Washington was able to surprise the Hessians at Trenton NJ which was followed
by a victory at Princeton.
Having had POW ancestor
(Freeman), Nate is particularly animated about the forgotten history of our POW
patriots. Those captured by the British were subjected to the inhumane
treatment, first in Sugar Houses where Provost Marshal William Cunningham
routinely tortured his captives. Later, POW’s were incarcerated on prison ships
in Wallabout Bay. The HMS Jersey is
particularly notorious. It is estimated that some 11,000 prison ship POW’s died
while in British custody. Buried in shallow graves, the bones of the dead
washed ashore for many years following the Revolution. The remains were
collected and kept in a crypt at the Brooklyn Navy Yard and then at the Prison
Ship Martyrs Monument at Fort Greene Park in Brooklyn. The Monument was first
dedicated in 1908.
Nate’s presentation was much
appreciated.
Old Business: None
New Business: No meeting
until next October.
Closing Pledge
Benediction by Nate Maas
Adjournment: 2:42 PM
Respectfully Submitted,
Chris Scrimiger
Chapter Secretary
