John Ramey Grave Marking

The Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter hosted its eighth Grave Marking Ceremony of 2015 in the Blackhawk/Lamasco area of Lyon County. Sixteen Compatriots were joined by approximately thirty descendants and friends in the ceremony honoring the Patriot John Ramey of Virginia.

Rain and wind forced the movement of the ceremony indoors. We would like to thank the people of the Lamasco Baptist Church, just down the road from the Old Dry Fork Cemetery, for opening the doors to their fellowship hall and allowing us to hold our ceremony in their facility. Descendant Gary Thompson brought the Biographical Salute. The chapter also administered the oath and pinned Rosettes on four new Compatriots … Robert, Miles, Ryon, and L.J. Ward … descendants of Squire Boone. The weather broke just a bit at the end of the ceremony and all of the attendees were able to go outside and enjoy the three-shot flintlock salute by the Col. Stephen Trigg riflemen and musketeers.

The attendees were also very generous to the chapter, donation $168 in the “offering basket” toward the chapter’s travel trailer fundraiser.

Three Generations Join Our Chapter!

This is our first “three generation” family to join the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter! Robert Ward, his son, Miles, and grandsons Ryon and L.J. (sons of Miles) were welcomed into the chapter on October 24. They all participated in uniform in the John Ramey grave marking, where we took the opportunity to administer their oath of membership and pin their rosettes.

The Ward men are descended from the Patriot Squire Boone, son of Samuel Boone, the brother of Daniel Boone. He served in South Carolina early in the war. He moved his family to Bryan’s Station, Kentucky, in 1779 and served under George Rogers Clark in the expeditions against the Piqua towns. He was seriously wounded at the Battle of Blue Licks in 1782.

Squire Boone later became a Baptist preacher and moved to Todd County, Kentucky, near the town of Elkton. He and wife Anna Grubbs Boone had fifteen children. He died there on June 28, 1817. She died in Todd County on August 26, 1843.

Please join us in welcoming the Ward men to the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter!

Compatriot Takes Part in Tennessee Grave Marking

Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter VP Steve Mallory, along with his wife, Debbie, made a two-hour trek on Sunday afternoon down to Tennessee for a Patriot Grave Marking Ceremony.  The Tennessee Society led a ceremony at the grave of Patriot William Sparkman at a rural cemetery near Franklin, Tennessee.

Steve proudly carried the Kentucky flag in the Color Guard, placed the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter wreath, and fired his rifle in the gun salute.

Here are some photos from the event …

Another Grave Marking Medal On The Way!

Field Day – Caldwell County Elementary School

Compatriots of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter, for the second year in a row, took part in the fall “Field Day” for the fifth graders of Caldwell County Elementary School in Princeton, Kentucky.  The event consists of six interactive educational stations manned by volunteers from the community.  All six of the fifth grade homeroom classes rotate through each station for twenty-five minutes.  The Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter hosted one station with their “Revolutionary War in a Trunk” program.

Compatriots Geoff Baggett, Steve Mallory, and Jack Dawson led the program, which included period items, Revolutionary War flags, and a display of weaponry and accoutrements.   At the end of each presentation Baggett and Dawson dressed one boy and one girl from each class in hunting frocks and tricorn hats, and had some extra fun placing a pony-tail wig on the boy.  At the end of each presentation, Mallory fired a shot with his long rifle.  The boom of his gun was the signal to all six classes that it was time for students to rotate to the next station.

In just three hours of time the men were able to share a lesson in Revolutionary War history with approximately 150 students.  Visit this link to see a photo album from the event.

Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter @ Ft. Massac Encampment

The Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter represented the SAR today at the Ft. Massac Encampment in Metropolis, Illinois.  Compatriots Eddie Price, Steve Mallory, and Geoff Baggett spent the day sharing info about the SAR and selling tomahawk raffle tickets in the chapter’s fall fundraiser.  Eddie also took the opportunity to sell several copies of his amazing book, Widder’s Landing.

We’ll be there again tomorrow.  Stop by and buy some tickets and a great book!

Col. Stephen Trigg Compatriots Attend Tennessee Grave Markings

On Sunday, October 5, two representatives of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter attended a grave marking and marker dedication in Dresden, Tennessee. This ceremony was the latest event in an ongoing partnership of interstate Color Guard cooperation between the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter and the nearby Tennessee Society.

Bob Sholly, one of the newest members of the chapter, accompanied Geoff Baggett on the short Sunday afternoon trip to Dresden to attend the ceremony honoring Patriot Luke Tipton. Compatriot Baggett provided the drum cadence for the Color Guard while Compatriot Sholly carried the Kentucky Flag. Together they saluted the Patriot through the presentation of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter wreath. Following the Patriot ceremony, the group walked to the newer section of the cemetery to dedicate a new “MEMBER” stone placed at the grave of Compatriot Ned Ray McWherter, former governor of Tennessee.

October 2015 – SAR Color Guardsman Newsletter

Chapter President Represents Kentucky at a Southern Region Grave Marking Event

On Saturday, October 4, the Lamar County, Alabama, Sons of Liberty Chapter of the Alabama Society hosted a grave marking ceremony near the community of Sulligent. The ceremony honored all five known Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Lamar County. The event was certified as a Southern District (Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana) Color Guard Event.

Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter President Geoff Baggett was invited to speak at the ceremony because one of the five Patriots was his direct-line ancestor. His 5th great-grandfather, Sgt. Richard Priddy, served in the 1st Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line from August 1776 through August 1779. He fought at the bloody Battle of Monmouth and several other engagements and wintered in George Washington’s army at Valley Forge.

Baggett took a detour on the way home from his family vacation in Florida to attend the event. He represented Kentucky in the Color Guard by carrying the Kentucky flag. He also presented the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter wreath and delivered the biographical tribute to his ancestor, Richard Priddy. His wife, Kim, and daughter, Katie, also attended.

Geoff Baggett and Daughter, Katie, at the Grave of their Ancestor

Fall 2015 KYSSAR Meeting