New sites for Minnesota S.A.R. and the MNSAR Color Guard

This site has begun migration to new locations. Past postings and all future information will be posted at:

https://minnesotasar.org/

-and-

https://www.facebook.com/minnesotasar

Patriot Chest

The Patriot Chest is ready.

The Minnesota SAR Color Guard Living History Team has been collecting reproduction items of the American Revolution era for use in their public appearances. The items allow others to enjoy a hands-on experience with several items of common use during that period, helping to bring history alive.

Items now on hand are:

Beeswax Candle and Candle making mold
Laundry washing board

Sewing Kit 

Hinged eyegIass case with period eyeglasses
Girls Mob Cap
Wire fork
Primitive iron knife, fork and spoon set
Pot scrubber made from straw
Pick and pan brush set for musket
CD of fife and drum music
Powder Horn
Horn cup 

Wooden Canteen 

Slate and Pencil 

Snapsack (backpack)
Tin Lantern

Tin Plate

Colonial paper currency
Fire starting kit
Reproduction newspaper 1779
Tin cup
Child's Primer

Large parchment copies of the Declaration of Independence, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. 

Back ordered items yet to be received: three typical child's wood toys .......


In the future will be added a pull on outfit of 18th century girl's wear and a uniform coat or frock coat and tricorn hat for a boy. These will be intended for use by student volunteers in school presentations.

There are several more items we wish to add to the chest and will do so as donations are received.

New Cockade for the Guard

Thanks to the efforts of Color Guard commander Steve, each member of the Guard will now be wearing a distinctive cockade on his hat.

With the C.A.R. July 4th

photo by Jason Jenkins for the Sun Sailor

 Folks lined up for the flying pancake breakfast and visited under the shade trees. The living history team mingled with the crowd giving the visitors opportunity to learn more about the times of our Revolution. A display of a bell tent of the era and camp equipment was especially exciting for the children. Several times during the morning the two drummers called the soldiers to form up, march to the pier and fire musket volleys. This year our two drummers Kerry and Steve were joined by 11 y.o. James with his fife.
 The Declaration of Independence was read by S.A.R. member Kevin. Wayzata Mayor Wilcox introduced veterans of WWII, Korea and Vietnam giving the crowd a brief biography of the service of each and a tribute also to those attending who have served in the armed forces.
 Attendance this year finished at 1,416.
The living history team this year: From the 7th PA re-enactment group, Kerry, Spencer and Dave. D.A.R. Terri and Gigi.  SAR CG members Kevin, Steve, Paul, John, Tom, Craig. Assisted by James, a C.A.R. member.
For more photos, visit the C.A.R. Wayzata Chapter facebook page at:  https://www.facebook.com/CARLakeMtka/

Honoring WWII Vets

D.A.R.

Molly Pitcher, D.A.R.

Photo by Samantha Muldoon

S.A.R. and 7th PA

James, C.A.R.

Photo by Samantha Muldoon

Honoring Veterans (Photo by Samantha Muldoon)

Photo by Tom

Honoring Vets (Photo by Tom)

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Tom

Photo by Samantha Muldoon

CG member McCallum retired

Compatriot John McCallum, who recently announced his retirement from the Color Guard, was presented with honors at a ceremony in Wayzata, Minnesota on July 4th. John has been a member of the Guard since 2011. John's dedication to the S.A.R. Color Guard lead him to gift his uniform and musket to the guard so that a new member may get a start while deciding on his own personal outfit and gear.

 L>R..Steve, Chris, John, Kevin,Craig, James

Joint D.A.R. - S.A.R. visit to local school

 

School program in Mound

May 16, 2019 Compatriots Chris  and Craig  were joined by D.A.R. Ladies Teresa  and Gigi for a living history presentation at Grandview Middle School in Mound.

Assisting was student James , C.A.R. Three one hour sessions were held with 30+ 5^th grade students per session. The team introduced themselves and their persona and gave a brief history of their patriot ancestor then launched into a series of short stories, pointing out some facts and fictions about people and the struggle, offering several vignettes and answered plenty of questions coming in from the students. Some subjects covered were flag history (in which students held flags) Molly Pitcher lore, camp followers, how the Cubans helped our victory at Yorktown, the Sybil Ludington story, clothing, pay, child life in the era, death or incapacity due to disease vs battle wounds, militia service, how Mount Vernon got its' name, the help of the French and Spanish, Franklin's snake cartoon and “Huzzah” (which the students shouted with enthusiasm). One of the teachers wrote us: “it's fun to hear crazy stories that you wouldn't read about in a 5th grade text book,” and “more about what did they eat, how did they sleep, what were the weather conditions, ... more random details that the kids wouldn't have learned about”  and suggested we use more replicas from the period which the students may hold and pass around.

The living history team concluded that there will most likely be more such teaching opportunities arising now and that a combined S.A.R./D.A.R./C.A.R living history team equipped with replica items of the Revolutionary War era will be pursued. The D.A.R. and S.A.R. working together to further education on the Revolution together was a great success.

photo by Heidi Knudsen

Gigi, Teresa, James, Craig, Chris

photo by Heidi Knudsen

photo by Heidi Knudsen

Teaching references

Know any student who may be studying the American Revolution? Know any teachers of American History? Help them by referring them to sources listed on the right side of this blog, under PAGES to the page FOR TEACHERS.