Washington State Society Sons of the American Revolution

07/04/2026

National SAR Drum Major Viren Lemmer at Independence Hall, Philadelphia, July 3, 2026. Viren is also Drum Major of the SAR-DAR Fife & Drum Corps, of Washington State.

06/18/2026

SPAIN, OUR ALLY IN YE REVOLUTION
"Spain secretly funded the American Revolution and provided arms as early as 1776. Officially entering the war in 1779, Spain financed the Continental Army, stretched British military resources thin by opening global battlefronts, and led a crucial Gulf Coast military campaign that secured the American southern flank.

"Bernardo de Gálvez significantly contributed to the American Revolution by funneling vital weapons, ammunition, and funds to the Patriots and leading a brilliant military campaign along the Gulf Coast. His victories denied the British control of the Mississippi River and prevented them from encircling the rebelling colonies.

Key details of his contributions:
Vital Supply Lines: Acting as the governor of Spanish Louisiana, Gálvez covertly sent arms, medicine, and food up the Mississippi and Ohio rivers to George Washington's troops and Patriot forces.

"Before the British could execute their broader strategy of moving up the Mississippi from New Orleans, Spanish Governor Bernardo de Gálvez launched a preemptive campaign. In the fall of 1779, Gálvez successfully captured British outposts at Manchac and Baton Rouge, thwarting British attempts to dominate the lower Mississippi corridor."

Gulf Coast Campaign (1779–1781): After Spain formally declared war on Great Britain, Gálvez led a highly successful series of offensives, capturing major British strongholds at Baton Rouge, Natchez, Mobile, and Pensacola.

The Siege of Pensacola: His daring capture of Pensacola in 1781 forced the British to divert vital troops and ships away from the thirteen colonies, inadvertently clearing the way for the decisive American victory at Yorktown.For his critical role in the war, the U.S. Congress officially recognized his aid and conferred honorary United States citizenship upon him in 2014. You can explore more of his historical impact at the American Battlefield Trust

[NOTE: SAR has on file a compiled list of Spain's soldiers who fought under Galvez in the American Revolution. In my school presentations I used to provide Latino kids with a page from the Galvez lists with a soldier with their same last name on it. - Bob O'Neal]

05/16/2026

MORE ON THE NEW SAR CALEB GIBBS
COLOR GUARD COMMANDERS MEDAL
Read of the Service of Lt. Col. Caleb Gibbs, Commander of Gen. Washington's Life Guard, 1776-1779:

"Appointed the commander of the Commander-in-Chief’s Guard on March 12, 1776, Caleb Gibbs served as both the head of headquarters security and chief steward of George Washington’s military household for nearly five years during the War for Independence.
Before retiring as Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, George Washington attested that Gibbs, “on all occasions …behaved with propriety & honor that he several times performed the duty of a temporary Aid with fidelity and intelligence – and that having been present at the various skirmishes & actions he always conducted himself as a brave & discreet officer.”

"The third child of Robert and Sarah Gibbs, Caleb was baptized on September 25, 1748, at the Second Congregational Church in Newport, Rhode Island.2 By 1769, he had moved to Marblehead, Massachusetts and became acquainted with local patriot leader John Glover.
After turning “out a Volunteer at the Battle of Lexington,” Gibbs was appointed Adjutant of Glover’s regiment on April 24, 1775, with the rank of lieutenant. As the British Army prepared to evacuate Boston in March of 1776, General Washington recognized the shift in the war and saw a need to establish a guard “for himself and [his] Baggage” in the General Orders of March 11.

"Washington was impressed with Caleb Gibb’s supervisory function in one of the best disciplined units in the Continental Army and selected the New Englander to command the guards the following day with the rank of captain. The young officer was initially tasked with coordinating the security of the headquarters of the Commander-in-Chief, but quickly and ably took on the supervision of its daily operations."
[- Story from Mt. Vernon. org]

"During his command of Washington's Life Guard, Gibbs was promoted to the rank of Major on July 29, 1778. Moreover, Gibbs would command detachments for special combat missions at various times during the war.
On October 14, 1781 he fought at the Battle of Yorktown where he was wounded in action. Gibbs was brevetted to the rank of lieutenant colonel on September 30, 1783.". - Wikipedia

05/16/2026

SAR National Drum Major Viren Lemmer has created a long overdue recognition for our State Color Guard Commanders.

A medal whose time has come to shine.

Make sure your State Color Guard Commander is recognized.

02/27/2026

Lieutenant Governor Denny Heck
cordially invites you to a special America’s 250th Day event in Olympia
as part of the state’s celebration and commemoration of the

250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence

March 2, 2026
11:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
State Reception Room, State Capitol
Olympia, Washington

Program
Reading of the Governor’s America’s 250th Proclamation
Reading of the Declaration of Independence
“We The People” Washington State Video
Reading of a letter from George Washington
Ribbon-Cutting for the Moments That Made US historical panel exhibit
Reception

Also, Please Join Us
Flag Raising of the Official America's 250th Flag
10 a.m.
Flag poles in front of the State Capitol Building

02/20/2026

With National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

01/01/2026

11/16/2025

11/13/2025