Newspaper Page Text
THE HOUSTON HOME JOURNAL
~**~~~*****~~-' ”" 1 nirr “ f 7
■ j I '%\
fe,
l£k3.?%m<!L m *■
” HMr ~' " *”** ’ ,-• <•
mbik
F Jk- v''v.% S vi.
HHJ Ray Lightner
Maj. John Wagner and Walker presents the two with pins for their heroism as their
supervisors look on.
WR officers honored for heroism
From staff reports
WARNER ROBINS -
Police officers Vernon Neal
Hill and John Grubbs were
at the right place at the
right time Feb. 21.
After an unsuccessful
Historical marker to be dedicated Tuesday
Special to the HHJ
ST. SIMONS ISLAND - A
Georgia Historical Marker
entitled “The Georgia
Navy” will be dedicated near
the entrance of the Fort
Frederica National
Monument on St. Simons
Island Tuesday in a ceremo
ny starting at 2 p.m.
It may have happened 227
years ago, and barely men
tioned in history books, but
the Sons of the American
Revolution has persevered
to obtain the Historical
Marker and get Col. Samuel
Elbert and his brave soldiers
and sailors recognition they
deserve. Other sponsors of
the Georgia Historical
Marker include The Georgia
Historical Society, Coastal
Georgia Historical Society
and the Fort Frederica
National Monument.
The public ceremony is
expected to be widely
attended and will include a
hundred descendants of the
patriots who participated in
the Frederica Naval Action.
Speakers will include
Coastal Georgia historian
Buddy Sullivan, and
Virginia Steele Wood, Naval
Specialist at the Library of
Congress, who will describe
the glorious day for the
Georgia Navy, April 19,
1778, when they captured
three British ships in the
Frederica River near Fort
Frederica.
“This will be a historic
occasion as the Georgia
Society, as far as we know,
has never dedicated a
Historic Sites Marker in
Georgia,” said Sons of the
American Revolution
President George
Thurmond.
In addition, representa
tives of the Georgia
Historical Society, Coastal
Georgia Historical Society
and Fort Frederica National
Monument will help dedi
cate the Marker.
Featured in the ceremony
will be the U.S. Navy Band
Southeast from
Jacksonville, Fla., Naval Air
Station and the U.S. Navy
Honor Guard from the
Submarine Base at Kings
Bay. The nationally
acclaimed Georgia Society
Sons of the American
Revolution Color Guard,
smartly dressed in
Revolutionary War uni
forms, will be joined by
Color Guard members from
Florida and several other
states.
Bagpipe and Musket
Salutes will honor Col.
Samuel Elbert and his
Georgia seamen and sol
diers, and descendants of
these patriots will be recog
nized. A Musical Salute will
be performed to honor the
attending military veterans.
LOOK
attempt to serve a warrant
next door, the officers
noticed smoke coming from
the rear of 221 Bernard
Drive, and went to the back
of the home to see flames
inside the house.
All facilities of the park will
be available, including pro
grams by the rangers, and
no admission fees will be
charged.
The Georgia Navy galleys
were Washington with Capt.
John Hardy in command,
Bulloch under Capt.
Archibald Hatcher and Lee
under Capt. John Cutler
Braddock. Col. Samuel
Elbert surprised the red
coats on April 19, 1778, in
the Frederica River near
Fort Frederica. His eight
een-pounder cannon had
greater range than the
British, and in attempting
to maneuver to fire broad
side the larger ships ran
aground as the tide ebbed in
an area they called “raccoon
gut,” were abandoned, and
captured. Later that day
Elbert sent a message to
Maj. Gen. Robert Howe in
Savannah:
“I have the happiness to
inform you that about 10
o’clock this forenoon, the
Brigantine Hinchinbrooke,
the Sloop Rebecca, and a
Prize Brig, all struck the
British Tyrant’s colours,
and surrendered to the
American arms....”
Coming in the darkest
days of the Revolutionary
War, the victory was a
tremendous boost to the
Georgians’ morale. It put
out of action British ships
that had been capturing
merchant vessels off the
coast of Georgia and helped
delay for over eight months
the major British invasion of
Georgia to recapture
Savannah.
The American victory at
St. Simons Island was exact
ly three years after the first
Revolutionary War shots
were fired at Lexington and
Concord, which is celebrated
on April 19 as Patriots Day
in Massachusetts and
Maine. The Georgia Society
Sons of the American
Revolution hope to start a
tradition to celebrate
Georgia Patriots Day on
April 19 based on the
anniversary of the Frederica
Naval Action in 1778 as well
as the Battle of Lexington in
1775.
“We would like to sponsor
an observance each year on
April 19th; not only to pay
tribute to the heroes of the
American Revolution, but to
remind everyone of the sac
rifices they endured during
the eight years of struggle
for American
Independence,” said Bill
Ramsaur, president of the
Marshes of Glynn Chapter
Sons of the American
Revolution.
Text of the Georgia
Historical Marker:
See all the features on
if 3riousiton Minute |f
dlije 4Jmtrnal
Web site!
hhjnews.com
A neighbor on the other
side told police a female res
ident was in the house.
Officers knocked on the win
dow and advised her of the
fire, then broke her screen
and helped her out of the
window.
“During the American
Revolution four heavily
armed row galleys were con
structed in Savannah for the
Georgia Navy, all underwrit
ten by the Continental
Congress. In nearby
Frederica River, beginning
at dawn on April 19, 1778,
Georgia galleys Lee,
Washington, and Bulloch,
commanded by Colonel
Samuel Elbert, attacked HM
brigantine Hinchinbrook,
the armed sloop Rebecca,
and an armed watering brig.
The British attempted to
retaliate, but were out
gunned and out-maneu
vered. As they tried to gain
an advantage by moving
down river their ships
grounded, were abandoned,
and captured. This remark
able victory boosted patriot
morale and delayed by more
than eight months the
British invasion of Georgia.”
...
us for a special day to help you feel healthier, relaxed and inspired!
a delicious lunch, informative workshops, a minianassage and the clumce to Hawin' 1
with a stress'relief walk through beautiful Henderson Village.
*
l|p' S -“T r
LOCAL
” ”
|L JjPajßMfr jM Mm
- •' .-Wk
;%) 'j|iKp jB /BP*I
~BS r*WaBH9 ■
ißHjf ’ ;
w/JEmT £ * - fw&
Hr i 4 *
-
HH»J, Ray Lightner
Warner Robins Mayor Donald Walker, right, presents police officers Vernon Neal Hill,
left, and John Grubbs, center, with plaques Monday night at the City Council meeting,
for saving the lives of a woman and her pets, a bird and a dog.
WIN A FREE
DIGITAL HEARING AID!
ESSAY CONTEST
would receive from wearing a hearing aid. 250 words or less
For details and official entry form contact
Hearing Associates, Inc.
BETTER HEARING FOR BETTER LIVING
Hearing Associates, Inc.
109 Osigian Blvd., Ste. 400 Warner Robins, GA
478-953-2705
Mon. • Fri. 9-5 • Sat. By Appt.
PITZ^n,
Salon and Ldi| Spa
PBfct./r"
WmV JlfP ' yk agL &
v;>. ' jsjaßlfc, W
Come in for a Massage with Chris or Carrie, then refer 6 friends.
After their massages, your next massage is FREE!
478-953-2705
Essays must be turned in by April 22, 2005.
107 A Osigian Boulevard • Warner Robins, GA
Donna Wright, Owner
478-971-RITZ (7489)
Friday, April 22
11 am - 12 noon: Registration
12 noon - 4 pm: Lunch & Event
L ...
Ronda Rich, best-selling author of
) What Southern Women Know {That Every Woman Should)
f Cost: $25 per person
Tickets on sale at Perry Hospital Community Education Office and
EduCare at Houston Health Pavilion in Warner Robins.
For more information, call 923-9771.
Health Watch
s
A Service of Houston Healthcare
SUNDAY, APRIL 17, 2005 ♦
Salon Ritz Salon & Day Spa welcomes
CHRIS PETRIE and CARRIE TAYLOR to
its staff as MASSAGE THERAPISTS,
Specializing in Swedish Massage.
Ask about Hot Stone & Ice Massages.
9A
1^73
Annette R. Peppard
AU. D.
Licensed Audiologist
17277