To my fellow compatriots of the John Paul Jones Chapter, Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution.  A new year is upon us which brings with it opportunities to commemorate and celebrate the events preceding and including the establishment of our American Independence.  One such event is commemorating the 250th anniversary of the Burning of the brig Peggy Stewart.  In 1774 the merchant brig Peggy Stewart was burned in Annapolis Harbor because of its banned cargo of tea discovered on board being imported from Britain.  We, the John Paul Jones Chapter along with select members of the Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chapter of DAR will be working with the City of Annapolis and other organizations to recreate this event on October 19th at City Dock in downtown Annapolis.  We ask that our Chapter members mark this event on your calendars and be prepared to assist as needed for a successful commemoration.  Although we won’t be burning an actual ship, we plan to have a drone show to simulate the burning of a ship.   This event will be preceded by a dinner at the Hammond-Harwood House with guest speaker Dan E. Hobbs, author of the book Cleave America, Patriot Flames 1774.  The book centers around the fate of the brigantine Peggy Stewart and those whose lives she touched. This is just one of numerous events taking place throughout the year where our Chapter members can become involved.  We also have quarterly cleanups of a short stretch of General’s Highway that our Chapter adopted last year.  We need able bodied volunteers to assist with the cleanup.  We will send out notifications of a specific date, time and location to meet for the cleanup.  We also need Chapter member assistance with Wreaths Across America in December as we lay wreaths at the Annapolis National Cemetery.   This National Cemetery is one of 14 signed into existence by President Abraham Lincoln in 1862.  Other notable events we host are the annual Wreath Laying Ceremony at the crypt of John Paul Jones on December 7, and the George Washington resignation at the Maryland State House in Annapolis on December 23rd. On a sad note, we regret to report the passing of JPJ Chapter members George Sherwood and Douglas Peters.  George Wellington Sherwood passed away on April 6, 2023 at age 59.  Douglas J. J. Peters passed away on December 30, 2023 at age 60.   Doug was the former leader of the Maryland State Senate and was also the 3rd Vice President of the Maryland Sons of the American Revolution.  We send our thoughts and prayers to their families.

Glenn Moss

President

John Paul Jones Chapter

Sons of The American Revolution