The 225th Anniversary Battlefield Celebration of
The Battle of Kettle Creek
Wilkes County, Georgia Saturday, February 14, 2004
Sponsored by Sons of the American Revolution and the Samuel Elbert Chapter
with the Kettle Creek Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution
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The Georgia Refugees marched to the county courthouse annex in the morning rain. |
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SAR Secretary General Henry McCarl and Georgia State Society President, Brig. Gen John Gillette take the oath with Georgia Refugee David Folds. |
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SG McCarl signs the symbolic oath of loyalty to the State of Georgia, taken by citizens of the time. |
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SG McCarl and Chaplain General Leroy Stewart stand at the head of a long line to sign the oath. |
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Joe Vancura, president of the John Collins Chapter, SAR, signs the oath. |
(see a picture of the document) |
Lt. Col. Robert F. Galer, the event chairman, moved quickly when it became evident that the rain was not ending. Afternoon ceremonies, held since 1998 at the top of War Hill, were moved to the Washington, Georgia community center through the intervention of a number of local citizens.
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The color guard formed up in the rain. |
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Photographer Bob Bowen, an SAR from Virginia, was on hand to record events. |
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Music was provided by the U.S. Army Band from Ft. Gordon in Augusta. |
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More than 2 dozen color guardsmen filled the hall. |
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Meredith Baker, President of the Georgia
Society, Children of the American Revolution (CAR), thanked participants for
their support of her Kettle Creek project. She sold pins picturing the
Kettle Creek monument to purchase bleachers for the annual event. She raised over $3,000. |
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Historian Robert Scott Davis, Jr., an authority on the battle, was the primary speaker. |
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A rifle salute was given by the Installation Support Platoon of Ft. Gordon, Georgia, followed by the playing of Taps. |
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Brig. Gen John Gillette closed the ceremonies after more than 70 wreaths were presented. CAR members presented an American Flag for each of the original colonies. |
