Compatriots of the Connecticut Line,

Just wanted to report on todays VETERANS DAY PARADE in Hartford, Connecticut. It was a Great day! We had a good showing and great weather.
I would like to thank the following members for participating and also to recognize Captain Bruce Cunard for his first time commanding the Connecticut Line in the field. Huzzah!

01) Wayne Bickley - Putnam
02) George Crede - Putnam
03) Damien Cregeau - Wadsworth
04) Bruce Cunard - Hale
05) Lee Gerlander - Putnam
06) Todd Gerlander - Putnam
07) Randy Gerlander - Putnam
08) Bill Hayes - Putnam
09) Mike Juhase - at Large
10) Bob Lasprogato - Sherman
11) Stephen Marshall - Putnam
12) Bob Rivard - Huntington
13) Fred Rivard - Huntington
14) Jim Rothgeb - Hale
15) Russell Wirtalla - Putnam

16) Pamela Cregeau - Camp-Follower

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd L. Gerlander
Colonel Commanding

Compatriots of the Connecticut Line CTSSAR,

Stark's Muster at the Fort at Number Four in Charlestown, New Hampshire was a great success. This was the units 9th year participating at the Fort. Stark's Muster has been added to the Fort's 2009 schedule for the weekend of October 3rd and 4th, 2009. It will be the events 10th anniversary, and we should plan on doing something special to commemorate the event.

I have started to post photos on the website, both on the "Stark's Muster Page" and on the "Colonial Cooking" Page. If you have Great photos, please e-mail them to me. Photos can be seen at:

www.ConnecticutLine.org

I would like to thank the following Connecticut Line CTSSAR members and Detachments for participating this year:

Wayne Bickley - Putnam
Geoffrey Colby - Putnam
Bruce Cunard - Hale
Dan Dudley - Putnam
Lee Gerlander - Putnam
Todd Gerlander - Putnam
Randy Gerlander - Putnam
Michael Juhase - at Large
Robert Rivard - Huntington
Frederick Rivard - Huntington
Stephen Shaw - Wadsworth
Russell Wirtalla - Putnam
Richard Wright - Putnam

Liisa Colby - Camp Follower
Gina Gerhard - Camp Follower

Our next scheduled event is the Veterans Day Parade in Hartford on Sunday, November 2, 2008.

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd L. Gerlander
Colonel Commanding

The Connecticut Line CTSSAR
at the forefront of SAR Living History
1993 - 2008

Compatriots of the Connecticut Line CTSSAR,

Well, it is over, and I am glad for that. I am talking about the Durham Fair, or as those who attended will call it, the Durham Mudfest.

Connecticut Line members manned the encampment/CTSSAR recruitment table for THIRTY FOUR HOURS on Friday, Saturday, and Sunday. We met a lot of people, particularly on Saturday night and all day Sunday, we handed out a lot of recruitment information. Friday and most of Saturday was RAIN. On Sunday morning at 9:00 AM we held the CTSSAR Ceremony for the Patriots of Durham, CT.

Special Thanks to the following members who manned the camp with me for the 34 hours the fair was open, and all the additional hours helping me set up and take down the camp Thursday morning and Sunday night, and getting there an hour early each morning to get ready for the public:

Lee Gerlander
Randy Gerlander
Michael Juhase

I would also like to thank the following members for coming out this weekend and help man the camp during the following days:

George Crede - Putnam (Sunday)
Norm Gilman - Putnam (Friday & Sunday)(Thursday Set-Up) Bob Lasprogato - Sherman (Sunday) Bob Rivard - Huntington (Saturday Fred Rivard - Huntington (Saturday) Jim Rothgeb - Hale (Sunday) Stephen Shaw - Wadsworth (Friday)

I would also like to thank Michael Juhase and his wife for helping us take down Sunday night, it was an AWEFULL mess, and the mud was only the start of the problems with this fair.

I am glad to say that the tenting campaign has ended for the year. We have STARK'S MUSTER this weekend at Fort at No. 4 in Charlestown, NH. as our next event, and I will be sending out another e-mail reminder about that soon.

See everyone this weekend at Fort #4,

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd Gerlander, Colonel Commanding

Today the Regiment took part in the 227th Anniversary Commemoration of the Battle of Groton Heights (September 6, 1781) at Fort Griswold Battlefield State Park in Groton, CT. We served as the Color Guard and provided the wreath. This marked our 12th year participating. I would like to thank the following Color Guard members:

01) Wayne Bickley - Putnam
02) Harry Clarke - Hale
03) Lee Gerlander - Putnam
04) Todd Gerlander - Putnam
05) Randy Gerlander - Putnam
06) Mike Juhase - at Large
07) Bob Rivard - Huntington
08) Fred Rivard - Huntington
09) Russell Wirtalla - Putnam

Next event: The Durham Fair, September 26, 27, 28, 2008

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd L. Gerlander, Colonel Commanding

Compatriots,

The ship Explorer of the Seas visited New London on Friday with a full load of 3,100 passengers and 1,200 crew.

The Nathan Hale Schoolhouse had over 650 visitors with good donations and great sales. So many people now can read the new exhibit panels and learn so much more.

The schoolhouse was on both Fox 61 News and WTNH Channel 8 last night. You can still watch to video on their web sites.

Thank you very much to the docents who helped for the day:

Bob Herel
Bob Lasprogato - Color Guard
Matt McDonald
Stephen Shaw - Color Guard

We have six more ship visits this year with the next ones in September.

Patriotically,

Stephen P. Shaw

Compatriots of the Connecticut Line CTSSAR,

The Regiment just returned from the encampment, and I wanted to say that it was a GREAT success. The weather was great, and we had a great turnout. From what I was told, it was a very successful 2nd Saturday. We have been asked if we would like to return again next year, and from everyones comments, it looks like a done deal.

22 Members showed up in uniform this weekend to support the CONNECTICUT LINE CTSSAR's 2008 Second Annual Grand Encampment at the Governor Jonathan Trumbull, Sr. House/Wadsworth Stable in Historic Lebanon, Connecticut. I believe I have everyone listed, but, if I forgot someone please let me know ASAP.

I would like to thank the following members for participating. THREE HUZZAHS!!!

Wayne Bickley - Putnam
George Crede - Putnam
Damien Cregeau - Wadsworth
Bruce Cunard - Hale
Dan Dudley - Putnam
Lee Gerlander - Putnam
Todd Gerlander - Putnam
Randy Gerlander - Putnam
Mike Juhase - At Large
William Lang - Huntington
Stephen Marshall - Putnam
Travis Marshall - Putnam
Stephen Messier - Putnam
Robert Rivard - Huntington
Frederick Rivard - Huntington
Jim Rothgeb - Hale
John Towle - Putnam
Russell Wirtalla - Putnam

Bonnie Burke - Camp-Follower
Barbara Crede - Camp-Follower
Pam Hall - Camp-Follower
Cece Messier - Camp-Follower

I have started to post photos at:

www.ConnecticutLine.org

Then click "Annual Grand Encampment". If you have great photos from the weekend, e-mail me.

Again, Great Show! and it was the largest encampment of Connecticut SAR members, 22.

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd Gerlander
Colonel Commanding

Dear Compatriots of the Connecticut Line CTSSAR,

Today the CONNECTICUT LINE participated in the annual Bunker Hill Day Ceremonies commemorating the 233rd Anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill, First Major Battle of the American Revolution (June 17, 1775).
This was our 12th year participating in the Bunker Hill Day Ceremonies, and again this year, we were the largest Colonial unit present. HUZZAH!!!

The Connecticut Line CTSSAR, along with the Charlestown Militia Company, fired the musket volley to the Heroes of Bunker Hill. We also placed a wreath at the Connecticut Gate on behalf of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Following the ceremonies, we walked into Boston and had lunch at the Green Dragon Taverne.

Attached are 2 photos, one from the ceremonies, the other from the Green Dragon. Note: we found a new recruit at the Dragon.

Our next event will be at the Nathan Hale Schoolhouse in New London on Saturday.

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd Gerlander
Colonel Commanding

Compatriots,

Despite the rain on Friday the students had a great time at the School Day in East Haddam. We had just over 100 3rd grade students from the town with a dozen or so chaperons.

Many thanks to everyone who helped:
Sue Beecher
Jerry Carroon
Mike Juhase
Fred Rivard
Bob Rivard
Dana Rusconi
Stephen Shaw
Russ Wirtalla

A belated report for the Spring Food Stroll in New London. It was a perfect evening with about a 1,000 people on the stroll. The schoolhouse set a record for the stroll with almost 80 visitors.

Our Color Guard members were doing musket firing demonstrations on the Parade and ended up on Fox 61 News as part of their segment on tourism.

Thanks to:
Bruce Cunard
Fred Rivard
Stephen Shaw

Upcoming Events:

June 14th - CT Open House Day at museums around the state and our three.
The Color Guard will have a Flag Display at the War Office and Mike Nigro of the SAR will have his historic flag collection at the Schoolhouse in New London.

June 21st, 1pm - Grand Opening of the new Nathan Hale exhibit in New London.

June 28th, 1pm - Grand Opening of the new Nathan Hale exhibit in East Haddam.

Patriotically,

Stephen P. Shaw

Dear Compatriots of the Connecticut Line CTSSAR,

2 Reports:

1) 5-26-2008 - Memorial Day Parade, Westport, CT

2) 5-24-2008 - Flag Placing Ceremony, New London, CT

First, I would like to report that the CT LINE CTSSAR marched today in the Memorial Day Parade in Westport, CT. It was a nice parade followed by patriotic ceremonies on the Town Common. We then walked/drove to the local VFW for a GREAT lunch!

We had a lot of nice comments from the event organizers, Town, and the public. Special Thanks to Compatriot Bob Lasprogato for arranging the invitation.

Three Huzzahs to:

Lee Gerlander - Putnam
Todd Gerlander - Putnam
Randy Gerlander - Putnam
Norman Gilman - Putnam
Michael Juhase - at Large
Robert Rivard - Huntington
Frederick Rivard - Huntington
John Towle - Putnam
Russell Wirtalla - Putnam

Bonnie Burke - Camp-Follower
---------------------------------------------

(Second)

Colonel,

It is my honor to report that the 7th Connecticut and Huntington's Regiments participated in a Flag Placement Ceremony in Cedar Grove Cemetery, New London, in honor of our Patriots. It was a great ceremony on a beautiful morning with about 40 people from the SAR, DAR, Girl Scouts and general public in attendance.

We honorably placed flags at the graves of our patriots followed by a short ceremony where all 72 names were read allowed. A prayer was lead by the branch Chaplain and a Musket Salute.

Those mustered were as follows.

Harry Clarke Pvt. 7th CT
Bruce Cunard Capt. 7th CT
Daniel Davis Sgt. 7th CT
Gregory Peck Lt. 7th CT
Frederick Rivard Capt. Huntington

Christine Coutant - Camp-Follower

Respectfully submitted,

Capt. Bruce Cunard

------------------------------------------------

Put your faith in God and keep your powder dry,

Todd L. Gerlander
Colonel Commanding

Compatriots,

Thanks to so many people the painting of the first floor in New London is complete.

On Sunday, April 27th, we had ten volunteers including three more Cadets from the Coast Guard Academy. We put the final coats of paint on the baseboard, mantel and doors, scraped all the windows, washed all windows on the inside and some on the outside with the help of a tall Cadet and touched up the paint here and there. We even had enough extra hands to remove the hardware from the windows on the second floor.

Many thanks to:

Bruce Cunard
Robert Herel
Tim Jacobs
Cadet Luke Mayotte
Cadet Gregory Ostrov
Frederick Rivard
Donna Samulenas
Stephen Shaw
Thomas Smith
Cadet Cameron Welicka

I am so impressed with some many members and non-members who have helped to make this happen. The schoolhouse looks so good and is ready for the new exhibits which will be installed in June.

Patriotically,

Stephen P. Shaw
Property Steward
Connecticut, Sons of the American Revolution