"Give me liberty. . ."

"Give me liberty. . ."

Barry Collins did Patrick Henry's "Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death" speech. He's done this for eight or nine years at various functions including churches, schools, etc.

By JOHN MCCOY

POSTED 09/18/08

CALLAHAN, FL - Barry Collins, in costume, provided an excellent rendition of one of most important patriotic speeches in our nation's history. Patrick Henry's speech ending with the words "Give me liberty or give me death!" was, for me, the best part of the Patriotic Evening held in Callahan last Thursday evening.

Barry told me he had been doing this for the past eight or nine years and had performed at church functions, schools and other locations. I only wish I had thought of making a video - you literally had to be there to believe it.

The activities, while located at Callahan's Masonic Lodge 32, prominently featured the West Nassau Genealogical Society, also located in Callahan. The WNGS, formed in 2003, is primarily dedicated to genealogical research. Its objective "…is to involve others with similar interests, as well as increase the genealogical knowledge of the general public, assist individuals in compiling their family histories and record, as well as preserve genealogical records."

Janice Sain, Order of the Confederate Rose; Lindsey C. Brock, Sons of the American Revolution; Jim Lear, Sons of Confederate Veterans; Shirley Lear and Jean Mann, Daughters of the American Revolution.

The WNGS meets monthly on the second Monday at the Callahan Lion's club, located just north of the fairgrounds on US 1 at 10:30 am. Monthly meetings feature a guest speaker on genealogy topics and visitors are always welcome.

For more information about, their website is http://www.genealogy.com/users/m/i/z/Jean-H-Mizell-FL/

Another excellent genealogical research organization, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, also provided a special Family History worksheet for interested individuals.

Following the Pledge of Allegiance by representatives of the Girl Scouts and Brownies, Joseph Horne, WNGS President, led off the festivities, giving us an idea of what was to come.

Betty Matthews, WNGS program chairman, also spoke and introduced the evening's speakers, representatives from several patriotic organizations. The first speaker, Jean Mann, represented the Florida chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Janice Sain, Order of the Confederate Rose, described how her organization commemorates Rose O'Neal Greenhow, a spy whose information to Gen. P. G. T. Beauregard helped result in the rout of Union forces at First Bull Run. Among its other activities, the Order of the

Jim Lear, Commander, Camp 745, Sons of Confederate Veterans.

Confederate Rose sponsored an essay contest for students.

Wanda Arnold represented the United Daughters of the Confederacy, a national society founded in 1894 for the female lineal descendants of soldiers who served in the Confederate forces. .
Lindsey Brock pointed out that many of the audience might qualify for membership in his  organization, the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). One of the many things I didn't know about either organization was that the ancestor didn't necessarily have to be a member of the military forces but could have supported the revolution in some other fashion.

In either case, the applicant must prove "lineal, blood line descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence, including documentation for each statement of birth, marriage,  and death."

Jim Lear, Commander, Camp 745, Sons of Confederate Veterans, told us a story about being asked for assistance regarding a grandfather. His research revealed that the man simply didn't return from the war and three different ladies claimed benefits.

Jim also told us Camp 745 was changing its name to honor Brig. Gen. Joseph Finegan, commander of Confederate forces at the largest battle fought in Florida during the War Between the States. The Battle of Olustee (or the Battle of Ocean Pond), was fought near Lake City in Baker County, FL, on February 20, 1864. Resulting in a 40 percent casualty ratio for Northern forces, this was considered quite a victory for the Confederacy which lost about 20 percent  casualties.

BLUE LODGE BROTHERS BAND: The band provided much entertainment. They're from Solomon Masonic Lodge No. 20, 25 E 1st St, Jacksonville. Members are: (L-R) Barry Collins, Ron Wilson, Robby Stokes, Bill Kirkland (has the pony tail) and Jimmy Boone.

The Blue Lodge Brothers Band, members of Solomon Masonic Lodge #20, Jacksonville, provided much of the entertainment Thursday evening with many patriotic songs including Merle Haggard's Okie From Muskogee. We got quite a laugh at the words "We don't let our hair grow long and shaggy, Like the hippies out in San Francisco do" as one of the members of the Band wears a pony tail.

Barry, when he's not doing Patrick Henry, plays a guitar for the band and doesn't look much like his alter ego.

Another high point of the evening was a computer presentation of John Wayne's narration of America, Why I Love Her, which included various photos of our country. You can see this presentation on the Internet at http://sagebrushpatriot.com/america.htm

Dot Higgenbotham, West Nassau Genealogical Society member, holds a future member of the Sons of the Confederacy - Denton Dennis Miller, 4 weeks old. He is a member of the "Ogilvie" line in West Nassau history.

Members of the Girl Scouts and Brownies pledge Allegiance to the Flag to begin the night's events.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Joseph Horne, President, West Nassau Genealogical Society.

 

 

Betty Matthews, Program Chairman, West Nassau Genealogical Society.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wanda Arnold, United Daughters of the Confederacy,"the oldest lineage organization in the United States."

Jean Mann, Florida Daughters of the American Revolution.

Janice Sain, Order of the Confederate Rose.