Burke and Derden speak to the Wiregrass Chapter

The Wiregrass Chapter, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution held its monthly meeting at McKinney’s Pond Thursday, August 14, at 6:30 p.m. With President Steve Burke presiding, they had 22 in attendance including guests. President Steve opened the meeting with a welcome and asked 2nd Vice President Gary Mason to open with a prayer. 1st Vice President Alton Reynolds then led the Pledge to the U.S. Flag and the Pledge to the SAR. They then enjoyed a great buffet meal of shrimp, corn dodgers, French fries and all the trimmings. President Steve then called on Dess Smith to introduce the speakers, Steve Burke and John Derden. Burke is the President of the Wiregrass Chapter and Derden is a member of the Wiregrass Chapter in Swainsboro. Burke and Derden spoke about “Sharp Shooters from the Revolutionary war until today”. President Burke then called on Compatriot Reynolds for a surprise presentation. Reynolds called up President Burke who is the Commander of the Skunk Brigade and the Brier Creek Artillery and is the “go too man” in the SAR. Besides building the first cannon that started the Brier Creek Artillery, he built a second cannon. Wiregrass now has seven cannons in the Brier Creek Artillery and working on more. Burke also made the first “skunk hat” from roadkill and presented it to the late President Henry Wilder Smith, Jr. in 2014. Since then, Burke has made 41 skunk hats with assistance from President Richard Lee Herron of the Brier Creek Chapter. It took 123 roadkill skunks to make those 41 hats. Burke is also the founder of the Award-Winning Skunk Brigade of the Brier Creek Artillery. Reynolds presented Burke with the Bill of Rights Amendment II Trophy which reads a well-regulated Militia, being necessary to the security of a free State, the right of the people to keep and bear Arms, shall not be infringed, December 15, 1791. Congratulations Commander Burke for all your hard work and your leadership.