Varnum Continentals Marching Militia Archives

[MEMBERS] Final Reminder: Register to Attend the Varnum Continentals Annual Meeting

October 12, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

This is a FINAL REMINDER to sign up to attend the 2023 Varnum Continentals Annual Meeting on Monday, October 16 at 6:00 PM. The deadline to register is this Friday, October 13 at noon! Links to register and pay your dues are below.

2023 VARNUM CONTINENTALS ANNUAL MEETING

WHERE: Varnum Memorial Armory Museum

WHEN: Monday, October 16, 2023, 6:00 p.m. (open at 5:30 PM for voting purposes)

WHAT: Prime rib dinner followed by the annual meeting, election for officers and trustees, and a conversation on the future of the James Mitchell Varnum House Museum.

SCHEDULE:

6:00 Social Hour
6:30 Prime Rib Dinner ($25 fee)
Annual Meeting and Election of Officers and Trustees follows the dinner.
Discussion regarding future of the Varnum House Museum.

DEADLINE: Reservations for the Annual Meeting are required and MUST be received by noon FRIDAY, October 13.

CLICK HERE TO RSVP

EARLY ADMISSION FOR VOTING: Can’t be there for dinner but want to cast your vote? The Armory will be open at 5:30 PM. Stop in and cast your vote.

The Varnum Nominating Committee will present the following slate of officers for the fiscal year 2023-2024 at our Annual Meeting/Election on Monday, October 16. Nominations will be accepted from the floor at the meeting. You must be current with your dues to vote. Nominated to serve a one-year term as Corporate Officers:

President: Patrick Donovan
Vice President (Varnum Memorial Armory): Maria Vazquez
Vice President (James Mitchell Varnum House): Joanne Breslin
Treasurer: John Adams
Secretary: Richard August

The following five (5) Varnum members are nominated to serve a three-year term:

Alison Carcieri-Cassidy
Jeffrey Cerniglia
Rob Goodrich
Jason Roomes
Sue Stenhouse

MEMBERSHIP RENEWALS ARE DUE NOW

Your dues for the 2023-2024 membership year were due October 1 (the start of our fiscal year). Dues are $50/year. If renewing by mail, then make checks payable to Varnum Continentals and mail to: Varnum Continentals, 6 Main Street, East Greenwich, RI, 02818.

CLICK HERE TO RENEW ONLINE

If you have already renewed, thank you. Not sure if your membership is paid? CLICK HERE to send us an email. We’ll check.

Respectfully,
Joanne Breslin, Secretary
Varnum Continentals, Inc.

[PHOTOS] Varnum Continentals Historic Militia Cannon Drill at the Varnum House Museum

July 22, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

On Saturday, July 22, the Varnum Continentals Historic Militia held a cannon drill at the Varnum House Museum. We had a great time and enjoyed getting visits from folks in the local community. The historic militia members demonstrated the equipment and procedures used to load a cannon and reviewed safety procedures. After the drill, the cannon was painted.

We were happy to see folks visiting the House’s period herb garden and enjoying the museum grounds. We look forward to seeing you again in the future at the Varnum House Museum!

Varnum Continentals Historic Militia Cannon Drill at the Varnum House Museum

July 19, 2023 By James Mitchell Varnum

Join the Varnum Continentals Historic Militia on Saturday, July 22, from 10 AM to 2 PM for an informative cannon drill at the Varnum House Museum, 57 Peirce St. East Greenwich, RI (right behind town hall). At the cannon drill, historic militia members will demonstrate the equipment and procedures used to load a cannon in preparation for firing and review safety procedures (the cannon will NOT be fired). After the drill, we’ll be painting the cannon; we welcome your assistance.

While on the Varnum House Museum grounds, visitors can also visit the House’s period herb garden, which was designed and maintained by URI Master Gardeners. We look forward to seeing you at the Varnum House Museum!

The event is free and open to the public. Check out the Facebook Event Link.

Busy Summer for the Varnum Continentals Historic Marching Unit

September 10, 2019 By James Mitchell Varnum

Over the summer, the Varnum Continentals Historic Marching Unit participated in the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR)/Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Flag Day Observation at the Dunes Club in Narragansett.

Later in the summer, Joanne Breslin (COL, Commander), David Trimmer (CAPT), John Greene (PVT), and Larry Mc Donald (LTC) presented the colors at the Nathanael Greene Birthday Celebration at the Greene Homestead in Coventry, RI. The Kentish Guards and Kingston Reds also participated in the event.

The unit was also honored to participate in East Greenwich’s Annual Summer’s End festivities in Eldredge Field, presenting the colors as the Navy Band NE Pops Ensemble played a stirring rendition of the Star Spangled Banner.

ACCEPTING NEW MEMBERS: As we prepare for our 2019-2020 season, we welcome fellow Varnum members to join our marching unit. For more information, talk with any current marching member or contact news@varnumcontinentals.org.

Varnums at the DAR /SAR Flag Day Observation
Nathanael Greene Birthday Celebration at the Greene Homestead
East Greenwich’s Annual Summer’s End festivities

Varnum Historic Military Command at the Rhode Island State House for flag presentation

June 26, 2018 By James Mitchell Varnum

Statues in the Rhode Island State House honor various branches of the U.S. Military service. Each statue (purchased by the State in 1945) was meant to be flanked by a U.S. flag and a flag representing that branch of the military. Three of these flags were missing for many years; the Rhode Island Historic Military Commands (aka RI Militia) purchased flags to replace those missing and donated them to the state.

On Friday, June 22, representatives of most of the 11 historic units (including the Varnum Historic Military Command) — in uniforms of the American Revolutionary War and American Civil War eras — presented the flags to the State of Rhode Island.