NicoleBednorz,SeniorPresident,C.A.R.PresidioHill

Society(left)andPhilipL.Hinshaw(center)arejoinedbyTravis,BrookeandTannerofthePresidioHillSociety.

IsabelandJoséDosalwithJesús

Benayas,PresidentofCasadeEspaña

FlagsinfrontoftheHouseofSpain

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SARandthe4thofJulyinBalboaParkTheSonsoftheAmericanRevolution(SAR)SanDiegoChapterjoinedtheHouseofSpain(CasadeEspaña)inthefifthannualcelebrationofIndependenceDayinBalboaParkonJuly3rd and 4th, 2016. This celebration also honors Spain’s role in theAmerican Revolution and the San Diego Presidio’s financialcontribution in 1780 to Spain’s war effort against England. TheCaliforniaSocietyofSARdedicatedaplaqueintheCityofSanDiegoPresidioParkhonoringthefinancialcontributionin2005.

The Children of the American Revolution (C.A.R.) Presidio HillSociety joinedinthecelebration.ThePresidioHillSocietytakes itsname from the San Diego Presidio that was the first oneconstructedinCalifornia.TheremnantsofthePresidioarelocatedinPresidioParknearOldTownSanDiego.

SARlinedthewalkwayleadingtotheHouseofSpainwiththeflagsofthe13colonies plus the Betsy Ross flag and the Cross of Burgundy flag. Theprominent locationof the flagsattracted theattentionofvisitorsenteringthe park and caused them to stop and ask questions about the flags andwhattheyrepresent.Approximately,1,300visitorstouredthecasitaduringthe4thofJulyweekend.ManyvisitorswereamazedtolearnthatSpainwasinvolvedintheAmericanRevolution.Visitorsfromtheeastcoastoftenhadtheirpicturestakenwiththeflagoftheirstate.

AbigsurprisethisyearwasavisitbyJoséandIsabelDosalfromLosAngeles.Theywere born and raised in Spain. He is an accomplished musician and plays theGalician gaita that is the traditional instrument of Galicia and in some parts ofPortugal. The word gaita is used across northern Spain as a generic term for“bagpipe”. José played several songs that are typical of northern Spain. Manyvisitors leaving the parking lot behind the Organ Pavilion stopped to enjoy theSpanishmusic.

The San Diego SAR Chapter created a table display of information about theDeclarationof Independence and the 13 colonies, aswell as handouts about SARand the SanDiego Chapter activities. BrownBessmuskets, several swords, and a powder hornwere also ondisplay.ThisdisplaycaughttheinterestofmostvisitorsandmanyweresurprisedattheweightandlengthoftheBrownBessmuskets.

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