On April 23 the Society held a Kirking of the Tartans at the Historic Christ Church in Weems, Virginia.  A Kirking of the Tartans is a Scottish-American tradition where family tartans are presented at a church (Kirk) service for blessing.  Above is a photo of SASW members before the Historic Christ Church.  This is always a moving experience.

From left to right: Harley Stewart, Bob Davis, Jerry Lelansky (President), Irene Lelansky (Board member), Russ Madigan (Sergeant at Arms), and Daryl Johnson. 

Photo credit Jerry Lelansky. 

Lassies and Lads,

It is my great pleasure to be addressing you as the 2023 President of the Saint Andrew’s Society of Williamsburg. I’m sure a few are wondering about my last name and why I joined our great society.  My Scottish heritage is on my mother’s side, with ancestral ties to Clan Anstruther, Fife, Scotland.  

Thank you to Douglas Boller, our immediate past President, and our very active and involved Board members.  I will rely on the boards’ knowledge and expertise to keep me on the straight and narrow.

We had a great Burns Night at Fords Colony on January 21st.  Many thanks to Tim Cordle, our Master of Ceremonies and the Burns Night committee; to Douglas Boller for his Address to the Haggis and Toast to the Haggis as well has his explanation and recital of Tam O’Shanter; and thank you Lianne Boller for the slide presentations and designing the Burns Nights night program.  Thanks to Terri Cordle and Marshall Thomas for taking pictures and thanks to Terri and Anna, Tim and Terri’s daughter, for handling the registration table.  Our silent auction exceeded all expectations, and I want to thank Sherri Cornoni for managing it. Once again Russ Madigan, our Quartermaster, did the yeoman’s share of the work setting up and tearing down everything needed for the successful event.  Thanks to several others that made the evening a success.  Also, thank you Poison Dwarf and last, but definitely not least, a huge thank you to the Williamsburg Pipes and Drums band for their performance.  This is a list of the pieces they played:  

• Entrance: Scotland the Brave/Wings

• Skye Boat

• Green Hills of Tyrol/The Battles Over

• A Man’s a Man For a’ That

• Brown Haired Maid/ High Road to Gairloch

• Presentation of the colors:  God Bless America

• Recessional: Scotland the Brave/Wings

• Presentation of the Haggis: A Man’s A Man For A’ That

Holding with tradition, we will celebrate Tartan Day, Founders Day, Kirkin’ of the Tartans, Saint Andrew’s Day, our two annual food drives for Grove Christian Outreach, the Annual General Meeting and our Christmas Party.  Since it was a big success, we’ll also again participate in the Williamsburg Christmas Parade, to be held on the first Sunday in December. Also, I hope that members will join in “manning” a SAS-W tent at the Richmond Highland Games on Nov 4-5, as well joining the Daughters of the American Revolution Williamsburg (DAR) in laying wreaths on Veterans graves at Cedar Grove Cemetery on the third Saturday in December.  We will also formulate plans for a few fund raising events this year.

The Tartan Day Committee is developing plans for the Tartan Day celebration, to include enhanced publicity for this and other Society events.  On April 6, Tartan Day, we will again provide our annual food and monetary donations to Grove Christian Outreach, with many society members clad in their tartans. We will officially recognize Tartan Day on April 29 with a parade, led by more than thirty members from several local Pipes and Drum bands, down the Duke of Gloucester Street, followed by lunch and a lively program for our members at Lewis Hall, in the Bruton Parish House.

Please invite friends and family to join in our gatherings and functions. This will increase interest and hopefully new members.  With new members comes fresh ideas and energies that will strengthen our goal of preserving Scottish culture for future generations.

Yours Aye,

Jerry Lelansky