VA honors Revolutionary War Veteran Capt. Samuel Brashears in support of America’s 250th anniversary - Mountain Home National Cemetery

On Sunday, August 2, 2026, the Kings Mountain Chapter of the Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution joined members of the John Sevier–Sarah Hawkins, State of Franklin, Mary Patton, and Fort Chiswell chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution, along with members of the Tennessee Society Children of the American Revolution, for a special ceremony honoring Revolutionary War Patriot Capt. Samuel Brashears (1763–1829).

Held at the Mountain Home National Cemetery Annex, the ceremony was hosted by Cemetery Director Rich Munoz. Randa Blackley performed the National Anthem and later led those assembled in singing "America the Beautiful." Chaplain Samuel Godfrey delivered the invocation and benediction, and Allen Jackson presented a biography of Capt. Brashears.

Members of the DAR placed a commemorative wreath in Capt. Brashears' honor. The Kings Mountain Chapter Color Guard fired three musket volleys, and C.A.R. members Ivan Daniels and Cohen Daniels provided drum and fife music. Cohen Daniels concluded the military honors by playing "Taps" on the fife.

Samuel Brashears began his military service at the remarkable age of thirteen as a fife player and advanced to the rank of private by age fifteen. Two months after his sixteenth birthday, he fought at the Battle of Kings Mountain on October 7, 1780. He later served at Cowan’s Ford and Beattie’s Bridge and was likely present at the Battle of Cowpens.

Brashears continued with the American forces to Yorktown, where, at eighteen years of age, he witnessed the surrender of British General Cornwallis and his army on October 19, 1781. He remained in military service for at least another decade, received an officer’s commission, and eventually attained the rank of captain.

After leaving military service, Samuel married Margaret Eaken. They became the parents of ten children and made their home in what is now Sullivan County, Tennessee.

Capt. Brashears is one of 49 Revolutionary War veterans interred or memorialized in Department of Veterans Affairs national cemeteries and VA-administered soldiers’ lots across the country. The ceremony was part of the VA's yearlong commemoration of America's 250th anniversary. Similar ceremonies were held at 16 locations nationwide to mark August 2, 1776, the date on which most delegates to the Continental Congress signed the Declaration of Independence.

Through this ceremony, we remembered the service, sacrifice, and patriotism of Capt. Samuel Brashears and all those who took up arms in defense of liberty and helped establish the United States of America.

Independence on the Frontier - 250th Anniversary Commemoration

ELIZABETHTON, TN — On Saturday, July 25, Kings Mountain Chapter President Rob Richmond and chapter member John Neth III participated in the Independence on the Frontier: 250th Anniversary Commemoration at Sycamore Shoals State Historic Park. The event transported visitors back to the summer of 1776, when news of American independence finally reached settlers on the colonial frontier. Historical interpreters portrayed the varied reactions of frontier residents as they learned that the thirteen colonies had declared themselves a new nation.

Meeting - Dr. Tucker Adkins will talk about "The Revolution in Colonial America"

On August 13th, Dr. Tucker Adkins will speak to the Kings Mountain Chapter of the SAR about “The Revolution in Colonial America.”  Dr. Adkins is an Assistant Professor of History and Humanities at Milligan University, specializing in religion and everyday life in early America and the British Atlantic world. His research examines how the Evangelical Revival transformed religious experience through emotional preaching, outdoor gatherings, physical expressions of faith, and other revival practices.

He is the author of the forthcoming book New Birth, New World: Religious Experience in the Awakened Atlantic World, under contract with the University of Georgia Press. His scholarship has appeared or is forthcoming in several respected historical journals. He is also co-editing the first critical edition of the diaries of early Methodist William Seward.

We meet on the second Thursday @6:00PM of each month in Tipton-Haynes Historic Site, 2620 S Roan St, Johnson City, TN.  A Buffet Dinner is served $20/person (pay at door - cash or CC).  All Members and Guests are Welcome.  Please contact David Carr (choirboy44@live.com) to make Reservations.

Patriot Ancestor - Henry Wakefield (1752 - 1850)

HENRY WAKEFIELD (May 1752 - 13 Nov. 1850) - Henry Wakefield was born in 1752 in Albemarle County, Virginia, the son of Charles and Elizabeth Wakefield. By the beginning of the Revolutionary War, he was living in Burke County, North Carolina, where he volunteered for military service in either 1775 or 1776.

Wakefield initially served under Captain William Penland, whose surname also appears in the records as Pentland. His company marched to Cathey’s Fort and participated in operations against the Cherokee west of the Blue Ridge Mountains. During a hunting or scouting expedition near Bull Mountain, Wakefield shot a Cherokee warrior and was then shot in the back by another. His companions retreated to the fort with his horse, believing him to be dead. Despite his wound, Wakefield reported that he reached the fort six days later and was subsequently taken home to recover.

After regaining his health, Wakefield returned to service. He joined a light horse company commanded by Captain Thomas Kennedy and served under General Griffith Rutherford in operations intended to suppress Loyalist activity and take prisoners. When reports reached Rutherford that Cherokee warriors were threatening the frontier settlements, Wakefield was among approximately one hundred men sent home to protect the region.

In June 1780, Wakefield attempted to join the American forces gathering against Loyalists at Ramsour’s Mill. He marched with Captain John Russell’s company but missed the battle because, according to his pension declaration, their guide led the company incorrectly. Wakefield nevertheless continued to participate in short expeditions against Loyalists who threatened families and settlements in western North Carolina.

Reserve Your Tennessee SAR Specialty License Plate

The Tennessee Society Sons of the American Revolution is proud to introduce the new Tennessee SAR Specialty License Plate—a visible way to honor the Patriots of the American Revolution while supporting the work of the Tennessee SAR.

By reserving a plate, you will help:

• Honor our Patriot ancestors

• Support educational and historic preservation programs

• Promote patriotism and America’s founding principles

• Increase public awareness of the Sons of the American Revolution

The plate is available to all Tennessee residents, and SAR membership is not required.

Please encourage your family, friends, neighbors, and fellow patriots to reserve a Tennessee SAR plate and help bring this special plate to Tennessee roadways.

Reserve yours today and proudly display your support for America’s Revolutionary heritage.

Unaccompanied Veteran Funeral Ceremony - Mountain Home National VA Cemetery

MOUNTAIN HOME, TN - On Wednesday, July 15, Dr. Timothy Scott Holder and Stephen B. Kirby represented the Kings Mountain Chapter, TNSSAR, at an Unaccompanied Veteran funeral service at Mountain Home National Cemetery in Johnson City, Tennessee.

The ceremony honored a female Air Force veteran who had no known next of kin or family available to attend. Dr. Holder, Kings Mountain Chapter and Tennessee SAR State Chaplain, offered a tribute, blessing, and prayers for the deceased veteran.

More than one hundred people gathered for the poignant service, including representatives of numerous veterans’ organizations, civic groups, The American Legion, Rolling Thunder, Vietnam Veterans of America, Woman Vets USA, the Daughters of the American Revolution, and the Sons of the American Revolution.

The Unaccompanied Veterans Ceremony ensures that those who served our nation are laid to rest with dignity, gratitude, and the respect they earned through their military service.

"Children of the American Revolution read Declaration of Independence" - Johnson City Press

Children of the American Revolution read Declaration of Independence

The Children of the American Revolution hosted a special event nationwide Wednesday as part of a celebration of America's 250th birthday, with every chapter across the country being invited to read the Declaration of Independence at 6 p.m. eastern time.

https://johnsoncitypress.com/news/381923/children-of-the-american-revolution-read-declaration-of-independence/

The 136th SAR Congress - Greensboro, NC

L-R:  Rob Richmond, Fred Underdown, Rick Treherne, Doug Evans, Brian Frye, PZ Horton, Jerry Hjellum, Robert Waugh, John Fulwider, Don Hills, Ben Stonecypher.

The 136th SAR Congress was well attended by members of the Kings Mountain Chapter.Compatriots Ben Stonecypher, Rob Richmond and Bob Waugh made the drive to Greensboro, NC for the National SAR Congress. All three served as delegates in the Congress and all three also served with the National Color Guard. They were joined by VPG John Fulwider of Mississippi, a dual member of KMC.

Compatriot Don Hills represented the State of Franklin Chapter at Congress and also served as delegate and Color Guard member.

Holston Heritage Museum in Bluff City, TN

On July 11th, John Neth III manned a Revolutionary War weapons and accessories display at the Holston Heritage Museum in Bluff City, TN.

Reading of the Declaration of Independence

Just as the Declaration of Independence was read to the people on July 8, 1776, now, 250-years later, Americans in all 50 States, 5 Territories, the District of Columbia, and Minor Outlying Islands of the United States will read the Declaration of Independence 'together'.

Even though the United States is spread across thousands of miles and ten different time zones, all of us in America may read the Declaration of Independence 'together', at the 'same' time. Unlike the extent of the Colonies in 1776, today, America spans about 9,500-miles from one extreme to the other (the Caribbean across North America to the western edge of the Pacific).

Members of the Kings Mountain and Watagua Chapters of the SAR, State of Franklin DAR and others participated in the reading of The Declaration of Independence.