The Richard Henry Lee Chapter, Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution, celebrated the 47th anniversary of its 1976 chartering at its third luncheon meeting of the year on May 9 at Historic Christ Church in Lancaster County. RHLC president Michael Rhodes presided. Twenty-nine compatriots and guests were in attendance.

Following lunch, the meeting began with an awards ceremony.

Jim Russell, president of the James Monroe Chapter, received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Virginia Society, SAR, in recognition of his leadership and participation in the Patriots Chest Program. This show-and-tell program brings to life for school children and adults what it was like in America for colonists during the times of the American Revolution. Presentations include replicas of clothes, uniforms, work tools, cooking utensils, dry foods, toys, weapons and various items of everyday life from the colonial period. Russell and Charles Belfield, past-president of the James Monroe Chapter, have teamed up to present the Patriots Chest Program to some 20 different school and adult groups over the past year.

Continuing with the awards ceremony, Robert McKenney and Dick Fickling received 30-year and 15-year membership awards, respectively. Also, new member Charles Clayton Williams was inducted.

For the keynote presentation, Belfield and Russell performed a dialogue as reenactors portraying Founding Fathers Richard Henry Lee and his brother, Francis Lightfoot Lee. The dialogue takes place shortly after the imposition of the Stamp Act on the American colonies by the British Parliament in November 1765.

In the reenactment, the two brothers debate the issues surrounding the Stamp Act and come to the conclusion that they must take a firmer stand against Britain, even if it means putting their lives on the line.