The March 17th 1812 Meeting was held at The Reserve Golf Club in the Nicklaus Room at St. James Plantation in Southport, North Carolina. 1812 Member, Betsy Pessetto gave a very interesting program titled, “Sailing to Victory on Carolina Oaks.”
Three young ladies from our local South, North and West Brunswick High Schools were recipients of the prestigious 1812 award. 1812 Cadet 1st Sgt. Alejandra Morales was chosen from SBHS. 1812 Cadet Major Estefania F. Gutierrez was chosen from NBHS and 1812 Cadet Breanna McAdoo was chosen from WBHS.
The Order of 1812 criteria; A cadet has to have demonstrated qualities of academic excellence, leadership, military discipline, dependability, patriotism and character in speech and habits, which exemplify the ideals upon which our nation was founded.
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| Betsy Pessetto presented an excellent program titled " Sailing to Victory on Carolina Oaks." |
"The
War of 1812--Victory at Sea on Carolina Live Oaks". In the earliest
1800s America was still floundering economically as a result of the
Revolutionary War and trying to establish its autonomy and integrity. At
the same time, British ships were harrassing American merchant ships,
confiscating their cargo, and impressing seamen into the Royal Navy.
President
Jefferson recognized that in order for the American Colonies to survive, they
would have to challenge the Royal Navy. Thus, began the building of
gun boats and the most famous American naval vessel, the USS
Constitution. To make these boats, shipyards called on the
Carolinas to provide them with a supply of lumber from the live
oaks. The wood of the live oak is very dense, and so less able to be
penetrated like other woods. It is not as susceptible to salt
spray and most commonly grows along the sea coast, making it more readily
available to the shipyards.
Reportedly,
the USS Constitution received its nickname, "Old Ironsides", becasue
its live-oak hull was so tough that the cannon balls from the
British war ships literally bounced off it. These gun
boats, made from live oaks, were responsible for the Colonies'
successes in all three theaters of the War, and aided in serving
a crushing blow psychologically to what had been the all-powerful
Royal British Navy.
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| L to R: 1812 Cadet Major Estefania F. Gutierrez from NBHS and 1812 Cadet 1st Sgt. Alejandra Morales from SBHS |
Cadet Major Estefania F. Gutierrez is a senior at North Brunswick High School. As a member of the JROTC Drill Team throughout high school, she participated on the drill and rifles, as well as the color guard for one year and two years as a staff member. Her activities include; two years in the French Club, member of the French Honor Society and National Honor Society, in addition, she was the recipient of the National Sojourners Award. She has done volunteer work for the Key Club and Youth Health Service Corp. Estefania plans to attend UNCW to pursue a degree and work later as a nurse practitioner.
Sergeant Alejandra Morales is a sophomore at South Brunswick High. She has
been a member of the Drill Team since her freshman year. She is on competition
and community color guards. Next year she will be the competition color guard Commander.
She has participated on both the softball and soccer teams. Alejandra is a member
of the Key Club, Teen Court and she volunteers often for the JROTC
program. Upon graduation, she plants to
study Criminal Justice and serve in the military. She is interested in
attending Appalachian State University.
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Cadet Breanna McAddoo from WBHS
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Cadet Breanna McAddo is a freshman from West Brunswick High School. She is a member of the JROTC Drill and Rifle teams. She received the Academic Achievement and the SAI Instructional Leadership Awards. She participated in the environmental clean-up, fundraising for both Toys for Tots and Blue Star Mothers. She also participated in Communities in School and publicity for JROTC.
