Organizing Meeting of the Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter

24 Jun 2018                                     Mattanock Town, VA

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NANSEMOND
INDIAN
PATRIOTS
CHAPTER

Charter members of the Nansemond Indian Patriot Chapter. Left to right: Charles Bass, Samuel Bass (Assistant Chief), Brian Bass, Jared Bass, Andrew Bass, Aaron Bass, Eric Bass, Thomas Badamo, and Earl Bass (Chief Emeritus).

     The Nansemond Nation participated in the American struggle for independence, and, as a result, probably all tribal members are eligible for SAR, DAR or C.A.R. membership as appropriate.  A member of the tribe, Tom Badamo, and his three sons, recently joined the Long Island Chapter, SAR in New York.  The president of that chapter, Joe Vermaelen, then took on the task of bringing more members of the tribe into the SAR.  Since a large number of the tribe live on or near their original homeland in Suffolk County, VA, it followed that a new chapter in Virginia could be formed from the Nansemond Nation.
     A big step forward to that goal was made this past Sunday with the organizational meeting of the new chapter, which adopted the name "Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter".  At this meeting eight new members were inducted and a slate of officers elected for the chapter.  The next meeting will be in conjunction with the Atlantic Middle States Association District Meeting in Newport News on August 10th and 11th.  The Virginia SAR Color Guard has been invited to participate in the Annual Nansemond Pow Wow on August 18th and 19th.

Submitted by Bill Schwetke, 2nd VP, VASSAR

Elected Officers for Nansemond Indian Patriots Chapter

President & Chaplain - Sam Bass
Vice President - Earl Bass
Secretary - Joe Vermaelen
Treasurer - Jerod Bass
Registrar - Tom Badamo
Chancellor - Mike Elston

Virginia SAR President Pat Kelly inducts eight new members who will be charter members of the Nansemond Indian Patriot Chapter. On the left side of the picture, looking on, are Joe Vermaelen and Tom Badamo, with whom the idea for this chapter originated.

As Secretary-elect, Tom Badamo takes over the conduct of the organizing meeting.