UNVEILING OF NEW HISTORICAL MARKER - BERNARDO DE GALVEZ 27 Sept 2012

Spanish Colonial Louisiana
Governor-General
Bernardo de Galvez
(Photo by Michael Henderson)

On Thursday, September 27, 2012, at 10:00 a.m. many gathered for an Unveiling Ceremony of the New Historical Marker for The Statue of Bernardo de Galvez located at the foot of Canal St in the City of New Orleans, Louisiana.  

Various Organizations and representatives in attendance were as followed:  Button Gwinnett Chapter, Georgia Society Sons of the American Revolution, New Orleans Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, General Philemon Thomas NSSAR, Louisiana Society NSSAR, Lady Washington Chapter, NSDAR, Canary Islander Heritage Society of Louisiana, Canary Islander Descendants Association, San Antonio, Granaderos y Damas de Galvez, TX, Houston TX, Galveston, TX, Jacksonville, Fl, Pensacola, Fl, San Antonio TX, Washington, D.C.

This day celebration was especially significant for both me and my mother Mrs. Frances Jane Henderson a (member of the New Orleans Chapter DAR) because of the important role Governor General Bernardo de Galvez played in our family’s ancestral history.  That story can be seen here in the PBS segment of the history detective titled:  the Galvez Papers

Here are a few photos captured of the day's event.

Michael Henderson, LCDR USN Ret-President Button
Gwinnett Chapter Georgia Society Sons of the American
Revolution and Mr. and Mrs. Joel Escamilla,
 Granaderos Governor-General and
Members the Granaderos y Damas de Galvez
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

Joel Escamilla,
 Granaderos Governor General
Addresses those in attendance
Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson

Mrs. Frances Jane Henderson, Member of the
New Orleans Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution
Mother of Michael N. Henderson, LCDR USN Ret.
President Button Gwinnett Chapter Georgia Society
Sons of the American Revolution shares with those in
 attendance the significance of Galvez's Contribution
 to his Louisiana Creole Ancestry
Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson 

Bernardo de Galvez
 played by
Mr. Robert Freeland
shares his appreciation of the
nearly forgotten Governor-General
Contribution to the American Revolution
Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson

(L to R) Compatriot Ike Edwards,
 President of the Gulf port Mississippi Chapter SAR
Mr. Bertin "Bert" Esteves, (Center)
 member of Canary Islands Heritage Society of Louisiana
and
Compatriot William Allerton,
Past State President of the Louisiana Society
Sons of the American Revolution
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

(L to R)Compatriot Clif Normard, LASSAR Registrar,
Compatriot Michael N. Henderson, LCDR USN Ret.
President Button Gwinnett Chapter Georgia Society SAR
Mrs. Frances Jane Henderson, Member of the New Orleans Chapter
Daughters of the American Revolution,
Mr. Joel Escamilla, Granaderos Governor General
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

New Historical Marker
for the Statue of
 Bernardo de Galvez,
New Orleans, La.
(Photo by Mr. Michael Henderson)

Michael Henderson, his mother Frances Henderson
and several members of the
Canary Islands Heritage Society of Louisiana
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson) 

As We all Gathered
So to We all Remembered
The Contributions of the Spanish Colonial
Governor-General
Bernardo de Galvez
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

Michael Nolden Henderson, LCDR USN Ret
President
Button Gwinnett Chapter Georgia Society
Son of the American Revolution
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

After the Unveiling Ceremony, We all gathered at the Galvez restaurant located in the French Quarter of New Orleans for a few acknowledgments of thanks for the local support and coordination of this successful event.  Here are a few of those photos captured on this day.

Ms. Cynthia Henderson Future member of the DAR and her Mom,
Mrs. Frances Henderson, Member of the New Orleans Chapter,
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
 making their way over to the Galvez Restaurant
(Photo by Ms. Barbara Henderson)

Outside the Galvez Restaurant
(Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson)

A Tribute to Bernardo de Galvez
on the wall of the entry way of
the Galvez Restaurant
(Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson)

Part of the main Dinner room of the
 Galvez Restaurant
Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson

Friends gather at the Ceremony at the Galvez Restaurant
(Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson)

Robert Freeland, Morgana King
of the New Orleans Art Council
 Cliff Normand
Photo by Mr. Michael Henderson

Barbara Henderson
 my sisters
and a Future member of the DAR
Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson

Yes we were all glad to be present for this
 historical marker unveiling for
Bernardo de Galvez
Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson

Four Ladies of the
 Louisiana Society Daughter of the American Revolution
(L-to-R) Ruth Autin, Gerry Ryder, Frances Henderson, Carole Gloger
Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson

Ms. Morgana King, Member of the New Orleans
Arts Council who assisted with
Coordinating the unveiling Ceremony is Presented
with a certificate of Appreciation from Mr. Richard Whynot
Member of the Granaderos y Damas de Galvez
(Photo by Mr. Michael Henderson)

Robert Freeland who dressed as
The Spanish Colonial Governor-General
Bernardo de Galvez is presented with a
 Certificate of Appreciate  by Mr. Joel Escamilla,
Granaderos Governor General
(Photo by Mr. Michael Henderson)

Head chef of the Galvez Restaurant
is presented with a certificate of
Appreciation byMr. Richard Whynot
Member of the Granaderos y Damas de Galvez
(Photo by Mr. Michael Henderson) 

Galvez
(Photo by Ms. Cynthia Henderson)

Also as a follow-up was an article published by the Louisiana Times-Picayune Newspaper titled see here: 

See more on my award-winning Memoir titled: GOT PROOF! My Genealogical Journey Through the Use of Documentation  which links Galvez to my 4th Generation Great Grandparent Agnes Mathieu and Mathieu

A Few Reflections on my Discovery of Ancestors in French Colonial Louisiana

The video clip above was made a few years ago before I started documenting my ancestors whom I discovered lived during the French and Spanish colonial periods in Louisiana.  Interestingly enough, I have been successful in documenting many of those that I speak about in this video. One in particularly, was a French national, my 4th generation Great Grandfather by the name of Mathieu Devaux dit Platillo.

My discovery of him happened in a most interesting way and I will sharing part of that story in my new book titled,  Got Proof! My Genealogical Journey Through The Use Of Documentation .   I will keep you posted on the completion of the book which is due to be released soon. 

The Granaderos y Damas de Galvez

The Granaderos y Damas de Galvez  (Galvez Grenadier and Ladies)  is a non-profit, civic-patriot organization founded by Charles E. Barrera and Henry Guerra, San Antonio businessmen in 1975 in preparation for the U.S. Bicentennial Celebrations.  Eric Martel at that time the Spanish Consul General  in Houstan, Tx provided invaluable assistance.  Since then, the group has grown from the founding Chapter in San Antonio to include chaptersin Houston TX, Galveston TX, Jacksonville Fl, Pensacola Fl and Washington D.C.  The Organization welcomes opportunities to establish new chapters wherever there is interest.

The Mission of the Organization is to help educate the public about Spain’s substantial although generally little known contributions to the success of the American Revolution.  Members use every opportunity to expound on the life and accomplishments of  Bernardo de Galvez  , the namesake of the Organization.

Members includes professional and Amateur historians and educators who performed individual research, write articles and deliver speeches at public or private events.  Please see recent event held in New Orleans Louisiana for the Unveiling of the Unveiling Ceremony of the New Historical Marker for the Statue of Bernardo De Galvez on Sept 27, 2012.

 Also participates in civic-patriotic ceremonies and parades.  In most activities, wear Spanish colonial uniforms  and carry  the Betsy Ross colonial American flag  and the Burgundian Spanish colonial flag  to symbolize the collaborative efforts of General Georgia Washington and Bernardo de Galvez during the American Revolution war. 

Other photos of members in various uniforms: