Nathan Hale's 250th Birthday Commemoration

John Callahan, Originally from Hartford, John joined the United States Marine Corps in 1963. He is a veteran of the fighting in the Dominican Republic (Spring 1965), as well as a member of the 9th Marine Expeditionary Brigade (the first combat Marines to land in Vietnam 1965). Honorably Discharged in 1967, John returned to Connecticut.

John has presented American Military History over a 26 year period in a story format at large scale reenactments , in movies (such as Glory, Gettysburg, God's and Generals), as well as at schools, historical sites (Old Newgate Prison in Granby, Smith Harris House in East Lyme, Fort at Number Four in New Hampshire, The Old State House in Hartford, various museum's (including the Wadsworth Atheneum in Hartford Ct.) and historical societies all over New England and New York.

From Pirates to Victorian Croquet games John brings to your "stage" a true feeling for the times and the people of our past. Should you require a journey into the past, John Callahan can take you there... and make it come alive.

Robert Girard Carroon, Ph.D., Past Genealogist General of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution and Secretary of the Society of the Cincinnati in the State of Connecticut is the author of "Broadswords and Bayonets: British Military Operations on America's Western Frontier 1763-1765 (1984);"A New Heart, A New Spirit: Essays in Honor of the Bicentennial of Samuel Seabury" 1988) "From Freeman's Ford to Bentonville: The 61st Ohio Volunteer Infantry in the Civil War" (1998) and "Union Blue: The Military Order of the Loyal Legion of the United States" (2001). The study of the life of Benjamin Tallmadge has been a major project of his for many years.

Gregory T. Edgar, Author of 6 non-fiction adult books on the Rev. War, including Liberty Or Death, which was nominated for the 1995 Cincinnati Prize for a distinguished book on the Revolutionary Period, as well as 2 illustrated historical novels with teacher guides for readers aged 10-14. Also is a school presenter on the Rev. War period. Greg has been researching and writing on the Rev. War for 25 years. His ancestors include soldiers in both the Continental and British armies. Author of: “Are the Yankees Cowards Now?”; “Gone to Meet the British”; “Liberty or Death!, The Northern Campaigns in the American Revolutionary War”; “Campaign of 1776, The Road to Trenton”; “Reluctant Break with Britain, From Stamp Act to Bunker Hill”; “The Philadelphia Campaign 1777-1778”.

Nathan Hale, is one of the most beloved figures of the American Revolution. For generations he has symbolized national service, self-sacrifice and patriotic duty. By answering General Washington”s call to gather military intelligence, he risked life and reputation as a spy for the American cause. This slide program considers Nathan Hale’s short life as a morality tale - in which the idealistic, Yale-educated son of a Connecticut farmer volunteers for a dangerous assignment at the darkest hour in America’s journey of freedom. The program explores Nathan Hale’s background, character and education. It reveals how British spy John Andre and Benedict Arnold’s betrayal influenced the Hale legend. And it reviews the public expression of Hale’s legend - in art, literature, and sculpture and in the historic sites associated with him. Audiences will also learn about the various historic sites associated with Nathan Hale.

Historian Bill Hosley is an advocate for Connecticut and New England history and art who was formerly the Director of the Antiquarian & Landmarks Society where he cared for several of Connecticut’s premiere historic properties. As a curator at Wadsworth Atheneum, Bill organized several major exhibitions including The Great River: Art & Society of the Connecticut Valley (1985), The Japan Idea: Art and Life in Victorian America (1990), Sense of Place: Furniture from New England Towns (1993) and Sam & Elizabeth: Legend and Legacy of Colt'sEmpire (1996). Bill has studied hundreds of museum collections and is a member of the Ad Hoc Committee for the Coltsville National Park. He has shared Connecticut’s stories with hundreds of audiences throughout the country, is a member of the Place board of The Hartford Courant, has consulted on PBS and BBC documentaries and has written five books and numerous articles about early New England.

Jordan Freeman was an actual person, a native of Old Lyme. Although he did not enlist himself, he witnessed key events of the war for independence while with Col. Ledyard. Historians estimate the number of black soldiers in this war to have been about 5,000 men, serving in militias, seagoing services, and support activities, including nearly 300 from Connecticut. Some enlisted because they felt it was their duty; others because they were offered their freedom in return for satisfactory completion of a set period of service. The presentation is based on extensive research in the collections of the Connecticut State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History at 231 Capitol Ave, opposite the State Capitol in Hartford

Kevin Johnson is an employee of the State Library’s History and Genealogy Unit. In addition to portraying Jordan Freeman, he has been presenting as William Webb, a soldier in the Civil War, for more than five years and has given more than 200 presentations. The Connecticut State Library provides high quality library and information services to state government and the citizens of Connecticut. It also preserves and makes accessible the records of Connecticut's history and heritage. The focus of the Museum and its collections is Connecticut's government, military and industrial history. Permanent and changing exhibits trace the growth of the State and its role in the development of the nation from the Colonial era to the present. Additional information about the State Library and the Museum of Connecticut History can be found on its Web page at http://www.cslib.org/.

Keith M. Jones III, son of a WWII bomber pilot, Keith retired in 1999 from a 28-year career in corporate marketing to follow his passion for American History. As founding president of the Ridgefield Historical Society, he chaired the town's 225th anniversary re-enactment of the April 1777 Revolutionary War Battle of Ridgefield. He is the author of two books on Connecticut history: "The Farms of Farmingville" (2001), and "Farmers Against the Crown "(2002). Keith is Deputy Adjutant of a Revolutionary War re-enactor unit -- the 5th Connecticut Regiment of the Continental Line -- and a member of the Roger Sherman Branch of the Connecticut Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

Richard E. Mooney, a retired journalist (New York Times), is currently writing a biography of Nathan Hale. He recently arranged for the placement of a commemorative plaque in New York City, on Third Avenue at East 65th Street, marking the site of the British encampment on the Upper East Side of Manhattan where Hale was hanged on September 22, 1776. In research for the plaque he saw that no full biography had been done since George Dudley Seymour's extensive work more than a half-century ago. He is also preparing an exhibit in the Sterling Memorial Library at Yale in the spring of 2005 to mark the 250th anniversary of Hale's birth. He has conducted research for his book in East Haddam, New London and Coventry as well as in libraries and historical societies in Hartford, New Haven, Boston, New York and Washington. He was graduated from Yale 174 years after Hale. He lives in New York City.

George C. Neumann has authored several books on the subject of revolutionary weaponry and has probably the most extensive private collection of these items in existence. A businessman, but equally a historian by avocation, he is a past commander of the Brigade of the American Revolution, fellow of the Company of Military Historians, and a writer whose articles have appeared in every major publication devoted to arms and history. Author of: “The History of Weapons of the American Revolution”; “Swords & Blades of the American Revolution”; “Collector’s Illustrated Encyclopedia of the American Revolution”; “Battle Weapons of the American Revolution”.