Remember Richard Somers On September 4, The Day He Died In Tripoli. Ceremony 4pm. Reception 5pm

At 4pm, we remember Richard Somers with dramatic readings to tell parts of his story near the mural and statue dedicated to him. They are at the park is at 801 Shore Road (by New Jersey Avenue) in Somers Point. There is no charge for that ceremony and dramatic reading.

At 5pm, we will have a “Lite Bites” Buffet at Sal’s Coal Fired Pizza. It is where we hold our breakfast meetings every Saturday. Sal’s is located at 501 New Road (by Groveland Avenue) in Somers Point.  $25 Donation includes light buffet and beverages.  Please pay online, at the door, or send check payable to Liberty and Prosperity to 453 Shore Road, Somers Point, New Jersey.  Thanks!

It would take a full college semester to tell the whole story of Richard Somers!  Every September 4, we tell part of it.  Here are the basics:

1. Richard Somers was born in Somers Point in 1778. He was five years old when America won independence in 1783.
2. When our War for Independence was over, America scrapped our navy and disbanded most of our army. Americans had no quarrel and saw no need to pay taxes for them.
3. with any other nation and didn’t think there was any reason to pay for them.
4. Like most Americans then, Richard Somers completed 8 grades of school at age 16. Yet he was better educated than most college graduates today. Like most Americans back them, Somers had mastered a trade and supporting himself by age 16. He was the master of ships that sailed between New York and Philadelphia.
5. Somers had a promising career ahead of him. He was ready to be in charge of taking large cargo ships around the world and living a comfortable life on land by age 30.
6. In 1798 at age 20, Richard Somers’ chose a different life. Barbary “Pirates” from North Africa were attacking and seizing American ships and selling their crews into slavery.  French pirates were attacking and robbing Americans in the Caribbeans. Americans finally agreed to build a navy. They said “Millions for Defense. Not One Cent for Tribute”.
7. Richard Somers and his classmates Stephen Decatur and Charles Stewart were among the first to join. In 1798, they got on-the-job-training fighting French pirates in the Caribbean.
8. In 1801, President Thomas Jefferson sent our navy to North Africa to fight the Barbary “Pirates”. In 1803, Richard Somers was put in charge of converting the Nautilus, a merchant schooner, into a warship. When it was ready in 1803, Somers took command of it and sailed it to North Africa.
9. In 1803 and 1804, Richard Somers and the new American navy won battle after battle. The world admired their skill and bravery.
10. By August of 1804, all of the Barbary “Pirate” kingdoms had made peace with America except Tripoli.
11. On September 4, 1804 Richard Somers tried to destroy the enemy fleet by packing the Intrepid, captured enemy ship with explosives. The mission failed. Richard Somers and all 12 members of crew were killed.
12. However, their courage inspired American sailors and marines to land “on the shores of Tripoli” end the war the following year. Their courage kept Americans safe in the Middle East for the next 190 years!