The Quaich Comes to Virginia

[Spartan Tartan]

Well done. It certainly looks like a great time was had by all.

[Mael Coluim]

You know not everything is a bed of roses for our XMTS Quaich. Sometimes she must soldier on and do her part in bigger things. Last night, the Fredericksburg Scottish Society held its Burns Night. The XMTS Quaich was the bearer of the whisky of the event.

Here are the few photos I took, as there was an assigned photographer there who is to share his photos of the event. When they come online, I will share them here.

We start our evening with the Mary Washington University Eagle Pipe Band. They do a really good show.





We would later honor their Director, Dr. Ray Scott with a Life Time Honorary Membership to the Scottish Society.



We also had the Burgess Highland Dancers who performed for us. These wee ones are very excited to show their stuff.

[Mael Coluim]

The Haggis was then piped in and the toasts shared by all with our XMTS Quaich.







XMarker Geoff Withnell would afterwards come to say hello to her.


For her duties, our new Chief Robert Glasgow gave her a lapel pin of the Scoiety to accompany her on her journey






Just a note about the two single malts in the background. We have a raffle of donated items to raise funds for the society. I had donated the Ardbeg pictured and three other whiskys were donated. I won back my donation and a second the Glenmorangie, the Original. A lucky night for me!


More to come!

[ASinclair]

Awesome, Ern! Looks like the Quaich is getting quite a workout while in your care. Wonderful pictures, keep 'em coming.

[Downunder Kilt]

Fantastic Ern, exactly what the quaich is about. Good one and cheers, look forward to the other pics when they arrive.

[thescot]

Wonderful pictures and a great time, no doubt.

I do hope she makes her way to Georgia to be feted by the rabble around here.

[Mael Coluim]

The Scots had a considerable influence in the area I live in Virginia during our Colonial times. It was fitting that the XMTS Quaich should visit our most famous Scot-American Dr/Gen Hugh Mercer’s Apothecary in historic downtown Fredericksburg. The docents were pleased with the visit and to learn about the travels of our Quaich.

The county west of Fredericksburg City where I live, Spotsylvania carries the name of another famous Scot, Alexander Spotswood.



For the occasion I wore my XMTS tartan Newsome single box pleat kilt.






Fredericksburg has the only statute of Revolutionary War hero General Mercer. He was a surgeon for Bonnie Prince Charlie at Culloden. A hero in the French and Indian War befriended by Col. George Washington, who convinced him to relocate to Virginia after that war. Some historians credit him with the idea of Washington’s crossing the Delaware River on Christmas eve night surprising the Hessians at Trenton in the Revolutionary War. Shortly afterwards he was tragically wounded at the Battle of Princeton where he died a few days later.

[ASinclair]

Ern,

Great pictures! What a wonderful outing for the Quaich! I enjoyed learning of Hugh Mercer, and I like your outfit, quite dapper, sir. Thanks for posting.

Slainte!

[Mael Coluim]

A few more photos taken by a better photographer than the previous one of our Quaich at the Burns Supper.

Our whisky bearer, Larry Livingstone presents the water of life.




Our emcee Preston Simms fill our Quaich with uisge beatha.




Our haggis bearer, Avril Bishop receives her dram




Preston W Simms who will shortly deliver the Toast to the Haggis downs his dram.




L to R – MC, Sir William, Orvice




With Mark Ellis




It was quite an honor to have the XMTS Quaich at the Fredericksburg Scottish Society Burns Supper. It’s now time to box up our traveler and send her on to Wisconsin where there is a Dropkick Murphy’s concert for her to attend.

[ASinclair]

Wonderful, Ern! Well done, sir!