The Battle of Stonington Bicentennial Celebration began August 9, 2014 with a memorial service held in honor of Midshipman Thomas Barratt Powers, a member of the English Navy who was killed in the waters off New London, Conn. July 31, 2014.
Powers, 18, was shot and killed in the act of surrendering to an American Privateer. In an attempt to rectify this unwarranted loss of life, the Reverend Ira Hart of the 30th Regiment of the Connecticut Militia and the citizens of Stonington Borough arranged for Midshipman Powers to be buried in Stonington with full military honors.
Rob Simmons
Commore Richard Allen (center) and Captain Carl Lahti (right)
200 years later, Powers was remembered by the Stonington community in a service led by retired U.S. Army Colonel Rob Simmons, who served in Vietnam and is a member of the American Legion Post in Stonington. Speaches were also given by Meredith Brown of the Stonington Historical Society, Captain Carl Lahti of the New London Submarine Base, and Commodore Richard Allen of the Royal Navy.
New London Sub Base Silver Dolphin Trill Team
Video of the ceremony, published by Ameriborn News can be found here.
