17th Annual Burns’ Night Fredericksburg Scottish Society PIX

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:03 PM

The Scottish Society of Fredericksburg held its 17th Annual Burns’ Night, last night. It was definitely the best one I attended. The most XMarkers in attendance with many with their spouses or significant others and in one case all of their family!

Gerry [Orvice] attended his first Burns Night with us and John [SCV40BT] is a veteran.

Gerry’s friend, Susan with Eileen and Bill [Sir William]

Erin and Brian[Avonlea22] came from the Raleigh area to be with us. I was so pleased they did.

Bill chats with Avril who hails from Edinburgh. Avril is our Keeper of the Sporran. She meet her husband who then was in the US Navy. Steve wore a kilt US Navy Edzell tartan for the first time tonight. Their son wants a kilted wedding so Dad thought he better get the hang of wearing one. He found out the power of the kilt as he got his first drink free!

Ambjack another veteran of our Burns’ Nights enjoys a drink with Orvice.

In fact Ambjack had many of his family in attendance; wife, children, spouses and parents. His Dad wore a kilt for the first time!

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:12 PM

We had a raffle table with many fine gifts; three single malt whiskys (yes, one was local) and the fine print of Rabbie which I had acquired from JSFMACLJR.

Melissa is a past Chief and Secretary of the Society and Preston is our current Secretary and emcee for the evening. Preston had given Melissa a little encouragement to smile!

Preston William son of Preston would provide the Address to the Haggis.

The University of Mary Washington’s Eagles Pipe Band started the evening.

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:13 PM

We had Highland Dancers to entertain us, too!

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:16 PM

The Haggis is piped in.

And toasts given to the piper and the Haggis.

Preston William out did himself with his Ode to the Haggis.

Chris Foss Associate Professor of UMW gave the Immortal Memory

Bill and Eileen whooped it up with the Toasts to the Lassies and their reply!

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:33 PM

We enjoy a 'wee' dram from Gerry!

The Rabble!

Bill was pleased to win the Glenfiddich!

Another winner!

After dinner we were serenade by Deborah Jensen and May Triola of Moch Pryderi.

As please as Sir William was to win the Glenfiddach; he was overjoyed to win my donated bottle of Glenmorangie Lasanta!

I hoped that who won my donated Burns print would appreciate it. I was overjoyed that Orvice had the winning ticket! He shared with me had a special place of honor to hang it in his home.

**Mael Coluim** · 30th January 11, 09:34 PM

In closing the grand evening, we held hands and sang ‘Auld Lang Syne!”

**Sir William** · 3rd February 11, 08:22 PM

Originally Posted by Mael Coluim

As pleased as Sir William was to win the Glenfiddach; he was overjoyed to win my donated bottle of Glenmorangie Lasanta!

Not only did I win two bottles of single-malt that night (Thanks Ern!), but before going over to the Burn's Dinner I stopped off at the Fredericksburg Pub, where we would end the evening. I'd been on the road most of the day and got to Fredericksburg earlier than anticipated. I decided to stop off and change into my kilt and have a pint before heading over to the dinner.

Immediately after I changed, the manager spotted me and we chatted a bit about it being the night of the Burn's Dinner. He then bought me a FREE pint of Bellhaven Scottish Ale. It's not the first time I'd gotten a free drink for wearing a kilt but I always enjoy the token of appreciation.