Kilted Friday

**Mael Coluim** · 24th August 07, 08:38 PM

As a take off from causal Friday I call today Kilted Friday. I had had earlier in the week called the Chief of the Fredericksburg Scottish Society, Don MacCleay to have lunch downtown and would spring for the check if he wore his kilt.

That morning at work (day job- manage a gated homeowners association of active adults) I had admirers and no scoffers. One member had her family visiting and brought them to the office to meet me. She later confessed that she actually wanted to them to see me in the kilt!

I had Don meet me at my favorite restaurant, Sammy T's. Don and I were planning to talk about how to give the Scottish Society more visibility in the area and to increase peoples' interest in their Scottish roots. Upon arriving, the owner Sam asked what clan I belonged to. I responded Malcolm and he then mentioned he once had an employee named Malcolm, but that was his first name. Later when Don arrived he starting talking to Sam and as it turned on that the Malcolm was Don’s son! It was a great lunch – Middle East vegetarian.

Back in the office that afternoon, one of the gals that I had met that morning that were visiting her mom came to ask a question about the birthday party they were giving her. She commented that they had seen me downtown with another guy in a kilt! She then started to tell me about her Scottish ancestry through her Dad’s side. He had given her a family tartan which she held dear.

Don and I had not reached any conclusions how to give the Scottish Society more visibility in the area. So we agreed to have lunch again in the future. We thought it would be a good idea to wear our kilts, too.

Ern, Sam and Don in front of Sammy T's downtown Fredericksburg, VA

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**Kid Cossack** · 25th August 07, 06:04 AM

Sounds like having lunch kilted is a good way to spread the news!

**CelticRanger66** · 25th August 07, 06:50 AM

Great Job keep on with your lunches and maybe some of us southern Va. kilties can come up there!

**Packhound** · 25th August 07, 06:56 AM

I can't think of a better way to spread the word.

**McMurdo** · 25th August 07, 07:02 AM

More visibility, spending the day in your kilt with other like minded gents sounds like the visibility is being increased already, it sounds like a great doy.

**BEEDEE** · 25th August 07, 07:02 AM

Originally Posted by Mael Coluim

Don and I had not reached any conclusions how to give the Scottish Society more visibility in the area. So we agreed to have lunch again in the future. We thought it would be a good idea to wear our kilts, too.

Our local Scottish Heritage Society has held two Kilt Nights at a local Restaurant - one in April, one this month. Average attendance is just under 25, but we have picked up new members each time from others in the resturant that have seen us.

Brian

**Riverkilt** · 25th August 07, 08:45 AM

That's it, you've got it. Best way to increase awareness is to kilt up and sally forth.

I've fond memories of Fredericksburg - Martha Washington's garden...and sobering memories of that wall...

Great pic...

Ron

**Mael Coluim** · 25th August 07, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by CelticRanger66

Great Job keep on with your lunches and maybe some of us southern Va. kilties can come up there!

Aye, Celtic Ranger! How far south are you? I'm planning to be in Williamsburg for the Highland Games 9/27 - 30.

**Mael Coluim** · 25th August 07, 09:53 AM

Originally Posted by BEEDEE

Our local Scottish Heritage Society has held two Kilt Nights at a local Restaurant - one in April, one this month. Average attendance is just under 25, but we have picked up new members each time from others in the resturant that have seen us.

Brian

Excellent suggestion, Brian. The City of Fredericksburg has a block party each first Friday of the month in the downtown historic district. I was thinking to encourage the members to attend the one coming up in September. Hmm, now what to wear?

By the way the NENC Scottish website is a stunner! I suppose you are the Kiwi that developed it?

**Mael Coluim** · 25th August 07, 10:21 AM

Originally Posted by Riverkilt

That's it, you've got it. Best way to increase awareness is to kilt up and sally forth.

I've fond memories of Fredericksburg - Martha Washington's garden...and sobering memories of that wall...

Great pic...

Ron

The wall, Ron refers to is on Sunken Road below Maury Heights in the Battle of Fredericksburg in the War between the States. Nearly 8,000 Federal lose their lives attempting to take the Heights. Fifty per cent of the Irish Brigade was lost, which came the closes. A grievous tradegy as every battle fought was.

Within a 5 mile circle of my home in Spotsylvania, there were the Battle of Chancellorsville, the Battle of the Wilderness and the Battle of Spotsylvania Court House. My subdivision was a skirmish site in the Battle of Spotsylvania, Court House. The church that I attended has a trench from the Battle of Chancellorsville on it's property.

My great great Grandfather Samuel Taylor was a spy for Gen. Robert E. Lee. Caught by the Federals on Grant's last drive on Richmond was to be hung as a soldier out of uniform. He was release on his hanging day. His hair had turned snow white overnight and the Union officer in charge claimed it wasn't the same man!