"The USS Confederacy: The Life and Service of Connecticut’s Continental Frigate"

October 23, 2025 (Thursday, 1900 EST)

Damien Cregeau, Author/Speaker

This visually rich PowerPoint-style presentation will shed light on a previously under-appreciated Continental Navy frigate designed, built, and outfitted on the Thames River in Norwich and New London, Connecticut, 1777-1779. While most Navy veterans are familiar with the Navy sub base in Groton, this ship was built just upriver with the help of Mohegan Native Americans, some of whom later served on the hapless ship as Marines or sailors.  The ship’s unique design is proven thanks to Royal Navy drawings from 1782, and makes it arguably the most beautiful and popular model for a Navy frigate from the American Revolution. Models exist in many museums, including the Smithsonian, and yet the ship is hardly remembered. 

Damien Cregeau, a native and resident of Connecticut, earned his B.A. in history from Hillsdale College and his M.A. in history from Colorado State. Damien is a nationally recognized scholar of military history, primarily in the era of the American Revolution.  He received the National Society of the DAR History Award in 2021 for his many important contributions to early American history. He has been an independent historian since 2007, and has published dozens in f features in journals. Damien is a member of the Newport Commandery of the Naval Order thanks to his mother, who was a Navy RN, and his grandfather was a career Marine, 1926-1956, a Mustang who was a forward artillery observer on Guadalcanal and who retired as a captain. 

"Hawaii Prepares for War with Japan"

January 22, 2026 (Thursday, 1900 EST)

CAPT Michael Lilly, USN (ret.), Author/Speaker

Through meticulous research, Capt. Lilly discovered that Japan had coveted the Hawaiian Islands as early as 1843 and later aggressively aspired to its occupation after 1874. In the 1890s, Hawaii’s leaders who overthrew the Hawaiian Monarchy feared the islands were vulnerable to seizure by as Japan. The United States began to fortify the islands long before annexation, beginning in 1876 with a treaty for exclusive rights to Pearl Harbor, then a nearly landlocked waterway. When the United States sought annexation, Japan opposed it and flirted with taking possession of Hawaii. After Japan defeated the Russian Tsar’s Navy in 2005, America realized Japan had become a major naval power in the Pacific and a possible adversary. Throughout the early 20th century to the start of World War II, the United States and Hawaii aggressively built air, army, and submarine bases, installed massive coastal guns and fortified Pearl Harbor, creating what was deemed an impenetrable citadel against an expected attack by Japan. By World War II, Oahu may have become what was called the “most formidable fortress in the world”, but with few exceptions, her defenses utterly failed to protect the islands from the “day of infamy” on December 7, 1941.

Captain Michael A. Lilly, USN (Ret.) had a distinguished career as Hawaii's Attorney General and as a trial attorney. He is a founding director emeritus of the USS Missouri Memorial Association, which operates the Missouri as a memorial and tourist attraction. He authored Nimitz at Ease, relating how his grandparents helped Nimitz cope with the stresses of command and win the Pacific war. A Vietnam War combat veteran, his personal decorations include the Legion of Merit, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, and two Meritorious Service Medals. He retired as a surface warfare captain after 30 years of service, active and reserve.