Members of the Burke Historical Society hosted a patriotic tea for residents of the Heatherwood Retirement Community in Burke on Thursday, June 23.
More than 20 residents were treated to tea, homemade cookies, and a program of patriotic songs at the Silas Burke House, where the BHS hosts its monthly meetings. The elegant historic home was decorated with flags, and tables were dressed in white linen tablecloths, with flag fans and formal silver tea service.
“I thought our guests from Heatherwood would enjoy a patriotic-themed event. Our Burke Historic Society volunteers served our guests, and we all sang songs, with a little help from John Wayne, Elvis and Kate Smith,” said Suzi Fowler Neal, past president of BHS.
The program included a formal tea with an assortment of cookies, and recordings of John Wayne’s “America, Why I Love Her,” Elvis Presley’s rendition of “America The Beautiful” and Kate Smith’s iconic singing of Irving Berlin’s “God Bless America.”
Silas Burke, a businessman and landowner, built the Silas Burke House circa 1824. His wife lived there for 41 years after his death in 1854. The property includes an icehouse, root cellar, and a restored slave house.