Tonight that i would like to acknowledge and that the the simpson circle and that is a group composed of former Mary Washington b. O. V. Members and theyre here tonight and wed like to have them stand so we could acknowledge them. [ applause ] in introducing tonights speaker, dr. Joann freeman, would you like to mention at the outset that one of her most commendable qualifications is that she received her ph. D from the university. Thats right. Uva, right. In any case, not long after receiving that degree she was recognized already as one of the nations top young historians. She subsequently has achieved widespread recognition as a scholar of the revolutionary American History. Shes the author of numerous articles in those subjects which include the journal including the william and mary journal and the yale law journal among others. Shes written oped pieces for the New York Times and has appeared in numerous documentaries on pbs and the History Channel and on radio programs for npr an