06-03-2025
18th century historical speaker event planned
The Colonel Alexander Erwin Sons of the American Revolution Chapter, CAESAR, supporting Burke, Caldwell and McDowell counties will host an 18th Century Historical Speaker event on March 20.
The event includes an optional dinner and will begin at 6 p.m. at the Morganton Community House in downtown Morganton.
Dr. John M. Lafferty will be the guest speaker. Lafferty is a recently retired physician with a lifelong love of the country, its history and government.
Lafferty's presentation will be 'How (and why) the Scot's Irish helped secure American Independence.' Lafferty has deep roots in the Piedmont of North Carolina and hopes to convey the importance of this unique group of Scot's Irish people on the nation's founding and guiding principles that led America to be an independent free nation from the British crown.
Lafferty attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill both for undergraduate and medical school and completed his residency at Michigan State University.
He retired from medicine in 2022 after practicing obstetrics and gynecology in Burke County for 40 years. He also precepted residents and students from the Via College of Medicine in Virginia, retiring as associate professor.
He was chair of both surgery and OB during his practice years. Despite the time demands of a medical career, his love of history never diminished.
He serves on the board of Historic Burke Foundation, as docent for the Exploring Joara Foundation, and is a member of the Sons of the American Revolution. He has been married to his wife, Laura, for almost 50 years and has two adult children. He is a long-time member of the Waldensian Presbyterian Church and currently serves as elder and clerk of session.
Monthly historical presentations are held at the Morganton Community House, at 120 N. King St., in Morganton.
Events are open to the public at no cost. There is an optional dinner, which costs $20 cash per person, which can be presented at the door.
Anyone interested in attending will need to notify CAESAR President Kevin Hancock by email at or text at 262-581-6223, no later than the Friday prior to the event.
The Sons of the American Revolution, is a nonprofit, nonpartisan congressionally chartered organization founded in 1889 that honors the members Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by promoting patriotism, preserving history, serving communities and educating and inspiring future generations about the founding principles of the United States.
