Battle of Pensacola Commemoration – Pensacola Chapter Sons of the American Revolution

Battle of Pensacola Commemoration and Galvez Day Celebration

2026 Celebration

Planning is in full swing for the 2026 Battle of Pensacola Commemoration. Once again this year, we plan to participate in the Galvez Day Ceremonies hosted by the City of Pensacola and provide the Pensacola community with a first-hand look at what we hope will be the largest SAR Color Guard contingent that the Commemoration has had to date.

In addition to the Color Guard participation in the Galvez Day Ceremony, there will be a number of other events as part of this year’s celebration. Please check the schedule of events below.
The Pensacola Chapter is also sponsoring an oration contest for UWF Air Force ROTC cadets. The contest will require cadets to present a short oration discussing the relationship and significance between the Battle of Pensacola and the American Revolutionary War; the demonstrated leadership style, tactics, and strategies of General Bernardo de Galvez at the Battle of Pensacola; and the impact and effects of the Battle of Pensacola and General Galvez in the Revolutionary War on the development of the cadet’s individual leadership style and future as a military officer.

Tentative Schedule of Events:

08:30 – Color Guard Muster at Fort George
9:45 – 10:00 – Color Guard Procession

10:00 – 10:40 – Galvez Day Ceremony

11:00 – St. Michael’s Basilica Church Service
11:45 – 2:30 – Lunch at Pensacola Yacht Club (Reservations REQUIRED)
Purchase Tickets
3:00 – Wreath Laying Ceremony at Veterans Memorial Park

For more information or to stay abreast of the plans for 2026, either complete the registration form below and email back to the chapter per the instructions on the form, or contact us via the form on the Contact Us page.

2026 Registration Form

2025 Event

The 2025 event once again saw the SAR as part of a coalition with the City of Pensacola, the DAR, Sister Cities, and UWF Historic Trust. While we had to implement our bad weather measures once again, the event was held in the old Perry House which is now part of the First United Methodist Campus.

2024 Event

The 2024 event marked the first year of the City of Pensacola taking on primary sponsorship of Galvez Days. Despite the torrential rain in the morning, the SAR Color Guard started the day’s events with the Presentation of Colors indoors. The initial ceremony was followed by a short service next door at St. Michael’s Basilica. Participants then enjoyed a luncheon at the Pensacola Yacht Club, followed by a Wreath Laying Ceremony sponsored by the Pensacola area DAR and SAR chapters at the Minuteman Monument in Veteran’s Memorial Park.

2023 Event

Once again, in 2023, the Sons of the American Revolution commemorated the Battle of Pensacola by participating in the Galvez Day celebration hosted by the Pensacola Heritage Foundation. As in 2022, compatriots from Florida, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee provided a Parade of Colors from Fort George down the center of Palafox Street to the Galvez Monument to open the ceremonies and then stood post with the colors for the duration of the ceremony. In addition, this year, the SAR provided a musket salute to end the ceremonies much to the enjoyment of the crowd in attendance.

2022 Event

On May 6,2022, a multi-state Sons of the American Revolution color guard unit participated in the Galvez Day celebration organized by the Pensacola Heritage Foundation. The SAR Color Guard opened the Galvez Day Celebration with a Parade of Colors from Fort George down Palafox Street to the Galvez monument where the ceremonies were held. The Color Guard stood post with the colors for the duration of the ceremony. Compatriots from Florida, Alabama, and Georgia participated.

2021 Event

In 2021, plans to re-launch the Battle of Pensacola Commemoration had to be adjusted to compensate for the continued COVID-19 restrictions that were still in place for community events.

The Pensacola Chapter adjusted and rather than hosting a live event as planned, the chapter hosted a virtual Battle of Pensacola Commemoration. While not as impactful to the public as a live event, the virtual nature of the event did allow compatriots from all over the country to participate in a virtual wreath laying ceremony as well as providing them with the opportunity to virtually visit Pensacola. Nearly 100 compatriots took part in the virtual event representing states from coast to coast and northern border to southern border!

The entire event can be viewed on YouTube at the link below.

2021 Virtual Battle of Pensacola Commemoration