The Withlacoochee Patriot

Transcription

1 P a g e 1 The Withlacoochee Patriot Larry Dean Sturgeon Editor: (flssar_withlacoochee_chapter@hotmail.com) April 2015 Issue Edition 7 The Withlacoochee Patriot Withlacoochee Chapter Citrus & Hernando County President Edward Gingrich s message I am amazed at how fast the months have gone by. The nominating committee has put together an excellent recommendation of officers. Remember at this April membership meeting you have an opportunity to either accept the recommendations of the nominating committee or nominate a member from the floor. After the nominations are complete we will cast our vote. Our May 16, 2015 meeting will be the induction of our Chapter Officers. We had an exceptional meeting for Law Enforcement Month with Hernando County Deputy Sheriff Chris Vascellaro. Chapter News in this Withlacoochee Patriot 1. President Edward Gingrich s Message Page 1 2. Meeting Information: Chapter and State Page 2 3. Color Guard Event(s) Page 3 4. Law Enforcement Appreciation Month Page 4 5. Withlacoochee Chapter Member Induction - Page 5 6. Patriot Ancestor Biography Member Bill Brobst- Page 6 7. Narrative for Revolutionary History of Norwich, CT Page Americanism Poster Contest Pages Crystal River JROTC Awards Night Page 11

2 P a g e 2 Meeting Information Chapter & State Monthly Membership Meeting May 16, 2015 (Saturday 11:00 AM) Directions to Members Meeting Executive Board Meeting - EBM May 8, 2015 (Thursday 1:00 PM)** Directions to Executive Board Meeting Board of Management Meeting (B.O.M.) East Central Region Chapters will be the Host Region for the 2015 Spring BOM and Annual Meeting. May 1-3, South East Central Regions: Seminole, Orange, Brevard, Osceola, Okeechobee, Indian River, St. Lucie, Martin. The Florida Society SAR will hold its Spring Board of Management Meeting (B.O.M.) and Annual Meeting at: THE FLORIDA HOTEL AND CONFERENCE CENTER at the Florida Mall, 1500 SAND LAKE ROAD, ORLANDO, FL Interested in going to the B.O.M.? Contact Chapter President Edward Gingrich You can find more information about this event at the FLSSAR website BOM tab. ( Officers of Term President: Edward Ralph Gingrich 1 st Vice President: Clyde Elza Johnson 2 nd Vice President: Vacant Secretary: Larry Dean Sturgeon Treasurer: Jack L. Townsend Registrar: Robert James Folk Chaplain: Norman Romeyn Freyer Genealogist: Robert James Folk Historian: Kenneth Ronald Dunn Immediate Past President: Robert James Folk Color Guard Commander: Larry Dean Sturgeon **Cascades at Southern Hills, Fort King Run, Brooksville, Florida Directions to Executive Board Meeting Directions to Cascades at Southern Hills: Heading south on US Hwy 41 (Broad St.) from the State Hwy 50 (Cortez Blvd) by-pass Southside of Brooksville, go 2 miles turning east on Southern Hills Blvd. Then 0.5 mi turning south on Cotillion Blvd at the next right is Fort King Run. The building is the first one on the right. Parking lot is on the left side of Fort King Run.

3 P a g e 3 Commander: Larry Dean Sturgeon Vice - Commander: Richard Lawrence Sumner II TAKE NOTICE! We are in need of more Guardsmen to further serve our Chapter, the public, and most importantly, our patriot ancestors. We dress in American Revolutionary War Uniforms marching in holiday parades and observances and posting of the colors at our general membership meetings. If you are interested in joining our ranks please contact the Camp Commander to get started. We would be honored to have you as a fellow Guardsman. Withlacoochee Chapter SAR Color Guard, Thomas Jefferson Camp 11 Commander Larry Sturgeon receiving Thomas Creek streamer from Ladies Auxiliary Dot Day.

4 P a g e 4 Law Enforcement Appreciation Month April 11, 2015 L - R: Past President Charles Day, Hernando County Deputy Chris Vascellaro and President Edward Gingrich. Deputy Vascellaro received the SAR Law Enforcement Commendation Medal in recognition of your outstanding achievements and dedication to the maintenance of law and order. In particular, you are commended for performing an act of life saving and also for being named Hernando County Deputy of the year for Medaland Certificate. SAR Law Enforcement Commendation

5 P a g e 5 SAR Withlacoochee Chapter Member Induction William Arthur Brobst Jr. April 11, 2015 L - R: President Edward Gingrich, SAR Inductee William Arthur Brobst Jr. and Registrar Robert Folk. April 11, 2015 General Membership Meeting inducted William Arthur Brobst Jr. into the Florida SAR Withlacoochee Chapter. Compatriot Brobst Compatriot Ancestor who served and or assisted during the American Revolution is Brobst/Probst, Matthias George.

6 P a g e 6 Patriot Ancestor Biography MEMBER: William Arthur BROBST ANCESTOR: MATHIAS GEORGE PROBST (BROBST) ( ) Veteran: He served in the Revolutionary War as a soldier in the Berks County Militia, and later as a captain in the Continental Line, under the command of Lt. Col. Michael Brobst. "He and some of his men were camped about miles from Philadelphia early in the war. [On July 14, 1777, he took the oath of allegiance to Penna in Philadelphia.] As the British were advancing on Philadelphia, in late August of 1777, Mathias and his men, with Jacob Leeser and several others, went there and took the Liberty Bell, weighing over a ton, along with a dozen other bells, with them from Philadelphia, through Bethlehem, and buried it inside of the Zion Reformed Church in Allentown, Lehigh County, on Hamilton Street, between 6th and 7th Streets. In Bethlehem, the Bell was transferred to a wagon belonging to Jacob Mickley for the remainder of the journey. After the war, they returned it to Philadelphia. A bronze tablet commemorating the event was placed on the church in "The large, heavy Conestoga-type wagon, belonging to Frederick Lieser, was drawn that was preserved was the heavy iron brake handle and ratchet, which was taken to Ohio by a member of the Follweiler family to migrated to Ohio in the late 1850s or early 1860s. (Was that Susanna Follweiler, mother of Obadiah Brobst?). In 1777, after bringing the bell from Philadelphia to Allentown, he was commissioned a Justice of the Peace in Northampton County, and a Judge from 1777 to National#

7 P a g e 7 Narrative for Revolutionary History of Norwich, CT. At the April meeting Compatriot Norman Freyer presented a Power Point presentation regarding the Revolutionary history of Norwich, Connecticut. This city has a rich Revolutionary history, the recognition of which seems to be disappearing with each successive generation. The study of one s historical background is no longer in vogue, thus, the reason for this presentation. Norwich was settled in 1659 on a nine- mile square piece of land purchased from Uncas, Sachem of the Mohegan tribe. The town prospered through the late 1600 s into the 1700 s by establishing a shipping trade with the West Indies and Europe through a navigable river port. As the American Revolution approached, the town was a hotbed of patriots supporting the cause of the colonies. It is seldom that one city can produce such a list of important patriots in the fight for independence. Samuel Huntington was a member of the Colonial Council of Safety, a delegate to the Continental Congress, a signer of the Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation, and in 1781, President of the United States in Congress Assembled. Benedict Arnold became one of the outstanding generals of the Continental Army, whose achievements included leading the decisive victory over the British at Saratoga. An event classified by the millennial edition of the New York Times, as The most important battle in the last 1000 years, and gave Arnold full credit for the victory. Colonel Joseph Trumbull, the son of Connecticut Governor Jonathan Trumbull, was Washington s Commissary General and had adequate skills for the position, but was completely hindered by lack of funding, lack of supplies, and lack of transportation, political jealousies, and untimely missteps by Congress. He resigned in 1777, physically worn, and died 1778 at the age of 41. General Jedidiah Huntington was one of Washington s most trusted generals, and fought in the Revolution starting with the siege of Boston. Huntington and Arnold were credited with the Continental victory in the battle of Danbury. Roger and Diah Manning were two brothers who were drummers, and very good drummers. Drummers were used to create the spirit of battle in troops during army maneuvers. The brothers grew close to Washington and were appointed to his personal elite bodyguard. Diah Manning was the drummer at the hanging of the British spy, Major John Andre. The town also had an established ship building industry and built the naval ships the Spy, the Shark, and the opulent frigate, the Confederacy. The town served well in the fight for American Independence.

8 P a g e 8 DATE OF EVENT: April, 2015 SUBJECT: Withlacoochee Chapter SAR Elementary School Americanism Poster Contest winners CONTACT: Norm Freyer, Publicity nrfburger.aol.com IMMEDIATE PRESS RELEASE SAR Announces Americanism Poster Contest Winners Each year the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) sponsors an Elementary School Americanism Poster Contest designed to aid teachers in creating interest and enthusiasm where the Revolutionary curriculum is taught. Students from public elementary schools, ecumenical schools and home schools are eligible to participate. The poster theme for 2015 was Revolutionary patriot George Rogers Clark, The Conqueror of the Old Northwest. The competition was strong with 315 students participating. Judging has been completed at the School and SAR Chapter level and the winners have been declared. The first place winner was Madeline Wyka, a 5 th grade student at the Floral City Elementary School. She wins a cash prize of $100, the SAR Outstanding Citizen Certificate and the opportunity for her poster to compete at the Florida State Society level of the SAR in May. Winners at State levels then proceed to the National level. The 2 nd place winner was Katherine Kavanagh of the Brooksville Elementary School. She wins a cash prize of $75 and the SAR Outstanding Citizen Certificate. The third place winner was Enjolee Parry of the Homosassa Elementary School. Enjolee wins a cash prize of $50, and the SAR Outstanding Citizen Certificate.

9 P a g e 9 Withlacoochee Chapter 2015 Poster Winners 1 st Place Floral City Elementary 2 nd Place Brooksville Elementary

10 P a g e 10 Withlacoochee Chapter 2015 Poster Winners 3 rd Place - Homosassa Elementary School SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION WITHLACOOCHEE CHAPTER ELEMENTARY SCHOOL AMERICANISM POSTER CONTEST George Rogers Clark "Conqueror of the Old Northwest."

11 P a g e 11 Crystal River High School Navy JROTC April 26, 2015 L R: LCDR Wayne Walker, Chapter President Edward Gingrich and Navy Cadet William Hecox. Cadet Hecox received the SAR Bronze JROTC Medal & Certificate. L R: LCDR Wayne Walker, Chapter President Edward Gingrich and Cadet William Hecox. Cadet Hecox received the SAR Bronze JROTC Medal & Certificate. L R: Chapter President Edward Gingrich, Navy Cadet William Hecox and S/CPO Ira Sparkman.