Virginia Bulletin. Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution. Volume XXXVI No ROUNDS OUT WITH THE GREAT BRIDGE

Transcription

1 On-line Virginia Bulletin Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution Volume XXXVI No ROUNDS OUT WITH THE GREAT BRIDGE A successful turnout was highlighted by a great showing from the VASSAR Color Guard along with representatives from several other groups. ANOTHER SUCCESS AT GREAT BRIDGE TOM WHETSTONE On the beautiful and mild weekend of November 30-December 02, 2012, President General Stephen A. Leishman and First Lady Janet joined with fellow compatriots of the SAR and DAR, the Great Bridge Battle & Waterways History Foundation, and the City of Chesapeake to celebrate the December 09, 1775 American victory at the Battle of Great Bridge, Virginia. The weekend included a welcoming reception on Friday, the formal combined observance ceremony with color guard and wreath layings on Saturday at Great Bridge Battlefield Park, visits to the battle reenactment site, and a Colonial church service with color guard and wreath layings at St. Paul s Episcopal, Norfolk, on Sunday. - continued on page 10

2 Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution Officers Henry P. Phil Williams III, PhD President 841 West Leigh Drive, Charlottesville, VA (434) (office), (434) (cell phone) Kent S. Webber 1st Vice President 9405 Delancey Drive, Vienna, VA (703) William A. Broadus, Jr. 2nd Vice President Brandon Way, Manassas, VA (703) Reverdy E. Wright, PhD 705 Circle Drive, Blacksburg, VA rd Vice President (540) Edward W. Truslow Secretary 110 Moray Firth, Williamsburg, VA (757) Frederick N. Elofson Treasurer 21 Paula Maria Drive, Newport News, VA (757) R. Wayne Rouse Assistant Secretary-Treasurer 71 Hope Springs Lane, Stafford, VA (540) Walter Jervis Sheffield, Esquire Chancellor 1314 Sophia Street, Fredericksburg, VA (540) Brent D. Morgan Registrar 9091 Pantego Lane, Mechanicsville, VA (804) Rev. Canon Henry N. F. Minich Chaplain 3115 Dundee Road, Earlysville, VA (434) Larry G. Aaron, D. Min. Historian 185 Martindale Drive, Danville, VA (343) White M. Wallenborn M.D. Surgeon General 700 Rugby Road, Charlottesville, VA (434) Mark S. Brennan, Sr. Trustee 2120 Christendom Drive, Midlothian, VA (804) Henry P. Phil Williams III, PhD Alternate Trustee The on-line Virginia Bulletin is published quarterly by the Virginia Society, Sons of the American Revolution. Editor: Andrew Andy Doss. Chapters wishing to report on their activities, should send their reports to the Editor. Any items to be published on the website should also be sent to the address above is preferred. Editor/Webmaster reserves the right to decide what to publish. Many different people contribute photos, but it is hard to find space to credit everyone, please know from the bottom of my heart that your photos are TRULY appreciated! President Henry P. Phil Williams III, Ph.D. Since my last report prepared for the Semi-Annual in Charlottesville, I have worked with pleasure and pride on behalf of some 1850 Compatriots across the Commonwealth. While 2 nd VP Broadus covered for me at Kings Mountain the first weekend in October, I joined the West Virginia Society s commemoration of the strategically significant Battle of Point Pleasant, the implications of which I discussed in the last edition of the Virginia Bulletin. The VASSAR Color put in a good showing at both events that weekend. Two weeks later, I gave the keynote remarks at Thomas Nelson Jr. s gravesite and, together with PG Steve Leishman, lead the SAR contingent in the Victory Parade at Yorktown. VAS- SAR First Lady Marilyn Williams joined the celebration by my side. At the end of October, I drove to Roanoke to speak about the Global Context of the American Revolution to a joint gathering of the English-Speaking Union, the SAR and DAR. Early in November I returned to the Richmond Omni to work with the VASSAR/Richmond team on sorting out the final details for the Annual Meeting. On Veteran s Day I presented the VASSAR wreath alongside the Thomas Jefferson Chapter Wreath at a major ceremony in Charlottesville which was celebrating the 250 th Anniversary of its incorporation. December 1 st saw the 2 nd year of NSSAR/VASSAR participation in the Commemoration of the Battle of Great 2

3 Bridge another small but strategically important battle early in the War. The celebration included PG Steve and First Lady Janet Leishman, the DAR, C.A.R. the Boy Scouts. The Color Guard was led by NSSAR CG Cmdr. Michael Tomme. Compatriots came from many states. The Mayor of Chesapeake was on board and a check for $10, was presented to local officials for the further development of the Visitors Center which is set to open in the near future. Of course, as in other of the events noted in my travels, the local chapter, in this case the Norfolk Chapter, and its President, did a grand job in hosting the Society s Tier One observance. The re-enactment of the Battle done in the afternoon is professionally and dramatically done. This is a weekend and an event that Compatriots should not miss. The following week, the First Lady and I were treated to a wonderful gathering of the Henry Lee Chapter down on the Northern Neck. I had the honor of inducting a new member and installing the Officers. By popular request, I had the fun of again telling what I like to say is the Greatest Story of the American Revolution Never Told The Story of the Convention Army at the Barracks on Little Ivy Creek, is upon us. It is the year of the 230 th Anniversary of the Signing of the Paris Peace Treaty granting America its independence. I am now on the home stretch as your President. But I am not through yet. On January 12 th, I will install Officers at the Ft. Harrison Chapter for breakfast, return home, don my tux and head for Newport News to induct the Officers of the Williamsburg and Thomas Nelson Jr. Chapters. Two birds with one stone brilliant! The next week I will head to Roanoke to install Fincastle Resolutions Officers at lunch, give a talk, return to Charlottesville and attend a meeting of the Civil War Round Table, give a talk and, more importantly, a pitch for its members to consider joining the SAR. I shan t be alone, former VASSAR President Dr. Trice Taylor and a few other local Compatriots are Round Table members and will be in the audience. The next weekend, while VASSAR CG Cmdr. Davenport presents the VASSAR Wreath at Cowpens, I will install the Culpeper Minutemen Officers. My travels for the month will end the last Saturday at the George Washington Chapter s Gala Gold Good Citizenship Medal to honor retired 4-Star General Fred Kroesen, a man who saw action and exhibited extraordinary leadership in WWII, the Korean War and Vietnam. As with the presentation of the same medal to Leslie Bowman, President of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation, SAR will be honored to associate its name with citizens of such far-reaching and extraordinary contributions made to this Country. After the Super Bowl, I will be off to represent the Virginia Society at the Dan River Commemoration and complete my last Presidential Initiative, the Joint VASSAR/Dan River Chapter presentation of the Flag Certificate in a ceremony, including the South West Command of the VASSAR Color Guard, at the Annin Flagmakers Company where the flag that flew over Iwo Jima was made. And finally, the next weekend The First Lady and I will come to Richmond to preside over what promises to be a spectacular Annual Meeting in a stunning new hotel venue, The OMNI in the center city just two blocks from the State Capitol. If you haven t registered yet, now is the time. There will be Youth Program workshops, dining on your own in a wide range of excellent restaurants, a visit to the ladies by an older Patrick Henry looking back on a life well-lived, an Oration Contest, Awards in the old House Chamber surrounded by busts of many great Virginians, a fancy cocktail hour before the Banquet, a world class singer, a Silver Good Citizenship award an remarks by a very accomplished scholarauthor of the Supreme Court, some fun with your outgoing President and the swearing in of your new State President, Kent Webber. I shall then retire to my country estate and write my memoirs. Or, more likely, follow my wife s instructions I am still First Lady, but you are no longer President, so get back to work. It has been an honor to serve. It has been an education to serve. It will have been a year to remember with abiding fondness. May I take this opportunity to thank my fellow Officers, Chapter Presidents, VASSAR Committee Chairs, Compatriots and their long suffering wives helping me and us to advance the important and meaningful work of this precious Society. I shall forever raise my glass to the memory of our Founding Fathers and to my fellow Compatriots who work so faithfully to insist that their sacrifices not be forgotten. HUZZAH! Respectfully, Your Humble Servant Phil Y O U C A N C O N T A C T P H I L A T p h i l. w i l l i a m s. 3 r g m a i l. c o m 3

4 MARTINS STATION CHAPTER HONORS PATRIOT Members of the Martin s Station Chapter, VA Society Sons of the American Revolution hosted a grave marking Ceremony to honor Revolutionary War Soldier William Carmack. Also in attendance were General Joseph Martin Chapter, TN Society Sons of the American Revolution, the Major George Gibson Chapter, VA Society Daughters of the American Revolution, the Chickamauga Chapter of the TN Daughters of the American Revolution, descendants of Revolutionary war veteran William Carmack and others gathered at his grave on November 3rd, 2012 to honor his memory. William Carmack was a pioneer in Lee County. The ceremony was conducted by the Martin s Station Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). The ceremony began with a welcome from Chapter president Tom Coker with the Pledge of Allegiance, SAR Pledge, and the placing of wreaths. Terry Williams of the General Joseph Martin Chapter opened up with invocation. Charles Dammann, President of the TN State SAR gave closing remarks. While descendants Linda Carmack Dooley of Huber Heights, Oh and Linda Carmack Burris of Terry, MS gave history on their ancestor. Pat O Neil, a Carmack descendant, gave final comments on her ancestor. Closing prayer was given by Rusty Bailey. William Carmack was born January 5, While a resident of Washington County, Virginia, he enlisted Attendees celebrate the life of patriot William Carmack sometime in January 1779, served as a private in Capt. James Shelby s Company, Colonel John Montgomery s Virginia Regiment, marched to the Long Island of Holston, thence to the Chickamauga towns and destroyed them, from there marched to the Kaskaskia River in Illinois, where they joined Colonel George Rogers Clark and Marched to Vincennes on the Wabash River, where they remained until June 1780, then marched to the Iron Banks of the mouth of the Ohio River; Carmack was then discharged on July 10, He was allowed pension on his application October 15, 1832, at which time he was a resident of Lee County, Virginia. He died Sep 24, The Martin s Station Chapter would like to thank all who came to participate in this event: Agnes Yeary Marcum (DAR-Major George Gibson Chapter), Charlotte Brooks (DAR-Major George Gibson Chapter), Donnie Brooks, Doug Lewis, Donnie Campbell, Tom Coker, Jerry Phillips, Chester Montgomery (SAR-Martin s Station Chapter Members), Terry and Todd Williams (SAR-General Joseph Martin Chapter members), Charles Dammann (SAR-TN State Pres.), Marilyn Dammann (DAR-Chickamauga Chapter), Sue Herald, Barry and Linda Carmack Burris, Nancy Carmack Dooley, Gail Carmack, Sarah Burris, Rebekah Parker, Wanda Carmack Estep, Pat O Neil, Dawn Stock, Rusty Bailey, and Caleb Campbell. 4

5 What s been going on? CHARLOTTESVILLE VETERANS DAY President Williams attended the Veterans Day event in Charlottesville on November 12. The event is sponsored by Celebrate 250, the City of Charlottesville, and the American Legion. Attendees included Senator Creigh Deeds, Congressman Robert Hurt, The Mayor of Charlottesville, the Chair of the County Board of Supervisors, senior military officers and American Legion Legion State President, President of the Albemarle Historical Soc. among other notables. Entertainment was provided by the Charlottesville High School Band and Choir. Pictured here are Thomas Jefferson Chapter (TJ) Member Lea Schultz, Past TJ President and American Legion Officer Pat Kelly, VASSAR First Lady Marilyn Williams, President Williams,5th District Congressman Robert Hurt, VASSAR/TJ Surgeon and Guardsman Ken Wallenborn, and TJ Hero of the Year, FRENCH SAR MEMBER VISITS WILLIAMSBURG Nicolas Fresneau, a French tourist and member of an SAR Chapter in France recently visited Williamsburg. Williamsburg SAR Chapter President Ed Truslow showed Nicholas and his wife Patricia around Williamsburg and Compatriot Ben Fegan showed them around Jamestown and Yorktown. Nicholas ancestor was Chevalier Henri Dominique de Palys who was at Yorktown. Henri was Royal Engineer and was part of a Battalion under Colonel Desandroins who prepared the map the Williamsburg Chapter we used for its SAR Green Spring Battlefield sign. Compatriot Fegan showed them that battlefield area and the battlefield sign before they journeyed to the Yorktown Battlefield. The Fresneaus were delighted to watch a performance of Colonial Williamsburg s Marquis de Lafayette (Mark Schneider). Mark is very fluent in French due in part to the fact that his mother was from a French village not far from where Patricia came from. Of course the three of them bantered a bit in French! 5

6 More happenings... Mark your calendars! Prepare to saddle your horses and provision your wagons. No battle here just a great opportunity to gather our members, district and National leaders, camp followers and guests to celebrate the Miracle of the Birth of this Great Country, its Founders and the work we do as a Society to perpetuate the memory of their great accomplishments. Highlights include: Friday afternoon Youth Programs workshops; for the ladies Friday night, a sterling portrayal and retrospective of the life and times of Patrick Henry (attach. 1.); a Rumbagh Oration contest; Officer Installations, a solemn Necrology and Awards Ceremony set in the historic Old House Chamber of the State Capitol (2 blocks from the hotel), and what promises to be a stunning Saturday evening banquet. The gala will feature, among other offerings, the awarding of a Silver Good Citizenship Medal to Professor Dr. Barbara Perry, a Senior Fellow at the renowned Miller Center of Governance at the University of Virginia. She is a published author and esteemed scholar of the U.S. Supreme who will give remarks on the Court of Chief Justice Marshall and the Court today a subject of the greatest importance to our Country at this critical time in the history of the world s greatest experiment in the history of human governance. Pageantry, gravitas, music and bonhomie will characterize the proceedings concluding with the swearing in of President-Elect Kent S. Webber. Gentlemen, you were kind and generous enough to contribute upwards of $2000 to the Center for Advancing America s Heritage at the State Semi-Annual last September. Arguably, there is no more important work the SAR does around the Country than its Youth Programs. The AGM will focus on these Programs. While the Scouts, Knight Essay, and ROTC Programs are all vital, we have to start somewhere to make the prize monies associated with them more equitable and more competitive, both within the SAR, and in keeping with monies offered by other patriotic organizations. These prizes and the recognition that goes with them toward college entrance, not to mention the leadership skills they foster, are so important to so many of our future leaders for whom the costs of a college education become ever more daunting. With this in mind, I would like to start with a RAISE for the Orations Program (att. 2). Registration materials will post on the website in early December. Fraternally, VASSAR President Williams Note from the Editor: When submitting pictures, please be sure to submit the names of everyone in the picture at the same time you send them. Do not send duplicates of photos. Also, I request that you make an attempt to reduce the size of your photographs before sending them. Picture files are becoming larger and larger, and this creates a burden on my resources. There are dozens of free resources on the internet that will help you reduce the size of photos to a print-ready format. One more thing: if you have a story to submit, please write it up with as much detail as possible. The editor does not know what is going on at a chapter event in most cases, so don t leave it up to me to guess what is going on. Thank you so much! For those expected to attend, a link to the Spring Leadership Meeting is posted on the national website. From there you can download an assortment of forms pertaining to the event. 6 N S S A R S P R I N G L E A D E R S H I P M E E T I N G R E G I S R A T I O N

7 Reminder!!!. THE VIRGINIA SOCIETY SONS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION CORDIALLY INVITES YOU TO ATTEND THE STATE SOCIETY ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The OMNI Hotel, Richmond, Virginia - February 22-24, 2013 Compatriots and Guests, Mark your calendars! Prepare to saddle your horses and provision your wagons. No battle here just a great opportunity to gather our members, district and National leaders, camp followers and guests to celebrate the Miracle of the Birth of this Great Country, its Founders and the work we do as a Society to perpetuate the memory of their great accomplishments. Highlights include: Friday afternoon Youth Programs workshops; for the ladies Friday night, a sterling portrayal and retrospective of the life and times of Patrick Henry (attach. 1.); a Rumbagh Oration contest; Officer Installations, a solemn Necrology and Awards Ceremony set in the historic Old House Chamber of the State Capitol (2 blocks from the hotel), and what promises to be a stunning Saturday evening banquet. The gala will feature, among other offerings, the awarding of a Silver Good Citizenship Medal to Professor Dr. Barbara Perry, a Senior Fellow at the renowned Miller Center of Governance at the University of Virginia. She is a published author and esteemed scholar of the U.S. Supreme who will give remarks on the Court of Chief Justice Marshall and the Court today a subject of the greatest importance to our Country at this critical time in the history of the world s greatest experiment in the history of human governance. Pageantry, gravitas, music and bonhomie will characterize the proceedings concluding with the swearing in of President-Elect Kent S. Webber. Gentlemen, you were kind and generous enough to contribute upwards of $2000 to the Center for Advancing America s Heritage at the State Semi-Annual last September. Arguably, there is no more important work the SAR does around the Country than its Youth Programs. The AGM will focus on these Programs. While the Scouts, Knight Essay, and ROTC Programs are all vital, we have to start somewhere to make the prize monies associated with them more equitable and more competitive, both within the SAR, and in keeping with monies offered by other patriotic organizations. These prizes and the recognition that goes with them toward college entrance, not to mention the leadership skills they foster, are so important to so many of our future leaders for whom the costs of a college education become ever more daunting. With this in mind, I would like to start with a RAISE for the Orations Program (att. 2). Registration materials will post on the website in early December. Fraternally, VASSAR President Williams 7

8 More happenings... U P D A T E F R O M T H E G E O R G E W A S H I N G T O N C H A P T E R George Washington Chapter welcomes 40 New Members in 2012, including Gold Good Citizenship Medal Recipient James C. Rees The George Washington Chapter had a banner year for recruiting members in 2012 as it welcomed 40 new and returning members: 34 by initial application, three through reinstatement, two transfers, and one new out-of-state dual member. At the end of the year, the chapter's roster (including dual members) stood at 276. Even in that large group of new members, one stands out: James C. Rees, the former President and CEO of George Washington's Mount Vernon. Treasurer General Joseph W. Dooley sponsored the application and inducted Rees into the SAR at the May 2012 chapter meeting. Immediately after becoming a member, Chapter Vice President Michel J. Elston moved to appoint Rees as Honorary Chapter President. The motion was adopted unanimously, and Elston (who just happened to have the appropriate insignia with him) presented Rees with his neck ribbon and badge. Chapter President Emeritus the Honorable David M. Walker said, "That's the fastest promotion to chapter president I've ever seen." NSSAR Treasurer General Joseph W. Dooley inducts James C. Rees, President and CEO of George Washington's Mount Vernon, into the SAR and the George Rees joined Mt. Vernon as director of development in He became president in During his tenure, the story of George Washington was brought alive for new generations of visitors with a series of changes, including the Ford Orientation and Donald W. Reynolds Museum & Education Center, which opened in 2006, and the restoration of the Grist Mill. The endowment at Mount Vernon grew from $4 million in 1983 to $125 million today, all of which came from private donations as Mt. Vernon does not accept government funding. Ground has been broken for Fred W. Smith National Library for the Study of George Washington, which will ensure that Washington s priceless book and manuscript collection will be saved for scholars and students of the future. Rees had already raised $82 million of the $100 million goal for the library by mid In June 2012, Rees retired due to declining health. Perhaps Ann Bookout, Regent of the Mount Vernon Ladies Association, best summed up his life's work: No one has done more for George Washington s legacy than Jim Rees. Rees has also been a tremendous friend to the SAR in general and the George Washington Chapter in particular. Among other things, he has consistently supported the George Washington Chapter's annual events at Mt. Vernon, and he facilitated the first Gold Good Citizen Award Gala in 2010, which was held at Mt. Vernon. VASSAR nominated Rees for the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Award, which he received in

9 G R E A T B R I D G E V A S S A R G O O D C I T I Z E N C E R E M O N Y 9

10 More event coverage. - continued from page 1 This was the 2nd annual NSSAR Tier One Observance of The Battle of Great Bridge, Dr. Matt Hogendobler, President of the hosting Norfolk Chapter SAR and Chairman of VASSAR s Great Bridge Observance Committee, Great Bridge N.S.D.A.R. Regent Catherine Raitt, and Culpeper Minutemen President Lance Lyngar were principal organizers. Accolades are also due to Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation and the City of Chesapeake, whose Mayor Alan Krasnoff signed proclamations announcing December 02 as Battle of Great Bridge Observance Day. Those attending included representatives of the N.S.D.A.R., SAR, C.A.R., Boy Scouts, other patriotic organizations, the City of Chesapeake, worshipers at St. Paul s Episcopal Church, and the public. SAR participants included the NSSAR Registrar General and Color Guard Commander Michael Tomme, NSSAR Trustee Sam Powell, Virginia Society President Phil Williams, and other VASSAR Officers including VASSAR Color Guard Commander Peter Davenport, and compatriots from North Carolina, Georgia, Kentucky, and from around the Commonwealth of Virginia. Among the many highlights was the firing of muskets and cannon by the Honor Guard of the 7 th Virginia Regiment of the Continental Line to commemorate the strategic victory achieved by our patriot ancestors. President General Stephen A. Leishman and Virginia Society President Dr. Henry P. Williams III presented Great Bridge Battlefield & Waterways History Foundation a large wooden check for $10,000 (see photo) that represents the contributions, pledges, monuments and other purchases funded by SAR members, officers, chapters, and the Knight-Patty Trust Fund Norfolk Chapter invites all compatriots to plan to participate in the 3 rd annual celebration, December 6-8, Dr. J. Thomas Whetstone President, Norfolk Chapter W I L L I A M S V I S I T S F O R T H A R R I S O N C H A P T E R President Williams recently attended a meeting of the Fort Harrison Chapter membership at the Bridgewater Retirement Community in Bridgewater, VA. He helped install several new officers. Tim Knight was congratulated for his successful submission and presentation of 25 more supplemental certificates for a total of 38 to-date with a couple more in the pipeline that will come to a total of about 40 when completed. L-R: President Hank Almond, 2nd VP Tim Knight, Recording Secretary Tom Pettit, Chaplain Kirk Sheap, Treasurer Jim Nelson. February EVENTS Crossing of the Dan, South Boston 18 - Washingtons Birthday Parade, Old Town Alexandria 22,23 - Annual Meeting, Richmond 23 - Moores Creek, Curie, NC March EVENTS 16 - Madison s Birthday, Montpelier 16 - Guilford Courthouse, Greensboro, NC 10

11 L E A T H E R W O O D E S T A T E A D D E D T O R O A D T O R E V O L U T I O N The Virginia General Assembly on March 15, 2011 added the site of Patrick Henry s Leatherwood Plantation in Henry County, Virginia to the Road to Revolution heritage trail which identifies significant sites in the life of Patrick Henry. Henry lived at Leatherwood from 1779 until 1784 between his third and fourth terms as governor. Marked by a large stone boulder, the site is owned by the Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution. - submitted by Bob Vogler, Col. George Waller Chapter U P D A T E F R O M F I N C A S T L E R E S O L U T I O N S With President Williams on hand, Past President Spurgeon Keith has passed the gavel to Charlie Coale. Meeting at the Shenandoah Club, the chapter listened to their Knight Essay Contest winner Rachel Rosenfield speak about John Adams, with her AP US History Teacher Mr. Ryan Teague present as well. Rosenfield is a student from Hidden Valley School in Roanoke. L-R: Spurgeon Keith, Past President and Ambassador, Danny Huffman, Registrar, David Wright, Historian, Mike Smeltzer, Chancellor, Dr. Henry "Phil" Williams, VAS- SAR President, Fulton Galer, Treasurer, Philip O. Sheridan, 2nd Vice President, Duane Lenart, 1st Vice President, and Charlie Coale, President. Ryan Teague, AP US History teacher, tennis coach, and essay advisor, Rachel Rosenfeld, 1st Vice President Duane Lenart 11

12 Dr. Joseph Warren Medal Supporting the SAR Rumbaugh Orations Contest The Rumbaugh Orations Contest s National level awards are not currently competitive among nationwide contests (e.g. other SAR contests, including the American Legion). Currently, the program disperses $11,000 annually in scholarships where competitive levels are closer to $30,000-$40,000. The Orations Committee is seeking to rectify this disparity with an enhanced endowment. Those who enter the Oration contest are our leaders of tomorrow. Communication skills are learned through practice, and our Rumbaugh Oration contestants use powerful words and diction to persuade others, often to standing ovations! They rivet the audiences with stories of heroes and important philosophical points of view. The contestants research long and hard, and practice the same, thus enhancing their communication and leadership skills. Joseph Warren, a Boston doctor, was the orator selected to commemorate the anniversary of the Boston Massacre. Because the orator would be heckled by unforgiving British officers and sympathizers, Warren bravely presented his speech with a steady and firm voice. Warren s stirring oratory skill recruited more patriots and moved others to support the Revolution. Contributions of any amount are needed and very much appreciated ($5, $10, $50). Contributions of $250 or more will be recognized with this new SAR medal (with miniature). The medal is suspended from a Blue, Gold and White drape. 12

13 President General Stephen A. Leishman presented the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal to General Frederick J. Kroesen, Jr., at a Virginia Society black-tie gala event held at in Alexandria, Virginia, on January 26, Leishman called the evening a "momentous occasion" and recognized General Kroesen for his "significant contributions of national importance in the areas of military service, government and diplomacy." General Kroesen commanded troops in World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, and served as Commanding General, United States Army Forces Command (1976 to 1978), Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (1978 to 1979), Commander-in-Chief, U.S. Army Europe and Seventh Army, and Commander, NATO Central Army Group (1979 to 1983). The event was sponsored by the Virginia Society, co-sponsored by the National Vietnam Veterans Foundation, and hosted and co-sponsored by the George Washington Chapter. Virginia Society President Henry P. "Phil" Williams and George Washington Chapter President Michael J. Elston assisted the President General in the presentation. Attendees included members of General Kroesen's family, President General Bruce Wilcox, Secretary General Joe Dooley, C.A.R. Honorary Senior National President Suzanne Reynolds, C.A.R. National Librarian Elyse Hawley, and a host of current and former state and chapter officers and members of the DAR and SAR. This is the first time the current President General has attended a Virginia Society Gold Good Citizenship Medal Gala since 2007 when PG Wilcox presented the medal to Mount Vernon President and Chief Executive Officer James C. Rees IV, who now serves as honorary president of the George Washington Chapter. 13 VIRGINIA SOCIETY HONORS HERO OF THREE WARS AT GALA EVENT President General Leishman presented Elyse Hawley, the National Historian of the Children of the American Revolution, with the silver C.A.R. Appreciation Medal in recognition of her service to the C.A.R. and the S.A.R., including three GGCM Galas. President General Stephen A. Leishman (second from right) presented the Gold Good Citizenship Medal to General Frederick J. Kroesen, Jr. (left), during the VASSAR black-tie gala event at the Belle Haven Country Club in Alexandria, Virginia. Virginia Society President Dr. Henry P. "Phil" Williams (second from left) and George Washington Chapter President Michael J. Elston (right) assisted with the presentation. In his after-dinner remarks, General Kroesen traced the history of the "feasts and famines" for the Army. He shared his deep concern for the Army's situation today and expressed hope that we would not repeat the mistakes of the past by cutting funding for the Army to the point where the Army is unprepared for the next crisis, whatever that crisis may be. Virginia Society President Williams said, "It is hard to imagine a more deserving recipient of the Gold Good Citizenship Medal. General Kroesen gave our country long, faithful and distinguished service, and the Virginia Society is proud to have nominated General Kroesen for this honor." Over his 40 years of service in the Army, General Kroesen received numerous medals and awards, including the Silver Star (twice), the Legion of Merit (three times), the Distinguished Flying Cross, the Bronze Star (three times, with valor device), and the Purple Heart (three times). General Kroesen earned the Combat Infantryman Badge three times and thus is one of only about 325 men authorized two wear the badge with two stars for the second and third awards. Since retiring from the Army he has been an independent consultant offering observations and counsel concerning national and international military affairs. Among other activities, he is currently a contributing editor of ARMY Magazine and a member of the Board of Directors of the Army Historical Foundation. In 2011, General Kroesen joined the SAR as a member of the George Washington Chapter.

14 WILLIAMS VISITS THE CULPEPER MINUTE MEN L-R: Chaplain Len Cowherd, Historian, C. Francis Lay, Secretary Jake Lay, Treasurer Don Jennings, President Bill Schwetke, and VASSAR President Williams. President Williams recently installed new officers and a new member at Kelly s Inn. He was also delighted to hear Eagle Scout Alexander Habashi (right) read an essay about Espionage in the American Revolution. Bill Schwetke was installed as the new chapter president. Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution CHAPTER DIRECTORY Clinch Mountain Militia Colonel Fielding Lewis Colonel George Waller Colonel James Wood, Jr. Colonel William Grayson Culpeper Minute Men Dan River Fairfax Resolves Fincastle Resolutions Fort Harrison General Daniel Morgan General William Campbell George Mason George Washington James Monroe Lieutenant David Cox Martin s Station New River Valley Norfolk Overmountain Men Richmond Rockbridge Volunteers Richard Henry Lee Thomas Jefferson Thomas Nelson, Jr. Williamsburg Tazewell area Virginia s Eastern Piedmont Region Martinsville area Northwest Virginia Prince William County area Virginia s Central Piedmont area Danville area Fairfax County Roanoke Valley area Harrisonburg area Staunton area Abingdon area Arlington County Alexandria Upper Northern Neck Galax/Independence Cumberland Gap New River Valley area Norfolk/Virginia Beach area Gate City Richmond/Petersburg Lexington Lower Northern Neck Charlottesville Newport News/Hampton/Yorktown Williamsburg WILLIAMS VISITS RICHARD HENRY LEE CHAPTER LADY S NIGHT THOMAS JEFFERSON CHAPTER President Williams was on hand to install new officers for the Richard Henry Lee chapter at Westminster Canterbury of Irvington, Va. on the Northern Neck. Williams also was a speaker for the occasion. He also inducted the chapters newest member, bringing greetings from VASSAR while being joined by VAS- SAR First Lady Marilyn Williams. "Chubby Profit" age 94 received the Hero Award. He served in World War II at Omaha Beach as part of the 1st wave, and having previously received the Distinguished service Cross, two purple hearts and the Legion D' Honneur. 14