The San Jacinto Dispatch Daughters of the Republic of Texas April 2014 (Part II) From the President San Jacinto Chapter DRT President April s second edition of The San Jacinto Dispatch is issued to cover the San Jacinto Day Official Ceremony. Congratulations to Nancy Burch, co-chair for the ceremony, on a wonderful program and for inviting the featured speaker, Dr. Bill O Neal, whose eighteen minute description of San Jacinto was the finest I have been privileged to hear. This Part II edition for April also brings us up-to-date on reporting our January, February & March activities. Our May issue will include news from the Memorial Service at the May chapter meeting, the reservation form for the June 5 th Luncheon, and the required dues notice. Updates on the important work on the grounds will be covered, as well as information about needed support for the Log House grounds. Participating in the San Jacinto Ceremony was thrilling. Nothing compares to standing on the steps of the Monument, singing Texas Our Texas, and witnessing The Texas Army fire their salute under beautiful Texas skies. God bless Texas! Sharolyn Celebrating San Jacinto The Official San Jacinto Day Ceremony was held at the San Jacinto Monument on Monday, April 21st.. The principal speaker was Bill O Neal, PhD, Texas State Historian. In keeping with tradition, Mr. O Neal s presentation was 18 minutes in length the same length of time as the Battle of San Jacinto. Sam Houston VI, KSJ, great grandson of General Sam Houston, represented the Houston family by reading an account of the battle from the Houston Post Dispatch on April 21, 1931. Ron Stone, Jr., Master of Ceremonies, introduced Trey Strake, Chairman of the San Jacinto Historical Advisory Board, who spoke briefly. The Colors were presented by the Deer Park High School Army JROTC Color Guard. Music was provided by the Deer Park High School Orchestra. The Ceremony concluded with the Laying of the Memorial Wreath by the DRT President General, Ellen McCaffrey, SRT President General Robert Kendall, and Descendants of San Jacinto President General Robert Scott Patrick, and the Salute to Texas Patriots by The Texas Army. Inside This Issue P. 2, 3 San Jacinto Day Ceremony 2014 2013-2014 Officers Front Row: Carolyn Lightfoot, Sally Whittington, Marje Harris Middle Row: Margaret Standard, Deborah Liss-Frank, Esther Simon, Ann Tanner, Gwen Koch Back Row: Sharolyn Wood, Luanne Zacek, Margie Forster Texas Pioneer Day, March Field Trip, & P. 4 April Chapter Meeting P. 5 January & February Chapter Meetings Newsletter 1
San Jacinto Day Ceremony 2014 San Jacinto Day 2014 was celebrated on the steps of the San Jacinto Monument at 11:00 am on Monday, April 21 st. Texans gathered to honor the memory of the Army of General Sam Houston and the great victory of April 21, 1836. San Jacinto Chapter Members attending San Jacinto Ceremony 2014 Chaplin of the San Jacinto Chapter, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Chaplin Joe R. Davidson, gave the Invocation, followed by the pledges to the U. S. and Texas flags and the singing of the anthems. Charlie Pesek, age 6, and Stella Frank, age 8, members of San Jacinto Chapter, Children of the Republic of Texas, led the pledges of allegiance to the U.S. flag and the Texas flag. Accompanied by the Deer Park High School Orchestra, SJC members Martha and Leah Jorgensen led the singing of the National Anthem and Texas, Our Texas. Ann Tanner, San Jacinto Chapter Chaplain, delivered the Benediction. Charlie Pecek leads the pledge to the U.S. Flag with Stella Frank, Bill O Neal, and Luanne Zacek, Charlie s grandmother. Martha & Leah lead the singing of the anthems with Ron Stone Jr. & The Texas Army Newsletter 2
San Jacinto Ceremony 2014, continued 2014 Thelma Maresh Scholarship Winners with Ellen McCaffrey, President General During the ceremony, the 2014 Thelma Maresh Scholarship winners were introduced by Sharolyn Wood, San Jacinto Chapter President, as Ellen McCaffrey, DRT President General, presented each with a commemorative certificate. The San Jacinto Chapter scholarship recipients are Sydney Boyenga, Valerie Dietz, Lauren Liss, Caroline Wick, Jonathon Wigley, and Erika Wilcox. Proud family members of the scholarship winners attended the ceremony. Sons of the Republic of Texas also announced its 2014 scholarships awarded to the three winners of the Texas History Essay Contest. Robert Kendall, KSJ, President General, SRT and Denton Bryant, KSJ, SRT Education Committee Chairman, made the announcements. Sons of the Republic of Texas, San Jacinto Chapter President, Curt Osborne recognized the 2014 Sailors of the Year, two sailors currently serving on the USS Texas (SSN 775). The San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas is honored to have participated in the Official State of Texas Ceremony Commemorating the 178 th Anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. Chapter member and former 2 nd Vice President, Nancy Burch, was Event Co-Chair. Chapter members Luanne Zacek and Sharolyn Wood served on the planning committee. DRT President General Ellen McCaffrey with Robert Scott Patrick, President General, Descendants of San Jacinto Sam Houston IV, KSJ Photos by Martha Haydel The Texas Army Salute to Texas Patriots Newsletter 3
Texas Pioneer Day Thank you to all of those who participated in Texas Pioneer Days on March 17 th. Luanne Zacek organized the event. Those participating included Phyllis Moody, Marje Harris, Margaret Standard, Sharolyn Wood, Jamie Moran, Deborah Liss-Frank, Angela Mahmarian, and Anita Cooper. April 3rd Meeting Houston s Art Deco Architecture Our speakers at the April meeting were Jim Parsons and David Bush, with Preservation Houston. Using original and historic photographs, Jim and David presented Houston s modernistic designs as Houston entered an era of dramatic growth, local business and civic leaders worked to create a new image for the city. Photos by Martha Haydel. March 6 th Field Trip Julia Ideson Library San Jacinto Chapter members toured the restored Julia Ideson Building, Houston Public Library System, located in downtown Houston. The building, with Spanish.. Renaissance architecture, is part of the Central Library and houses the archives, manuscripts, and the Texas and Local History Department. Photos by Angela Mahmarian. Julia Ideson Building Jim Parsons and David Bush with Second VP Jamie Moran and President Sharolyn Wood Chapter members visit the Adult Reading Room Jim and David sign copies of Houston Deco for chapter members. Luanne Zacek, Jamie Moran, Deborah Liss-Frank, & Margie Harris enjoy lunch after the field trip. Margaret Standard, Brenda Stover, Nancy Burch, & Phyllis Moody at April chapter meeting Beautifully restored rotunda Newsletter 4
January 9 th Meeting The Grand Opening of the Shamrock Hotel Jeff Lindemann presented a slide show presentation on "The Grand Opening of the Shamrock Hotel" at our January meeting. His picture collection including photos of the hotel interior, the famous swimming pool, and the stars who came to Houston for the grand opening. Currently a teacher at Houston Community College, Jeff has extensively researched the opening of the Shamrock Hotel. Photos by Martha & Angela. February 6 th Victorian Houston and River Oaks Local historian, Ann Dunphy Becker guided us through "Old Houston" using photographs published in her two Arcadia books, "Houston 1860-1900" and "Houston's River Oaks". Ann showed us our city as it was before air conditioning. Photos by Martha Haydel. Jeff Lindemann with Deborah & Sharolyn Ann Becker with President Wood & Program Chair/2nd VP Jamie Moran Martha Haydel, Martha Jorgensen, & Sally Whittington Dr. Doris Anderson, Etienne Michel, & Dollie Korenek Margaret Standard and Susan Stormer A guest chats with Margie before chapter meeting Esther Simon and Phyllis Moody Ann Tanner, Angela Mahmarian, & guest Stu Adamlundy Newsletter 5