Bulletin The Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution

Fall 2017 Newsletter www.ohssar.org

Message from the President Inside This Issue I would like to take a minute to thank all those Compatriots who 127th National have worked so hard this year to further our commitments to our Congress 2 patriotic, historical and educational programs. By my count, mem- bers of the Ohio Society have participated in more than 220 events NSSAR Fall Leader- 2 thus far in 2017. These events include Flag Certificate presenta- ship Meeting tions, Patriot grave marking ceremonies, naturalization events, Honor Flights and Color Guard activities just to name a few. The Ohio Society Holds Summer Meeting 3 Chapter leadership that organizes and executes these events is to be commended and those Compatriots that participate, you are Ohio Society Awards truly heroes. 3 Luncheon It’s a reality of any volunteer organization that 10% of the mem- Ft Laurens—Ohio’s Only Revolutionary 4 bers will do 90% of the work and no one is asking or expecting every Compatriot to don a War Fort uniform and march in the Color Guard. But 100% of our membership can help out by simply renewing their membership this coming year. It is the membership dues that help Welcome New Members 5 the Chapters with putting together all those patriotic, historical and educational pro- grams that are so important. In Memoriam 5 Before I put together the next Ohio Country Bulletin, we will have been through the pro- John Franklin cess of collecting dues and renewing memberships for 2018. One of our goals for this Receives Minuteman 5 year is to “Increase our membership and improve the number of annual Compatriot re- Award newals.” Our goal at the Chapter-level should be to renew 100% of our active member- Paul Wilke Receives ship and then seek out those that previously discontinued their membership and bring Gold Color Guard 5 them back. In 2016 we brought 133 new Compatriots into the Ohio Society but our actu- al number of members only increased by six, from 1,602 on 1 Jan 2016 to 1,608 on 1 Jan Ohio Oration Entry 2017. I know we can do better than that. This Newsletter reaches all of our members. If Wins 2nd Place at 6 NSSAR you are reading this and have not renewed your SAR membership for 2018, please con- tact your Chapter and do so. Mahoning Valley 6 Chapter Recruiting As always, if there is anything I or the State-level leadership can do to assist Chapters in this endeavor, please do not hesitate to contact me. Thanks again for all that you do.

GE Foundation

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Support Fundraising

Summer Meeting Donald C. McGraw, Jr. Registration 7 Ohio Society State President 2017 - 2018

Page 2 Ohio Country Bulletin

2017-2018 Ohio Society Officers 127th National Society Congress

President & Genealogist Tim Col. (Ret) Donald C. McGraw, Jr. President Ward (Northeastern Ohio); [email protected] Southwest District Chairman

Shawn A. Cox Elwin Spray (Richard Mont- 1st Vice President gomery); Compatriot Mi- [email protected] chael B. Gunn (Cincinnati); L. Stephen Hinson 2nd Vice President and Compatriot John "Jack" [email protected] Bredenfoerder (Cincinnati).

Turner (Lee) Wilkerson, III. Secretary The business sessions con- [email protected] cluded with the election of

John H. (Jack) Bredenfoerder General Officers, Trustees, Treasurer and SAR Foundation Board [email protected] Ohio Society Members Attend the President General’s Banquet Members: Larry T. Guzy at the SAR National Congress in Knoxville, Tennessee. Troy C. Bailey (GA) was elected President Registrar General; Robert B. Fish (WV) [email protected] The National Society Sons of the American Revolution Vice President General Cen- hosted its 127th Annual Congress in Knoxville, Tennessee Richard L. Carr, Jr., Esq. tral District; Warren M. Alter Chancellor from Friday, July 7th through Thursday, July 13, 2017 (AZ) Secretary General; John [email protected] with 331 delegates in attendance. The business sessions, T. Manning (NH) Treasurer General; Davis Lee Wright, Dr. James D. River meetings, and functions were held at the Holiday Inn Historian Esq. (DE) Chancellor Gen- [email protected] World’s Fair and the Knoxville Convention Center. eral; C. Bruce Pickette (AL)

Timothy E. Ward The Ohio Society was well represented by Ohio Society Registrar General; John O. Genealogist Thornhill (NC) Historian President Donald C. McGraw (Cincinnati); Past-President [email protected] General; Douglas T. Collins & Alternate National Trustee James D. Schaffer Rev. James O. Fast (KY) Librarian General; Dr. Chaplain (Cincinnati); Past-President Paul M. Wilke (Cincinnati); Matthew J. Barlow, Jr. (DE) [email protected] Past-President William A. "Tony" Robinson (Camp Char- Surgeon General; Rev. John

William Huber, Esq. lotte); Past-President John H. Franklin (Western Reserve); C. Wakefield (TN) Chaplain Statutory Agent 1st Vice-President Shawn A. Cox (Arthur St Clair); Secre- General. For the Ohio Society, [email protected] Compatriot James D. Schaffer tary Turner Lee Wilkerson (Cincinnati); Registrar & Na- was elected to National Trustee Wm. A. Robinson tional Trustee Troy Bailey (Northeastern Ohio); Past- Director-at-Large 17-20 [email protected] (See State Conference Pg. 6)

Paul M. Wilke Director-at-Large 15-18 NSSAR Fall Leadership Meeting [email protected]

Timothy E. Ward From September 28-30, 2017, the National Director-at-Large 16-19 Society Sons of the American Revolution held [email protected] its Fall Leadership Meeting at the Brown James D. Schaffer Hotel in downtown Louisville, Kentucky. The National Trustee [email protected] three-day event included social activities as well as business meetings. Leadership meet- Timothy E. Ward Alternate National Trustee PG Larry Guzy calls the Trustees meeting to order ings are held twice a year, Spring and Fall, [email protected] and are open to SAR members from state societies across the nation. The Trustees meeting was held

James D. Schaffer on the 30th, and was called to order by President General Larry Guzy. Chief Compliance Officer Attending this year from the Ohio Society were: Michael B. Gunn, John H. Bredenfoerder (Ohio Socie- [email protected] ty Treasurer), and James D. Schaffer (Ohio Society National Trustee) of the Cincinnati Chapter; Troy Bailey (Ohio Society Registrar), Steve Hinson (Ohio Society 2nd Vice-President), and Tim Ward (Ohio

Society Genealogist and Alternate National Trustee) of the Northeastern Ohio Chapter; Shawn Cox The Ohio Country Bulletin (Ohio Society 1st Vice-President) of the Arthur St. Clair Chapter; Larry Perkins of the Ebenezer Zane Published Quarterly Donald C. McGraw, Editor Chapter; and William A. Tony Robinson (Ohio Society Director-at-Large) of the Camp Charlotte Chap- ter.

Fall 2017 Page 3

Ohio Society Hold Summer Meetings in Zoar, Ohio

On July 28th and 29th, the Ohio Society held its quarterly Exec- utive Committee and Board of Management Meetings in Zoar, Ohio at the Firehouse Grille and Pub. Both meetings were well attended, with members present from all Ohio districts. The Friday, July 28th activities began with an outstanding buffet dinner, followed by the Executive Committee and Ladies Auxiliary meetings. The agenda of the Executive Committee included informative discussions on the activities of commit- tees tasked with special missions. Saturday, July 29th began with the Board of Management meeting at 8:00AM. Immediate- ly following, our members proceeded to the Fort Laurens His- toric Site a few miles away for a Memorial Service at 11:15AM. Then, it was back to the Firehouse Grille and Pub at 12:30PM for another outstanding buffet meal, concluding with the presentation of National Society and Ohio Society awards to chapters, members, and supporters of the SAR. The meetings Central District VP General Bob Fish awards Lee Wilkerson & Tim were moved to Zoar a few years ago to accommodate a larger Ward with Liberty Medals membership attendance. This year’s meetings coincided with the annual Zoar Harvest Festival. Ohio Society Awards Luncheon Partners in Patriotism Award

At the National Society’s 127th Con- Ohio Society Awards Ohio Society gress in Knoxville, TN, the Ohio Western Reserve Society Society, several Chapters and many Admiral William R. Furlong Award Cincinnati Chapter Ohio Compatriots received awards. for Flag Certificate Presentations Richard Montgomery Chapter The Ohio Society hosted an awards Chairman Ted Minier Marietta Chapter luncheon following the Fort Lau- Centennial Chapter rens Memorial Ceremony and July C.A.R. Activities Award Northeast Ohio Chapter Chairman Tony Robinson 29th. Central District VP General Northwest Territories Chapter

Bob Fish and Ohio Society Presi- General Henry Knox Chapter Sgt. Moses Adams Middle School Camp Charlotte Chapter dent, Don McGraw, made the Brochure Contest Participation Arthur St. Clair Chapter presentations for these achieve- Contestant Placed 2nd at NSSAR Hocking Valley Chapter ments. Recognized were: Chairman Charles Finley Individual Awards National Society Awards Arthur M. King Eagle Scout Scholar- ship Contest Participant Robert C. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Liberty Medal Chairman Lance Beebe Award For distinguished service to Scouting Troy Bailey (2 OLC) – Northeastern ROTC/JROTC Contest Participant Ohio Chairman Terry Whetstone Compatriot Gilbert A. Sanow, II. Ted Minier (1 OLC) – Western Reserve (Firelands Bicentennial) Society Syracuse Award Franz B. Ott (1 OLC) – Cincinnati State Society with the most New Chap- Certificate of Appreciation for Ser- Timothy E. Ward (4 OLC) – Northeast- ters vice on a National-level Committee ern Ohio Turner Lee Wilkerson, III – Cincinnati Paul M. Niebell, Sr. Award John H. Franklin, Jr. – Rumbaugh Ora- Best News Publication of 10 or fewer tions Committee – Western Reserve OLC – Oak Leaf Cluster designating a subsequent award pages Society

Jack Bredenfoerder – Rumbaugh Ora- Liberty Bell Americanism Award Patriot Biographies Award tions Committee – Cincinnati Chapter best implementing SAR resolu- Chairman Michael Gunn William “Tony” Robinson – Patriotic tions and principles Outreach Committee – Camp Charlotte

Chapter Awards Timothy E. Ward – Future Leaders Western Reserve Society Committee – Northeast Ohio Cincinnati Chapter Patriot Biographies Award James D. Schaffer – Facilities Commit-

tee – Cincinnati Cincinnati Chapter John Hancock Chapter (1st Award)

Page 4 Ohio Country Bulletin Fort Laurens - Ohio’s Only Revolutionary War Fort

On July 29th, 2017, the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution hosted its annual Fort Laurens Me- morial Service at the site of this historic Revolutionary War fort in Bolivar, Tuscara- was County, Ohio. Members of the SAR, DAR, C.A.R. and other patriotic groups and organizations, migrate to this ceremony each year, and pay homage to the American soldiers who died in its siege in 1779. This year, SAR members came from Ohio, the 13th Virginia Regiment ditions of that winter, and was laid to rest with full mili- Indiana, Kentucky, West Vir- to Fort Pitt, present day abandoned their siege on tary honors by the Ohio Na- ginia, Virginia, and Pennsyl- Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. March 20th, 1779. Three tional Guard in 1976. The vania to participate in the days after the siege was lift- remains of other soldiers ceremony, considered a na- Beginning February 22nd, 1779 and continuing until ed, American reinforcements who were killed during this tional event in the National arrived from Fort Pitt. A struggle are interred in a Society SAR organization. mid-March of that year, a small number of British sol- force of over 100 American crypt inside of the museum. Perhaps a brief history les- soldiers remained at Fort son will explain why such diers of the 8th Regiment of The site was placed on the Foot commanded by Captain Laurens until August 2, 1779, National Register of Historic importance is placed upon when it was determined it this historical site. Henry Bird, and a few hun- Places in 1970. While noth- dred allied Native American was no longer of value as a ing remains of the fort’s walls Fort Laurens was the first warriors, laid siege to the staging point in attacking the today, the Friends of Fort and only fort of the Revolu- fort after ambushing a group British at Fort Detroit, and Laurens Foundation is active- tionary War established of defenseless American sol- was abandoned. In total, ly engaged in fundraising diers who were foraging out- more than 20 American sol- efforts to reconstruct the side of the compound. diers died at Fort Laurens. Amongst the British forces Today, the Ohio Historical was the infamous Simon Connection, formerly the Girty. Ohio Historical Society, oper- During the nearly month- ates a museum at the site of long struggle, the American Fort Laurens, under the soldiers were starved and management of the Zoar Fort Laurens Museum frozen, being forced to eat Community Association. On roots and grass growing site is the Tomb of the Un- within the limits of what is within the fort’s walls. Some known Patriot of the Ameri- now Ohio, and was built on resorted to boiling their own can Revolution, which con- the banks of the Tuscarawas moccasins, making a broth tains the remains of one of The OHSSAR Color Guard Advances River, now near the town of for consumption. the American soldiers killed Bolivar, Ohio, in December of here, and discovered during The British forces were archaeological excavations at fort, log by log. 1778 by General Lachlan also suffering the harsh con- McIntosh. The fort was in- the site. This brave soldier The Ohio Society of the tended to serve as a defense Sons of the American Revolu- tion returns each year to con- against attacks by the British and Native American Indians duct its memorial service in on settlers in the Ohio Coun- late July. try, and was to be a staging For more information on point in support of a planned the work of the Friends of attack on the British at Fort Ford Laurens Foundation, Detroit. visit their website at The Fort was named in www.friendsoffortlaurens.or honor of Henry Laurens, g. President of the Continental Congress. Conditions during the winter were harsh, and Gen- eral McIntosh removed all Jeff Wait and Bob Hill of the Hocking Valley Chapter but 150 soldiers from the 8th Stand guard at the memorial Pennsylvania Regiment and

Fall 2016 Page 5 Welcome New Members John Franklin receives Minuteman Award Western Reserve Society Samuel Huntington t George Ewing Ronald M. Brough Preston O. Gleim John P. Davis, III Robert J. Buskirk Jerry E. Lavergne Gregory M. Griffin Centennial David W. Hawkins Richard E. Frey Northeastern Ohio Gabriel C. Hutchins Paul T. Bailey Joshua G. Hutchins Arthur St. Clair Owen S. Cole Michael A. Hutchins Michael S. Graves Gary G. Herroon Michael C. Hutchins Michael O. Shadle Brian J. Lamb John Hancock Gary V. Lewis Benjamin H. DeJulia Firelands Bicentennial Peter F. Mayer William L. Evans Billy R. Pollard Chad A. Thomas Michael L. Fought Mathew S. Schweitzer Christopher J. Tomshack, II Richard Montgomery Seton A. Schweitzer At the 127th Annual Congress Compatriot John H. Zachary L. Tomshack Robert J. Beatty Terrance H. Vacha Franklin Jr. of the Ohio Society SAR received the John Truchon Jesse J. Berry organization's prestigious Minuteman Award. Joseph T. Weills Anthony D. Burge Northwest Territory Lawrence D. Burge Isaac W. Latta Franklin, who joined the SAR in 1994, is a resi- Cincinnati Michael John Burge Peter A. Latta dent of Hudson, Ohio, and is a member of the Norman E. Bissell Michael Joseph Burge Douglas P. Vogelsong Western Reserve Society of Cleveland Joseph R. Blank Nathaniel E. Burge The SAR Minuteman Award is the highest award James H. Dent Owen D. Burge General Henry Knox presented to a member by the SAR, and is pre- David W. Drake Ronald L. Burge Larry L. Layton sented for distinguished service rendered to the John A. Ferguson Michael E. Menning Jon M. Schmid Gregory S. Foster Connor M. Rouse Michael Stalnaker organization on the national level. Compatriot Andrew C. Hess Timothy A. Rouse Camp Charlotte Franklin joins three other Ohio Society Minute- Andrew T. Hess Andrew J. Smith Kenton C. Dresbach man Awardees, Larry Perkins, Paul Wilke and Ethan D. Hess Bradley C. Vath Tim Ward. John M. Holcomb Brandon C. Vath Hocking Valley Brian E. Pace Timothy H. Vath James D. Ferguson Paul Wilke receives Gold Jon K. Schlosser Richard D. Godfrey Andrew P. Smith Lafayette Fred D. Hardman Color Guard Medal Cameron A. Taylor Douglas A. Cassens Jeffery G. Hardman Brent M. Durken Joshua B. Hardman Benjamin Franklin Shaun M. Durken Kelly W. Hardman John M. Boggs Timothy A. Gilbert Tristan J. Hardman Richard L. Carnell Mark J. Ludwig, II Eric M. Pawlowski Craig A. Cataline Jeffrey L. Mahaffey Andrew W. DeLong Paul H. McCormick Mahoning Valley Austin M. Force Andrew V. Prostor Adam S. Davis Edward P. Hancock, Jr. Richard J. Staats Jonathan M. Davis Robert L. Mercer Norman C. Umberger Phillip R. Dudeck John S. Meyer Eric S. Weigle Patrick S. Nolan James K. Weigle At-Large Joseph P. Ratajczak Marc K. Williams David W. Winks Braden L. Roby At the 127th Annual Congress Compatriot Paul Joshua J. Varble George Rogers Clark Wilke of North Bend, Ohio was awarded the Lawrence Webber John S.O. Maingi Gold Color Guard Medal as he is appointed the SAR Color Guardsman of the Year. In Memoriam Be Thou at Peace Each year there is no more than one SAR Color Guardsman of the Year throughout the Nation. To be considered for SAR Color Guardsman of Cincinnati Camp Charlotte the Year, a Color Guardsman must have complet- Thomas G. Clark Jasper M. Hedges ed three years of service at the National level. July 16, 2017 August 28, 2017 For the year following his election, the Color Guardsman of the Year will carry the National Centennial Hocking Valley SAR flag at all National events. Charles O. Hensley Earl R. Stalnaker July 20, 2017 February 23, 2017 Wilke became a member of the Ohio Society's Cincinnati Chapter in 1998 and shortly thereaf- Ebenezer Zane At-Large ter joined the Color Guard. He has been the George E. Livingston David R. Binnig Color Guard Commander of the Cincinnati Chap- July 1, 2017 September 5, 2017 ter since 2009.

Page 6 Ohio Country Bulletin

NSSAR Congress Ohio Oration Entry Wins (From Pg. 2 ) 2nd Place at National and Compatriot Tim Ward was elected to Alternate Na- tional Trustee.

NSSAR Oration Co-Chairmen Jack Bredenfoerder & John Franklin with Ohio President General Larry Guzy Entrant Isaiah Paik In addition to three sessions of business meetings, activi- Congratulations to Isaiah Paik, a student at University School, ties included Committee and Trustee meetings, the Joseph for his wonderful oration at the NSSAR Congress in Knoxville, S. Rumbaugh Orations Contest judging; a Memorial Ser- TN. where he won second place. Oration Co-Chairmen Jack vice; a Youth Awards luncheon; a Member Awards & Bredenfoerder and John Franklin, with Isaiah Paik. Isaiah Recognitions evening; the President General's Banquet; and the Installation Banquet. Optional events offered received an Oration Medal, a certificate and a check for included a tour of the historic site at Oakridge National $3,000. Laboratories. The Texas Society will host the 128th Annual Congress in Mahoning Valley Recruits at the Houston, Texas. Canfield Fair

GE Foundation Supports Fundraising

As a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, each dol- lar that a GE Employee or Retir- ee chooses to donate to the soci- ety’s projects is eligible for con- sideration to receive a match- ing, dollar-for-dollar grant from the GE Foundation. The GE Foundation created the concept of a corporate matching gift program in 1954 to support employees in Jim Alexander, Chaplain Mahoning Valley Chapter their personal philanthropy/charitable giving by providing a 1:1 match. Since then, many companies The Canfield Fair, for the second year in a row, was a have started similar programs. Today, the GE Founda- tion Matching Gifts Program continues to serve as an great experience for the Mahoning Valley Chap- important element of the Foundation’s portfolio, with ter. Recruiting efforts brought 15 possible new or inac- gifts matched in 2016 totaling more than $38.1 million. tive members to the Chapter, with SAR membership fly- So, if you are a compatriot that is currently a GE retiree ers distributed to those who visited the Chapter’s or still a productive GE employee—remember to make booth. A basket raffle raised over $100. This was the the GE Foundation a partner with you in your gifts to first joint activity with the Mahoning Valley Chapter SAR the Sons of the American Revolution. Your gift to the society can be registered with GE Foundation on their and the Mahoning Chapter DAR. Future participation website: with the sister organization is enthusiastically anticipat- ed. http://www.gesustainability.com/enabling-progress/ ge-foundation/matching-gifts/

Fall 2016 Page 7

Dates to Remember More Ways to Stay Informed Here are even more ways on the inter- net to connect with SAR activities, news,

NATIONAL SOCIETY October 27 - 28, 2017: OHSSAR Fall Meeting, Maumee Bay State Park, Toledo OH www.sar.org November 3 - 4, 2017: NSSAR Central District Meeting, Parkersburg, WV www.facebook.com/groups/ November 11, 2017: Veterans Day Ceremonies sonsoftheamericanrevolution/

December 167, 2017: Wreaths Across America CENTRAL DISTRICT February 2-3, 2018: OHSSAR Winter Meeting, Cleveland, Ohio www.cdsar.org

May 4-6, 2018: OHSSAR 129th Annual Meeting, Columbus, Ohio OHIO SOCIETY www.ohssar.org www.ohssardispatch.wordpress.com NEW! www.facebook.com/ohssar

3600 - 45243 OH Cincinnati

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President McGraw, C. Donald

(OHSSAR) Society Ohio

Revolution American the of Sons