J A N U A R Y 2 0 1 9 , V O L . 3 3 , I S S U E 1 PATRIOT

The Official Newsletter of the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the CCSAR Joins Pearl Harbor Memorial Past President, Patriot Graves Chair CCSAR At noon on December 2, 2018, the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (CCSAR) joined members of the Chambers Hartman Budde American Legion Post 534, the Hamilton County Sheriffs Pipes & Drums and several other Veterans groups for the 64th Ceremony to remember the attack on Pearl Harbor and honor the 2,403 citizens of the United States who were killed in the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor, Hawaii on December 7, 1941. The Day that President Roosevelt said on national radio would “live in Infamy.” The parade from River Road is short in length, but very long on spirit. Supported by the drums and bagpipers playing the themes of United States military units and solemn ceremony to the awaiting barge provided by the Anderson Ferry. Once the vessel is loaded it is powered out on to the Ohio River where a bugler on the barge mirrors a bugler on the shore with a spine tingling rendition of Taps. Following was a proper military prayer and presentation led by the American Legion Post 534 and a rifle salute. Finally, bio-friendly wreaths were placed on to the water mimicking the ritual one would see on December 7th at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Silence followed, marked only by the straining engine of the tugboat slowly returning the 70 plus attendees back to shore. The ceremony was a reverent and fitting remembrance for those who fought suffered and even died, so we would remain free. God bless America! Photo Above by Eve Brooks

WELCOME TOTHE Inside: NEWLY DESIGNED New Members / Wreaths Across America / Flag Retirement / CHAPTER NEWSLETTER Chapter History / New Officers Inducted / Annual Awards Dinner

President's Letter

Compatriots, I for one, am sorry to see Jack’s term in office as our Chapter President, come to a close! Jack, building on the success of Past Presidents Mike Gunn, Don McGraw, Jim Schaffer and their predecessors has set the bar of success pretty high for the follow-on team. But we have grabbed the baton in full stride and the relay race of successes is not over!

Our presence at Honor Flights and Citizenship Ceremonies shall continue.

We are poised to continue the growth of our ROTC and Youth Programs under the proven leadership of Compatriots Stewart, Haines, Snow, Bonniwell, Bredenfoerder and Duffield with their respective committees.

The Nolan Carson Memorial Color Guard will come under the capable leadership of newly appointed Commander Shaun P. Smith. We will continue to practice and satisfy as many of the requests for our presence as the calendar and manpower will permit.

Our fundraising, in support of expanding youth programs, will continue under the guidance of Chaplain Bonniwell and Past-President Bredenfoerder.

A renewed emphasis on unity will be placed on supporting and joining with 3 to 4 DAR & CAR Chapters in some of their projects.

Additionally, we plan to re-look at how we have attempted to engage with our Service Veterans and develop a more successful relationship with veterans living in our communities.

We’ll carefully consider any activity that will further our Patriotic, Historical and Educational Goals. As noted in the first paragraph, I have access to a rich archive of experience and wisdom in my predecessors and intend to continue, with your support, down their path of success!

So, in the words of our naval ancestry.... “Steady As She Goes—Full Speed Ahead!”

Turner Lee Wilkerson III President, Cincinnati Chapter SAR 4769 Beechwood Farms Drive Cincinnati, Ohio 45244 (513) 679-1544 [email protected] New Members Inducted Compatriots Michael and Christopher Valaski were inducted by President Bredenfoerder at the Cincinnati SAR Annual Meeting held at the Blue Ash Quality Hotel on Wednesday, December 5th. Compatriot Bob Bowers mentor for both Michael and Christopher presented the two compatriots with their SAR rosettes. Michael and Christopher are the sons of Bill and Gretchen Valaski of West Chester. Their patriot is William Hurt. Congratulations Christopher and Michael! Photo by Dr. Michael Gunn American Legion Flag Retirement by Past President, Patriot Graves Chair CCSAR In the morning at 10 AM on December 2, 2018 the Cincinnati Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (CCSAR) joined the Chambers Hautman Budde American Legion Post 534 at their lodge on 4818 River Road for their annual Flag Retirement Ceremony. American Legion Color Guard members joined their Safety team at the burn pit site, along with the CCSAR Nolan Carson Memorial Color Guard and its 7 member Musket Unit. The Post 534 Commander confirmed readiness of the Flag Retirement Burn Team and requested the verbal assurance that each of the flags to be retired met their service requirements. A Prayer followed with homage to all those who’ve flown these banners and hope for the replacements to be properly honored. After all units were brought to Attention and “Present Arms” declared, the musket unit fired their flintlocks to set off the actual incineration. A proper and honorable end to our National Colors! Naturalization Cerermonies

Cincinnati SAR President Jack Bredenfoerder and Compatriot Jerry Knight attended a naturalization ceremony on Friday, December 7th at the Potter Stewart Federal Courthouse. The compatriots welcomed 67 new citizens. The Honorable Karen L. Litkovitz officiated.

Cincinnati SAR Compatriots Bob Bowers, Jack Bredenfoerder and Jerry Knight welcomed 69 new citizens at a naturalization ceremony on December 21st at the Potter Stewart Federal Courthouse. The American Heritage Girls posted the Colors and treated the new citizens and our compatriots to cookies after the ceremony. The Honorable Stephanie K. Bowman officiated. 2019 Officers Installed Ohio Society SAR President Shawn A. Cox installed the 2019 Cincinnati SAR Officers and Board of Management on December 15th at the University Club of Cincinnati. Congratulations and best wishes to Cincinnati SAR President Turner Lee Wilkerson III and all the 2019 executive officers and board of management! 2019 Cincinnati SAR Officers 2019 Cincinnati SAR Board of Management President - Turner Lee Wilkerson III Gregory D. Ballman 1st Vice President - Kerry Lee Langdon Robert E. R. Bowers 2nd Vice President - Gary Lee Duffield Jeffrey M. Hartman Secretary - Clayton Lowell Crandall James H. Houston Treasurer - Michael J. Blum Bradley J. Jarard Registrar - Franz B. Ott II Historian - George H. Stewart All Living Former Cincinnati SAR Presidents Webmaster - Shaun P. Smith Chaplain - Rev. R. Edgar Bonniwell

Editor Jeff Hartman [email protected]

l to r - Shaun Smith, Clay Crandall, Lee Wilkerson, Kerry Langdon, Gary Duffield, George Stewart, Mike Blum, Jack Bredenfoerder Shawn Cox (not shown Ed Bonniwell) Cincinnati SAR Event Calendar Sat 5-Jan 9:00AM - 3:30PM Chapter Leadership Planning Meeting, 4769 Beechwood Farms Dr., Cincinnati, OH 45244 Wed 9 Jan 5:30/7:30PM Cincinnati Chapter SAR Dinner and BOM, Quality Inn, 5901 Pfeiffer Rd., Cincinnati, OH Fri 11 Jan 2:00PM Naturalization Ceremony, USDC Room 842, 100 East Fifth St., Cincinnati, OH Wed 16 Jan Cowpens National Anniversary Event, Cowpens, South Carolina Fri 25 Jan 1:00PM Naturalization Ceremony, St. Dominic Elementary School, 371, Pedretti Ave., Cincinnati, OH

Compatriot Jeffrey M. Hartman Editor Annual Awards Celebration Cincinnati SAR Compatriots Honored for Their Accomplishments

The Cincinnati SAR held their annual awards dinner on December 15th at Cincinnati University Club on the evening of December 15th. The Chapter had a very successful year and received the top three National Society Awards from President General Larry Guzy at the SAR National Congress that was held last July in Houston, Texas. This exceptional accomplishment was made possible by the many dedicated compatriots of the Cincinnati Chapter.

Cincinnati SAR President John H. Bredenfoerder recognized the many individual accomplishments of the chapter compatriots who made the national recognition possible.

l to r - Carolyn Carpenter & Jack Brednfoerder

l to r - Don McGraw, Lee Wilkerson, Mike Gunn, Jesse Andrews, Gary l to r - Mike Gunn, Jesse Andrews & Duffield & Jack Bredenfoerder Patrick Gunn 2018 Compatriots of the Cincinnati Chapter SAR

l to r - Jack Bredenfoerder, Kerry Langdon, Clay Crandall, Gary Duffield, Shaun Smith, Lee Wilkerson, Roger Fisher, Ed Bonniwell, Greg Ballman, Preston Smith, Gordon Stokely, Jesse Andrews, Gerry Knight, Kenneth Burck, George Stewart, Zachary Haines, Mike Blum, Don McGraw, Jason Bourgeois, Douglas Troy, Patrick McGraw, Mike Gunn Wreaths Across America

Cincinnati SAR President Jack Bredenfoerder and Compatriots Mike Blum and George Stewart attended the Wreaths Across America ceremony in Hamilton, Ohio at the Greenwood Cemetery. They were joined by Regent Marlene Vastine and the ladies of the John Reily DAR. Regent Vastine and President Bredenfoerder brought greeting to the large crowd that gathered in the heavy rain to pay tribute to the many patriots buried in the cemetery. Once the main ceremony was complete and all the wreaths were placed, the John Reily OSDAR and the Cincinnati SAR compatriots then conducted another ceremony at the grave of Patriot John Reily. Both organizations were very pleased to see so many people attend the ceremonies despite the inclement weather. Patriotism is alive and well in Hamilton, Ohio! The CCSAR also participated in a second WAA Ceremony at the Spring Grove Cemetery in Cincinnati, with 7 Compatriots attending at the Civil War Soldiers Section. Bob Bowers led the Nolan Carson Memorial Color Guard, Chaplain Ed Boniwell delivered a stirring Benediction and Jim Schaffer captured the action with his digital camera. Bob directed a few citizens who provided a Memorial Flag to replace the one in the Cemetery for the Ceremony prior to the 290 Wreath Placements. Each wreath placement was to speak the name on the marker to honor the Patriot. Then the Color Guard approached the flagpole; the halyard team Clay Crandall and Mike Gunn took down the original, for Gregg Ballman and Shaun Smith to ceremonially fold the flag while Bugles played. The seven of us then went to the Revolutionary Patriots Monument where we ceremonially place a wreath to honor the 60 Patriots named there on the three bronze plaques. The Fort Washington Monument George Stewart - Chapter Historian

THE FORT WASHINGTON MONUMENT Since 1901 the Cincinnati Chapter’s of the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution has been marking historical spots in Hamilton County, Ohio. From time to time I will point out some these points of interest.

In 1899 the Cincinnati Chapter of the Daughter of the American Revolution suggested that a monument be erected on the site of old Fort Washington. There was much discussion over the question as to the location of the fort as no one seemed to have any definite knowledge as to the exact site. The Chapter’s Historic Site Committee discovered in an old book published in 1815, a map of the fort was found and verified as accurate. The Cincinnati Chapter Sons of the American Revolution as well as other patriotic societies of Ohio were invited to participate in the work to build the monument. The result was that on Flag Day, June 14, 1901, a stone replica of a blockhouse of the fort was unveiled. This monument was first located at Third and Ludlow Streets.The Fort Washington Monument was moved about one block further north to make way for I-71 and is located near to the former Guilford School. The monument was rededicated November 11, 1998 in its new location.