George Washington Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Newsletter Visit us online at www.gwsar.org Volume 17, Issue 4 April 2016 New VASSAR President Outlines 2016-2017 Initiatives! During the 126th Annual Upcoming Chapter Meetings Meeting of the Virginia April 9 - Chapter meeting at 11:30 a.m. at Society, Sons of the American the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, Revolution (VASSAR), held in Virginia. Richmond on February 19-21, May 14 - Chapter meeting at 11:30 a.m. at 2016, Edward W. Truslow the Belle Haven Country Club, Alexandria, (Williamsburg Chapter), Virginia. assumed the duties of 2016- 2017 VASSAR President. September 10 – Chapter Meeting at During his inaugural speech 11:30 a.m. at the Belle Haven Country at the Annual Meeting Club, Alexandria, Virginia. Banquet on February 20th, President Truslow announced Events Information his four Presidential Initiatives for the 2016-2017 April 23 - Commemoration of James Mon- roe's 258th Birthday, 10:00 am at the year. These initiatives Monroe Birthplace, Westmoreland Coun- represent major events or ty, Virginia. activities that help provide a framework for prioritizing State and local Chapter efforts for the April 28 - Wreath Laying at James Mon- coming year, and will be incorporated into the 2016 Chapter Annual roe's Tomb, 11:00 am at the Hollywood Cemetery, Richmond, Virginia. Report form. May 13-14 – Commemoration of the Raid President Truslow’s four initiatives are as follows: at Martin’s Station, Wilderness Road State 1. Chapter Attendance at the Blandford Cemetery Park, Ewing, Virginia. May 14 - Grave Marking Ceremony at Patriot Monument Dedication 4:00 p.m. at the Trinity UMC Cemetery, Blandford Cemetery is a historic cemetery located in Petersburg, Wilkes Street Complex, Wilkes Street, Al- Virginia. According to Wikipedia, the oldest stone, marking the grave exandria, VA. Honoring Patriot Abraham of Richard Yarbrough, reads 1702. Veterans of every American war are Faw who served the Revolutionary cause buried there, including 30,000 Confederates killed in the Siege of in many capacities. Petersburg (1864–65) during the American Civil War. The cemetery May 30 – National Memorial Day Parade, grounds cover 189 acres (0.76 km2), making it the second largest Washington, DC. Time: TBD. cemetery in Virginia behind Arlington National Cemetery. The original July 04 – Fourth of July Ceremony and burial grounds, referred to as the "old ground," span 4 acres Wreath Laying at General Washington’s (16,000 m2) and includes the historic Blandford Church, a Confederate Tomb, Mount Vernon, Virginia. memorial that features a full set of windows designed by Tiffany July 08-13 – 126th Congress, Boston, Mas- studios. Blandford Cemetery was listed on the National Register of sachusetts. Historic Places in 1992. August 12-13 – Atlantic Middle States In 1866, Blandford Cemetery was the site a of Decoration Day Conference, Albany, New York. George Washington Chapter Sons of the American Revolution ~ Alexandria, Virginia 1 ceremony. While visiting the cemetery, the wife of leadership has developed a "boilerplate script" that may Union General John A. Logan was present and spied be added or modified as necessary, as well as a new Miss Nora Fontaine Davidson, a schoolteacher, and VASSAR tri-fold brochure that you can leave behind with her pupils putting flowers and tiny Confederate flags your audience. If you would like copies of the script or on the soldiers' graves. Shortly afterward General brochure, please contact Chapter Secretary Jay Henn at Logan issued a proclamation calling for the [email protected]. Also, if you give such a talk, observance of Memorial Day. Locals say that please be sure to notify Chapter Vice President Paul Decoration Day served as the inspiration for the Walden so that we may receive proper credit in the federal Memorial Day. Annual Report. On Saturday, April 16, 2016 at 1:00 pm, the Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution and the 4. American Revolution Museum in Richmond Chapter, VASSAR will honor the memory Yorktown and service of the nineteen Patriots of the Revolutionary War interred at the Cemetery. On this The final initiative is support for the new American important occasion VASSAR will dedicate a new Revolution Museum in Yorktown (ARMY). Chapter and monument, a companion to the existing War of 1812 member donations passed to VASSAR will be presented Society memorial, plus raise the colors on a newly- to ARMY as a lump sum gift. President Truslow’s initial installed, solar-lighted flag pole. To all George goal was to raise $10,000; the very positive response Washington Compatriots, please help us honor these from VASSAR members convinced him to raise our goal previously unrecognized Revolutionary War Patriots to $15,000. The mechanics of the donation process are with your attendance at the dedication ceremony. contained in a flyer toward the back of this issue. The You’ll find the flyer elsewhere in this issue of the benefits of your donation are many: the member gets Newsletter. credit to one of the ranks in the 1st Virginia Regiment; the chapter gets credit on the Chapter Annual Report; 2. SAR Veterans Recognition the chapter earns streamers and/or gifts based on the total of chapter member donations; and the American With his second initiative, President Truslow is Museum of the Revolution in Yorktown – scheduled for calling upon all VASSAR Chapters to award at least completion in Fall 2016 - will be better able to one NSSAR War Service or Military Service medal and accomplish its important goals. certificate. The SAR War Service Medal was first authorized in 1899 for SAR members who served in the Spanish-American War. It was subsequently authorized for members who served in World War I and World War II. Following World War II, the SAR authorized a generic War Service Medal with specific service periods indicated by bronze bars. The SAR Military Service Medal was authorized in 2006. It may be presented by a chapter or state-level society to SAR members (or purchased by SAR members) who have served in the Armed Forces of the United States, Coast Guard, an allied country of the United States, or in a United Nations Peace Keeping Force, who otherwise do not qualify for the SAR War Service Medal. If you aware of a Chapter member or members who would be candidates for these awards, please contact a Chapter officer. 3. Civic Outreach National Memorial Day Parade Spreading the word about the SAR and VASSAR is Please “save the date” for the National Memorial Day important to encourage membership and to build Parade on May 30th. As a host organization, this is a support for our patriotic, historical, and educational major Chapter activity and we are hoping for a larger- goals. President Truslow’s third initiative calls upon than-ever turnout this year. So mark your calendars, all Chapters to give brief talks about the SAR, and remember that participants receive the coveted VASSAR, and their chapter to local civic organizations Dooley-Carr-Elston medal. Stay tuned for more details. such as the Lions, Kiwanis, and Rotary. VASSAR George Washington Chapter Sons of the American Revolution ~ Alexandria, Virginia 2 From the Quote for April Secretary’s Desk The times that tried men's souls are over - and the greatest and completest revolution the world ever As I’m sure all of you are aware, the knew, gloriously and happily accomplished. SAR is not the only national lineage organization that works to keep the Thomas Paine ideals and spirit of the American The American Crisis, No. 13 Revolution alive. As the Chairman April 19, 1783 of the Chapter’s DAR-C.A.R. Relations Committee, I am honored to work with two such organizations – Source: http://westillholdthesetruths.org/quotes/ the Daughters of the American Revolution and the category/american-revolution Children of the American Revolution – to further our common goals. In early March, I had the pleasure of attending the 120th DAR State Conference in Richmond. This was a great opportunity to see how the DAR operates at the State level, spread the word about the SAR, and support VASSAR President Ed Truslow as he brought greetings to the Saturday Night Chapter Regents Banquet. There is also an annual Men’s Event: this year we were treated to an insider’s tour of the Virginia War Memorial. The following weekend I joined several fellow George Washington compatriots for the 89th Children of the American Revolution Virginia State Conference, held in Newport News, Virginia. Mike Above: SAR Members at the DAR State Conference ( left to Elston (Senior Second Vice President, V.S.C.A.R. and right) Bill Schwetke, Larry Alexander, VASSAR President Conference Chairman) and Rodney Schmidt (State Ed Truslow, Jay Henn, Skip Nolan, Bob Swartwood Parliamentarian, V.S.C.A.R.) played major roles, and I was able to help by serving as a Teller during the election of the 2016-2017 Virginia State President Gregory Bodge: 770-789-3252 Officers. Also in attendance were GW Chapter dual Vice President Paul Walden: 703-347-9770 members (and C.A.R. members) Connor Jackson (First Vice President, N.S.C.A.R.) and Chas Leiss Secretary Jay Henn: 703-447-0820 (Honorary President, V.S.C.A.R.). Of most note, though, was the election of Compatriot William Treasurer Ernie Coggins: 703-241-2807 Elston to his first State office – that of 2016-2017 Registrar Dave Thomas: 703-583-8791 State Curator. Congratulations to William! I encourage all of you to keep an eye out for The George Washington Chapter was chartered in its present opportunities to support the DAR and C.A.R., as well form on April 2, 1954. With over 280 members, it is Virginia’s as to spread the word about the SAR with these and largest SAR chapter.