April 2013 Vol. VII Issue No. 7 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Section B Once upon a time there really was a bear named Wojtek who served in World War II Once there was a cigarette-smoking, beer- the Polish soldiers were demobilized he was drinking bear who saw action in World War II taken to Edinburgh Zoo where he eventually who may be the subject of an Hollywood film. died in 1963. In Rich and Rita Shader’s always interesting Aileen Orr, author of Wojtek the Bear who Celtic Seasons - From the Streams of Celtic Con- sold the rights to Mr. Foley, discovered the story sciousness, there is a wonderful true story of growing up in Berwickshire and by visiting the Wojtec - the soldier bear. Edinburgh Zoo. She is part of a trust raising Wojtek - called the Soldier Bear - was adopted funds to create a state of Wojtek with a Polish by Polish troops and helped them carry ammu- soldier who was his minder. nition at the Battle of Monte Cassino. They want the statue to be placed on a plinth After the war, he lived in Scotland at Hutton made from stone quarried from the Polish sol- in Berwickshire, before ending his days in the diers former camp in Berwickshire and dis- Edinburgh Zoo. played in the Scottish capital. She said, “I knew Belfast writer and director Brendan Foley has after speaking to one of the Poles who was in bought the rights to the bear’s remarkable and the camp that I wanted this statue to be a mo- true story. ment in time reflecting what the bear did here Wojtec was rescued as a cub in the Middle in the Scottish Borders. East in 1943. The Polish soldiers adopted him He was free to run around; he was human- and as he grew, he was trained to carry heavy ized and had no idea he was a bear; he thought mortar rounds. When their forces were de- he was a soldier, and so he could wander down ployed to Europe the only way to take the bear the road with one of the men and just as vil- with them was to “enlist” him. So, he was given lagers stopped to speak, he would stop and lis- a name, rank and number and took part in the ten to the exchange. After awhile, this was not Italian campaign. deemed to be a remarkable thing as everyone At the end of the war, the bear was billeted at was used to seeing him. any army camp in the Scottish Borders. When He was one remarkable bear. Celebrate Tartan Day April 6th . Remember Tartan April Day 2013 April Section 6th . B. Wear Beth’s your Newfangled tartan on Tartan Family Day Tree April Page 6th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age 2 3DJH Beth’s Newfangled%HWK·V1HZIDQJOHG)DPLO\7UHH Family Tree April 20136HFWLRQ%$SULO Section B Come Sinclairs and gather in Virginia the end of August! Clan Sinclair will be the Honored Clan at the 40th an- ing the membership at this time as to their interest in nual Virginia Scottish Games on August 31-September attending. 1, 2013 at the Great Meadow Equestrian Center in The Your response can be emailed to [email protected]; or Plains, Virginia. postal mailed to: Ward L. Ginn, 12147 Holly Knoll These Games continue to be a huge success at Great Circle, Great Falls, VA 22066 Meadow. Nestled in the heart of Virginia’s Piedmont countryside, Great Meadow is a 250-acre field events center with breathtaking views which evokes the spirit of the Scottish highlands, providing a truly authentic experience. Malcolm Sinclair, Earl of Caithness, will be the Hon- ored Guest for the games. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Clan Sinclair will be held in conjunction with the games on Saturday, August 31st. Ward (Bud) Ginn and Thomas (Tom) Sin- clair are coordinating the Clan Sinclair events for the weekend. ACCOMMODATIONS: Twenty (20) rooms have been set aside for Clan Sin- clair members in Chantilly at the Chantilly-Dulles Expo Holiday Inn for Friday (8/30/2013) - Sunday (9/1/2013) evenings. The hotel is located at 4335 Chantilly Shopping Cen- ter (4.5 miles from the Dulles International Airport and 21.6 miles from the Ronald Reagan Washington Na- tional Airport) - check-in time: 3pm/check-out time: 12pm. The rooms will be available until August 15th on a first come, first served basis. The group special nightly rate for the hotel is $89 (plus tax). Our group code LV8 should be used when you call the front desk: 1-703-815- 6060 in order to get this rate. CURRENT SCHEDULED EVENTS: Friday, August 30 - 5-7pm Meet & Greet Reception/w Cash Bar Hotel (Grand Duke Room) Saturday, August 31 Virginia Scottish Games The Plains 7:30pm Picnic/Barbeque Tom Sinclair’s house in Alexandria FOR PLANNING PURPOSES - These games are months away; however, we are solicit- April 2013 Section B Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree Page 3 Friday, MayJune 31st - June 2nd, 2013 Last20 year, we11 hosted Games our first ever Three Generations celebration. It was such a resounding success, we are Thursadding a specialday, recognition June time to our2nd Sunday schedule. Bring your entire family. What a thru Sunday, June 5th, 2011 wonderful memory for each of you TheHonoured 2011 Honored Clan is Clan is to share. Clan FraserClan Society MacLeod! of NA For complete Glasgow Highland Games information contact: [email protected] TheHonoured 2011 Honored Society: Society isScottish the St. Andrew’s Society Society of AthleticAthletic Events Events of MiddleEvansville, Tennessee IN & the Tri-States * CaberCaber Toss Toss * Stone Toss (Clachneart) Clans! Music! Vendors! Stone Toss (Clachneart) Clans!Children’s Music! Activities! * WeightWeight Toss Toss The Heraldic Vendors! Banner Parade! * Sheaf SheafToss Toss * WeightWeight Throw Throw RReturningeturning forfor ourour * HammerHammer Throw Throw families!families! MastersMasters, Division families!families! The Glasgow, KY ChampionshipAmateur & Weekend PASS! AmateurHighland AthleticsWrestling Mom, Dad and all their kids, $35.00 total! Absolutely No Pets - No Refunds - No Provisions available for Pets The Kentucky Tourism Council has selected the Glasgow Highland Games as a “Top Ten” Festival Event for the summer. For more information, visit our website at www.glasgowhighlandgames.com or email [email protected]. Feel free to call us at (270) 651-3141 Page 4 Beth’s Newfangled Family Tree April 2013 Section B Make plans now to visit Atlanta and Stone Mountain Highland Games in October by Sylvia Elliott lake, carillon, and other entertainment. It’s renowned Georgia Commissioner, Elliot Clan USA for a laser show, the hike (or tram ride) to the moun- Experience Southern hospitality and the pleasure of taintop, and its numerous walkers, joggers, and cyclists. meeting the Elliot Clan Chief in person! Chief Marga- Bagpipe echoes waft eerily through the park on a SMHG ret Eliott will attend the 41st Stone Mountain Highland weekend. Games in Atlanta, Georgia from October 18-20, 2013. The Stone Mountain Games, nicknamed “The Friendly Atlanta is a city with many activities for the entire fam- Games” or “Scots On The Rock”, normally hosts around ily, and the Stone Mountain Games (SMHG) are one of 30,000 visitors. There are meadows for athletic events the USA’s biggest Scottish events. and vendors, and wooded locations for entertainment CHIEF MARGARET ELIOTT’S ATTENDANCE stages and 100+ clan tents. There are few permanent With great pleasure, Clan Elliot announces their 29th buildings but paths are mostly wide and level with Tar- Clan Chief, Margaret Eliott, has accepted the invitation tan Taxi golf cart rides for those with mobility prob- to attend the Games as Guest of Honor. She’ll be ac- lems. Free parking is in an adjacent paved lot but arrive companied by her husband Christopher. The fact that early to secure a spot. the Elliot Clan USA was founded at Stone Mountain in GAMES SCHEDULE 1977, when her father (the late Sir Arthur Eliott) was Though SMHG lasts for 3 days, there are different the Honored Guest, adds a sense of history to this occa- arrangements each day plus ongoing activities. Plan a sion. Chief Eliott has official speaking duties on Friday schedule to catch your favorite events or you WILL get night and at all weekend ceremonies on the Games field. sidetracked. The official schedule isn’t online yet but As the Honored Clan, the Elliots have the privilege of 2013 events should be similar to previous times/dis- occupying a huge tent and private viewing area at the count prices: head of the parade field. This will give them splendid Friday at the Hilton: genealogical and tartan seminars views (and sounds) of the 500+ member Massed Band, (various times, free), Whiskey Tasting (2:30pm, $20), the Parade of Tartans, band competitions, and the fal- Music Recital (6pm, $10), Patrons/Sponsors Receptions conry &herding demonstrations. (7&8pm, by invitation only), Scottish Country Dance LOCATION Gala (8pm, $20) Atlanta is easily reached by plane or car, and has an Saturday at the park (9am-5:30pm, $15): opening cer- AMTRAK station. October is the driest month of their emony at noon, possible afternoon clan walkabout es- year and the Games typically enjoy 60-70F weather.