The Minuteman Central Florida SAR Chapter Volume 57, Issue 5 May 2018 Chartered on Chapter Meeting Dates to Remember! May 8, 1961 FLSSAR Spring Board of Management/ May 12, 2018 Annual Meeting - May 18 thru 20, 2018: At this meeting, we will be This event will be held at the Embassy Suites holding our annual awards ceremony to Orlando - Lake Buena Vista South located at recognize members for their invaluable 4955 Kyngs Heath Rd, Kissimmee, FL service. It will also be a pleasure to 34746. Note that this meeting will be a two have NSSAR Past President Mike day meeting. Tomme as our guest. He will also be speaking some at this meeting. May 26, 2018: George Roger Clark Me- morial Wreath Laying Ceremony in Vin- We will also have the pleasure cennes, Indiana. of meeting the recipient of the Chapter Meeting Location: Eagle Scout Contest who is Tyler Swid- June 9, 2018: Battle of Ramsour Mill erski. His parents will also be in at- Ceremony in Lincolnton, NC. The Mayflower tendance. This meeting will be held in the July 13 - 18, 2018: NSSAR 128th Con- 1720 Mayflower Duxbury Hall of the Mayflower Retire- gress in Houston, TX Court ment Community Center. A time of Winter Park, FL socializing will begin at 11:30 am with 32792 lunch being served at noon. The cost of Happy Birthday the lunch is $18.00. The Central Florida SAR Chapter would The entrée choices are: Beef like to wish the following Compatriots a and Brocolli, Asian Chicken Thigh, Happy Birthday. They are as follows: Fish of the Day, or Salad Plate. Note that each meal comes with an assort- MAY ment of vegetables, starch, salad or soup, and a dessert. Coffee and tea is 1 Gaines, Ruth also served with the meal. 2 Weatherwax, Nancy 9 Hawkins, Robert Please make your reservation to attend this meeting by 5/9/2018 by con- Membership in the tacting Compatriot Dan Stebbins via phone at 407-830-6946 or via e-mail at Ladies Auxiliary [email protected]. Your partici- pation is greatly appreciated in re- The Ladies’ Auxiliary Florida Socie- sponding with your RSVP before the ty of the Sons of the American Revolution is open to wives as well as female blood rela- deadline date. Please plan to attend. Page 2 The Minuteman tives (mothers, daughters, grand-daughters, aunts, and as a Toys for the World fundraiser. He serves nieces) of the SAR member. The Ladies’ Auxiliary through his church as well, and has received a number supports the SAR in its historical, patriotic and of awards and recognitions educational objectives. The Ladies’ Auxiliary raises funds to award (on a smaller scale) the same Tyler is currently a dual enrolled senior at students that the Florida Society SAR awards. Crooms High School having won academic excellence Dues for the LAFLSSAR are $5 per year; the ap- awards related to computers and chemistry. He will plication form is available at: http:// graduate this year with both his high school diploma www.flssar.org/FLSSAR/DOCS/LadyAuxDocs/ and AA degree. Other awards include the 1st place - LaAuxMemApp.pdf. Please encourage the ladies county science fair, Disney Doer and Dreamer Award, in your life to join and support us in our efforts. and the Outstanding Community Service Award. At Croom’s, Tyler is a member of National Honor Society, Beta Club, Student Council, and also serves as a teach- Webpage Assistance er’s assistant. If you would like to assist the Central Flor- Tyler is the son of proud parents David and ida SAR Chapter in revamping the chapter website Tammy Swiderski and descendant of revolutionary sol- or have some content that you think might be good dier William Blum. Along with his contest application to include in the webpage. Please let the Chapter and 4 generation ancestor chart Tyler submitted the fol- President Burt Fairchild know. We would eventu- lowing essay to complete the final requirement of the ally like to have it as a stand alone website that is contest. not hosted by the FLSSAR. Your assistance is greatly appreciated. The Blum Spirit Chapter Eagle Scout Award By Tyler Swiderski Winner America was settled on the belief of new beginnings— starting fresh and hoping to do better than their lives in Eagle Scout Tyler David Swiderski from Europe. America was a land of opportunity; an un- Troop 773 in Longwood, is the winner of the 2017 known territory full of risks. Wanting religious free- Central Florida Chapter level of the Arthur M. and dom, and hoping to achieve prosperity by using their Berdena King Eagle Scout Contest. Tyler passed skills and trades, were just some of the many driving his Eagle Scout Board of Review on July 27, 2017. forces of the settlers centuries ago. Settlers came from During his time in Scouting he has earned 78 merit diverse backgrounds and roots, were all brought togeth- badges. Tyler has served in er on this new land—to start new lives. Our way of liv- many leadership positions in ing and where we live were brought on by the courage, Scouting including, as his determination, and perseverance of the colonies. The troop’s Senior Patrol Leader, colonies’ militia did not have much military experience; 60 months as a Cub Scout in fact they were average citizens leading ordinary lives. Den Chief, and as both a Boy Storeowners, farmers, blacksmiths, and carpenters were and Cub Scout summer camp what made up the American defense. It was because of staff member. Tyler is a the American spirit and their drive for freedom that won member of the Order of the our independence. We owe our lives to those first Patri- Arrow, scouting’s honor soci- ots. ety and service organization. He has participated in a num- July 4th is an ordinary day for other nations. For United ber of service activities States citizens it should be a day that all Americans take through scouting such as pride and remember the historic victory and celebrate Scouting for Food and volun- the blanket of freedom that we sleep and rise to. We teering at the Veteran’s Hos- have forgotten the battles, events, and results of the pital. Tyler has also been a American Revolutionary War were momentous. British volunteer for Central Florida soldiers outnumbered the American militia three to one Zoo Cancer Awareness Night and had about six times more combat experience. The Volume 57, Issue 5 Page 3 price of going to war was known to Washington, our founding fathers and all those who fought. In order to On July 18, 1755, some 20 years before the win our freedom: blood, and sacrifices were an obstacle American Revolution, a young man wrote to his to overcome. It showed that ordinary people could gov- brother to dispel the false news that he was dead. ern themselves. Our victory over the British served as a “I take this early opportunity of contradict- guide for America. ing both my death and final words and assuring you that I now exist and appear in the land of the People should be concerned about their country’s pro- living by the miraculous care of Providence, that gress and prosperity. It is important to remember all sol- protected me beyond all human expectation.” diers that fought and served for our country. Patriots go This young soldier had been in an intense beyond limits of their character and morals to work for and difficult battle in the Ohio valley and now, the betterment of their country. They give for the coun- even after the rumor of his death began to spread, try, keeping their country ahead of themselves. Patriot- what he wanted most was to rest in the comforta- ism is an inherited feeling that sparks the country’s spir- ble embrace of Maryland’s Fort Cumberland. He it. They serve as an example for generations to come. felt an urgency, however, to delay comfort so he could write a letter to his family to let them know Recently I found information about my heritage. My sev- he was still alive. enth-great grandfather William Blum “Bloom” Sr. He continued to write in his letter to his served in the Revolutionary War. He was a German im- brother, “I had four bullets through my coat, and migrant arriving with his parents in New Jersey. He later two horses shot from under me, and yet I escaped married, owned a farm and began raising a large family. unhurt.” He wanted to share not only that he was But when asked to take up arms, he left his fields, he left alive, but that he lived solely because of the provi- his family, and he served 6 years under General Wag- dence of God. ner’s Brigade in NJ. Not once did he hesitate or question The young twenty-two-year-old colonel the call to serve this country. Even though he did not who was George Washington. He had felt, even appear in any significant history books, I feel honored to early in his life, the providence of God upon him. have been related to him. For this citizen of the United God has blessed our nation and our peo- States, America’s history means more to me than just ple. May we always acknowledge the providence dates on pages of some history book. of God upon us, and give thanks. I hope that unbridled spirit of patriotism never diminish- es; it is one of the most crucial elements for a nation’s development and prosperity.