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News & Events
George Washington Chapter
Chartered June 5, 1924
Pennsylvania Society ~ Sons of the American Revolution Vol. 93, No. 1 Washington, Pennsylvania January / February 2016
FEBRUARY LUNCHEON Saturday, February 27, 2016
Arrival & Greetings @ 12:00 PM Ramada Inn
1170 W Chestnut Street Washington, PA 15301
(724) 225-9750
DAR / SAR Members and guests are welcome.
Directions: Take Route 70 East to Exit 15 (Chestnut Street / Route 40.) At the exit veer to the right and continue on Chestnut Street and go through the stop light. The entrance to the Ramada Inn is the first right directly after the McDonald’s. Menu: Sirloin of Beef Rouladen or Pasta Primavera with Grilled Chicken Breast
Includes: Tossed Garden Salad, Chef’s Potato, and Vegetable (except pasta entrée), Freshly Baked Rolls and Butter, Fresh Coffee, Hot or Iced Tea Price: $14.00 per person
Reservations with meal choice MUST arrive by
Friday, February 19, 2016 Make checks to: George Washington Chapter-SAR Send to: Larry Ridgway – Treasurer
Box 355 - 113 Railroad Street Stockdale, PA. 15483-0355 Phone: (724) 938-2197
Program: Gary Augustine of Sewickley, PA will be speaking to the chapter about George Washington’s Seven Trips to Western Pennsylvania. Mr. Augustine is a published author on topics ranging from the Civil War to World War II. He is currently working on a book related to D-Day.
Minutes ~ Saturday, December 5, 2015 Call to Order: President Larry Ridgway called the annual Chapter Christmas party to order at the Union Grill in Washington, PA at 12:05 PM. After welcoming all, Rev. Dr. Nat Roe gave the Invocation. Attendance: Sixteen (16) people: Guests (5) Compatriots (11): John A. Burnett, Ph.D., Marcia & Kenneth E. Gorton; Beverly & George E. Livingston, Michael D.C. Merryman, Jane & Ronald E. Miller; E. Ward Reighard, Linda & Larry L. Ridgway; Rev. Dr. Nat C. Roe; Ruth & John C. Schreiber; Joseph M. Shaffer, Gary W. Timmons. President Ridgway presented Gary Timmons with the Chapter Distinguished Service medal. Timmons read a “Thank You” note received by Margaret White on the Chapters resolution on the passing of her husband and former Chapter President Albert White. Gary also reported on the Wreaths Across America campaign (see other article in this newsletter). Ron Miller mentioned a current display at the Fort Pitt museum. All in attendance had a great time of fellowship. Adjournment: Rev. Dr. Nat Roe gave the Benediction and the meeting was adjourned at 1:17PM.
Wreaths Across America
The George Washington Chapter has once again had a great wreaths campaign for 2015! Once again we broke the 1,000 mark.
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We received sponsorships for 1,164 actual wreaths and with the bonus wreaths the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies receives under our group name. Our George Washington Chapter was credited with 1,765 wreaths. Thanks goes out to everyone who participated in any way. Whether you helped stuff envelopes at our chapter picnic, sponsored a wreath(s), contributed articles to your local newspapers or helped place wreaths this past December, we thank you! This year’s campaign started at the annual chapter picnic when those in attendance helped stuff over 200 envelopes to past sponsors requesting their participation again in 2015. Form these letters we received almost a 90% response. This year we received well over 300 responses. Most new sponsors were due to newspaper articles that were published in Weirton and Wheeling, West Virginia, Steubenville and Martins Ferry, Ohio as well as the Washington Observer-Reporter. These sponsorships do not include our own chapter members that sponsored wreaths. We received donations from as far away as Iowa, Florida, North and South Carolina. Then on December 12, in bitter cold, Compatriots from our George Washington Chapter as well as from the Fort Jackson and Ebenezer Zane Chapter (OHSSAR) met at our George Washington Chapter “boulder” in the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies where we were joined with ladies from the DAR for a brief ceremony followed by a wreath laying at our marker. All then joined an estimated crowd of 1,500 to 2,000 volunteers who attended this year’s ceremony to place the wreaths. This year, 7,200 wreaths were placed. It is truly a humbling sight to see so many of the nearly 11,000 graves were marked with a wreath or decoration. We would like to acknowledge this last list of corporations, individuals and groups that have sponsored wreaths this season: 84 Lumber, Abate of PA, Altmeyer Funeral Homes, American Legion Post 38, American Legion Auxiliary Unit 525, American Legion Post 705, Donna Antone, Atkinson Family, Barry Bardone, Nancy Barnard, Beverly Bauman, Marty & Judy Beichner, Pete & Jean Belski, Bethel Fife & Drum-DAR, April Betzner, Don & Jacquelyn Bianchi, Bibb Family, Joanne Bier, Allen & Elva Boissen, Ann Bopp, Mary Boroch, Murna Bowman, Danette Buchanan, Susan Burchett, Joyce Butterfield, Judy Cain, Capt. David Van Camp Memorial Foundation, Gary & Roberta Camepon, Greg Carpenter, Bob & Kelly Chambers, Mark Chaney, Margaret Cipcic, Dolores Collins,
Lorraine Connell, Kathryn Cortese, Cheryl Cummins, Louise Curley, Melissa Dami, Jeanne D’Anniballe, Mary Dangelo, John & Mary Darby, Deborah Davis, Melissa DeJohn, Bernedene Dernoshek, Charles Dodd, Elm Grove Civics, Mary Kay Emmerth, Erie Insurance, Filer-Sadlek American Legion Post 954, Rich & Mary Frankhouser, James Frey, Cindy Freyvogel, Dorothy Ford, Kenneth Foreman, Noel Foreman, Munail Franjione, Carl Garrett, General Arthur St. Clair Chapter-SAR, Lois Gnagey, John Greene, Gary & Jo Ann Hamilton, Hanson-Cole American Legion Post 391, Mark & Michelle Herron, Cheryl Hindman, George Hines, John & Joyce Holland, Judy Homerosky, Karen Huggins, James Hull, Margaret Hunter, Marilyn Izzi, Rose Marie Jacanin, Pat Jakiel, James Farrell American Legion Post 330, Harry Johnston, Cynthia Karoleski, Deborah Kenny, Greg Kern, Cheryl Kondik, Mary Korsmeyer, Sylvester & Kay Kukich, JoAnn Kulesa, Marie Kunselman, Von & Lynn Lacock, Danzel Lamp, Rea Leoni, Agnes Lesniakowski, Bruce Littleton, Barbara Lyons, Claudia Martinette, Richard Masquelier, Sherrill Maynard, Ruth Mecera, Virginia Mickitsch, Ron & Jane Miller, Mon Valley Networking, Moravian Trail Chapter-DAR, Marian Morgan, Carole Morrison, Rex & Betty Mossor, Albert & Pat Nagy, Fred & Karen Oelschlager, John O’Leary, Clarence Pagendeum, PASSAR, Parkinson Ferry Society-CAR, Sam & Linda Perry, Tom & Linda Porter, Donovan Powell, Dolores Poznak, Greg & Vivian Prentice, John Puskar, Diana Rafiani, Karen Randall, Sandra Rea, Joseph Rehak, E. Ward Reighard, Linda Reschick, Judith Ridge, Carol Ridgely, Elizabeth Ritson, Mary Roscoe, Pauline Rozsas, Geraldine Rush, Saut Family, Charlotte Scholl, Francis Scott, Joe & Barb Shaffer, Joseph Sites, Julia Smith, Loretta Stanek, Mary Stevens, Susan Stonebraker, Jan Patsch Taylor, Donna Tekavec, Joe & Nancy Tencer, Sam & Mary Thomas, Tim & Alice Thomassy, Jackie Timmerson, Ron & Marlene Tkach, Jeff Turner, Jo Ann Uscio, Millen Vorhees, John Vroble, Richard Walters, Warwood Lions Club, Shirley Washam, Sandra Waulhier, Wellsburg Middle School, Mary West, Wheeling Chapter-DAR, Amelia White, Whitetails Unlimited, Dorothy Wnek, Thomas Yoho, Zion Lutheran Church. With the help of these generous sponsors and the ones listed in the last couple issue of our newsletter, our George Washington Chapter continues to be one of the largest gatherers of wreaths for the National Cemetery of the Alleghenies. Thank you!
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Washington County Graves Book In 2011 the chapter completed the first printing of the Revolutionary War Patriots Buried in Washington County. That same year the book received recognition at the National SAR Congress. It continues to be a work in progress and we now have well over 1,000 names in the book. Over 75 copies have been printed and donated and /or sold to many local libraries, groups and individuals. The chapter recently received a purchase order from the Allen County Public Library for one of our books. This is quite an honor. The Allen County Public Library is located in Fort Wayne, Indiana and is home to the Fred J. Reynolds Historical Genealogy Department, which holds the largest public genealogy collection in the United States. This research facility is said to be second only to the LDS Church in Salt Lake for research of genealogy. Our chapter should be proud of what we have accomplished with special thanks going to Compatriot Ron Eisert for all his hard work and dedication over the years. Welcome Aboard The George Washington Chapter is honored and delighted to extend the warm hand of friendship to several of our newest members. John Albert Burnett, Ph.D. is a transfer member from the state of Nevada where he has served as past Chapter and State Society President. Dr. Burnett is the Special Assistant to the President for Equal Employment Opportunity and Educational Opportunity (EEEO) and Title IX Coordinator at Calfornia University of PA, and his Patriot ancestor is Lewis Roberts. He enjoys genealogy and, like many of us, visiting cemeteries. A new member to the SAR but by no means a stranger to our meetings is Kurt Joseph Winter, Esq. Kurt has been working for what seems like forever to trace his revolutionary war ancestor and finally the connections were made. Kurt’s son Christopher has been a member of our George Washington Chapter for several years, but on his mother’s side. Kurt is an attorney who practices in Burgettstown and Washington County. Kurt’s ancestor is Jacob Peters. We welcome both John and Kurt and look forward to both of them attending our meetings.
February Events in Revolutionary War History
February 10, 1763 Ending the Seven Year’s War, also known as the French and Indian War in North America, the Treaty of Paris is signed. France ceded all mainland North American territories, except New Orleans, in order to retain her Caribbean sugar islands. Britain gained all territory east of the Mississippi River; Spain kept territory west of the Mississippi, but exchanged East and West Florida for Cuba. February 27, 1776 The patriots drive the Loyalists from Moore's Creek Bridge, North Carolina February 1777 Washington winters in Morristown, NJ February 6, 1778 The United States and France sign the French Alliance. France recognizes U.S. Independence. February 3, 1779 Major General Moultrie defeats British detachment at Port Royal Island, SC. February 23 – 24, 1779 American George Rogers Clark captures Vincennes (in what is now Indiana) on the Wabash in the Western campaign. February 1, 1781 The Battle of Cowan's Ford, Huntersville, NC.
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George Washington Chapter Crossword Puzzle Contest January / February 2016
ACROSS: 2.) Troop Withdrawal 5.) Boston Massacre Captain 8.) Representative Consent 10.) Southern Occupation 12.) Cannon Salvage Fort 13.) House of __________ 15.) Majority Signers 17.) Robert _______ Paine 18.) Dec. 1783 Resignation 19.) Gilbert du Motier 20.) Political Poster DOWN: 1.) Shippen’s Husband 3.) Von Steuben’s Homeland 4.) Polish Cavalry 6.) _______ Hill 7.) British Government 9.) Constitutional Compromise 11.) Philly Battle 14.) Valley ________ 16.) Mobile Militia
September / October 2015 Answers ACROSS: 2.) 1764 Tax Act Sugar 5.) Saratoga Surrender Burgoyne 9.) Indian Neutrality Agent Butler 10.) 13 States Confederation 11.) NJ Courthouse Monmouth 14.) Common Sense Paine 16.) Ammunition Wagon Caissons 17.) King George’s Wife Charlotte 18.) Home Guard Militia DOWN: 1.) Continental Congress 3.) Light Cannon Grasshopper 4.) McIntosh Adversary Gwinnett 6.) Western Expansion 7.) Allegheny Fort Kittanning 8.) Hamilton’s Party Federalist 9.) Musket Blade Bayonet 10.) Military Store Commissary 12.) Soldier Pack Haversack 13.) British PM Pitt 15.) Ohio Indians Wyandot
*** Oops! The #8 down clue was incorrectly listed as “Hamilton’s Fort” instead of the correct “Hamilton’s Party.” ***
The N.S.C.A.R., founded in 1895, is the oldest patriotic youth organization in our country.
The 2015-2016 National President’s project is to raise funds for the
“First Oval Office” exhibit at the Museum of the American Revolution
in Philadelphia, PA that showcases George Washington’s marquee tent
used as his Revolutionary War headquarters.
Website: http://nscar.org/ Email: [email protected] Twitter: @NSCAR1895
Find us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/nscar1895
Join the C.A.R. along the Road to Independence!
Teach your children & grandchildren service and patriotism with the
Children of the American Revolution. Consider membership today!
Dear SAR Chapter Compatriots,
Please help us spread the word—There is a C.A.R. Society in the Pittsburgh area waiting
for your children and grandchildren to join! We do amazing things with our members, teach-
ing them leadership skills, providing opportunities for community service, celebrating Amer-
ica, and learning about history. C.A.R. membership offers much to any boys or girls under the
age of 22. We love when siblings and cousins join—and there is an application discount for
multiple children in a family.
If you want to become part of our world of historic preservation, patriotism and educa-
tion, please contact us. We are willing to answer any questions about our organization and ex-
plain the application process.
Hope to hear from you soon,
Susan Gillette Meer, Senior Society President
The Parkinson’s Ferry Society, N.S.C.A.R.
(412)249-8942 [email protected]
George Washington Chapter Sons of the American Revolution c/o Scott M. Helfrich, D.Ed. 267 California Road, Suite 613 Brownsville, PA 15417-9373
