FALL 2016 Tennessee State SAR Color Guard on the steps of the state capitol on constitution day
THE PRESIDENT S MESSAGE Compatriots, I hope you have enjoyed the wonderful Summer and Fall Seasons in Tennessee. There have been numerous grave markings, parades and other events across the state and I hope you have participated in or attended to show your support. The more visible we are to the public, the better chance of drawing interest to the TNSAR. Schools are in session and it is also time to promote our youth programs. Through these we are able to reach our future leaders and acquaint them with their historic roots. Please encourage any and all of our young people to take advantage of these opportunities. Please review the membership growth year to date by chapter. Dues notices went out two months ago and you need to check and make sure you have sent in your payment. We need to continue recruiting new members and retaining our current ones.
Chapter Membership Summary Chapters 11/15/2016 1/1/2016 Regular Junior Total % Change Total Lt. Andrew Crockett Chapter 126 3 129 19.4 108 Andrew Jackson Chapter 101 1 102 10.9 92 Colonel Anthony Bledsoe Chapter 58 2 60 30.4 46 Colonel Benjamin Cleveland Chapter 195 15 210 12.9 186 Christopher Strong Chapter 25 25 4.2 24 Cumberland Gap Chapter 21 21 21 Hiwassee Chapter 36 36 2.9 35 Isaac Shelby Chapter 87 2 89 12.7 79 Jackson Purchase Chapter 12 12 12 James Madison Chapter 50 50 4.2 48 John Sevier Chapter 107 107 12.6 95 Joseph Greer Chapter 39 1 40 11.1 36 Kings Mountain Chapter 68 1 69 69 State of Franklin Chapter 17 17 17 Stephen Holston Chapter 93 1 94 10.6 85 Stones River Chapter 21 21 10.5 19 Thomas Kilgore Chapter 10 10 10 Tombigbee Chapter 39 39 11.4 35 Valentine Sevier Chapter 68 68 4.6 65 Watauga Chapter 25 1 26 73.3 15 Lt; William P. Quarles Chapter 41 1 42 16.7 36 State Totals 1239 28 1267 11.8 1133 I hope that everyone has a safe and very Merry Christmas and Holiday Season. David L. Eagan President.
Board of Governors Meeting 08-October-2016 President David Eagan presents State Streamers to Claude Hardison for state participation in National Events Sycamore Shoals TN, Battle of Kings Mountain SC, and Battle of Blue Lick KY. Walt Timoshuck III received Certificate of Appreciation from NSSAR for serving as National Chairman, DAR Liaison Committee. MEDAL PRESENTATIONS Rick Hollis received Certificate of Appreciation from NSSAR for serving as National Chairman of SAR Branding Committee. President Eagan presents Fred Ryan the Silver Color Guard Medal. The Silver Color Guard Medal is for service at the District and National levels. An SAR Color Guardsman must have the Bronze Color Guard Medal before he can be awarded the Silver Color Guard Medal.
President Eagan presents Steve Gaines the Color Guard Grave Marking Medal. The Patriot Grave Marking Medal recognizes both past efforts to identify and report data on Revolutionary War graves and to encourage new efforts to identify graves. The Compatriot must have participated in at least fifteen (15) grave marking events. Compatriot James Stone is presented the Von Steuben Medal by President Eagan at the Gathering at Sycamore Shoals. To earn the National Von Steuben Medal for Sustained Achievement in the NSSAR Color Guard, a Color Guardsman must serve at least five years after he has received the SAR Silver Color Guard Medal, and he must accrue at least five hundred (500) points by participating in uniform at qualifying National or District Color Guard events. ON THE COVER: Sunday the 18 th of September the TNSSAR Color Guard presented the Colors for the Daughters of the American Revolution while they were celebrating Constitution Week with a Bell Ringing. TNSSAR Color Guard in attendance: Commander John Clines with Guardsmen David Eagan, Donald Horton, Jim McKinney, Johnny Head, George Miller, Sanford Peyton and Rick Langton. Acting State Color Guard Commander John Clines is presented the Silver Color Guard Medal by President Eagan at the Gathering at Sycamore Shoals on September 17. The Silver Color Guard Medal is for service at the District and National levels. An SAR Color Guardsman must have the Bronze Color Guard Medal before he can be awarded the Silver Color Guard Medal. The Tennessee Patriot is an e-newsletter published for the enjoyment of Tennessee SAR compatriots and the general public. Please submit all inquiries and news items to: David Carr choirboy44@live.com
Veterans Day - Franklin Constitution Day Bell Ringing Nashville The Tennessee State Color Guard led the Veterans Day Parade in Franklin on November 11. Veterans Day Rogersville The Tennessee State Color Guard presents the colors at the State Capitol Building for the Constitution Day Bell Ringing Ceremony. SAR State Acting Commander John Clines with Guardsmen David Eagan, Donald Horton, Jim McKinney, Johnny Head, George Miller, Sanford Peyton and Rick Langton. District 1 Meeting - Johnson City State of Franklin Chapter President Don Hills delivers greetings from the SAR at the Veterans Day Ceremony in Rogersville. Heritage Days Rogersville District 1 Chapters held their combined meeting on Sept 15 in Unicoi with special guests NSSAR Southern District Vice President General Gerald Brent and NSSAR Treasurer General Warren Alter attending. Pictured Left to right: VP Gen. Brent, Treasurer General Alter, District 1 Director Ronnie Lail, and TNSAR Past President Darryl Addington. State of Franklin Chapter marched in the Heritage Days parade in Rogersville, Oct 15. Pictured left to right: Don Hills, Bill Pettis, Wayne Croley, Lee Johnson, David Johnston and Dick Burdette. District 1 Director Ronnie Lail pictured with John Slaughter NPS Superintendent of New Southern Campaign of the American Revolution Parks Group including Cowpens National Battlefield, Kings Mountain National Military Park, Ninety Six National Historic Site, and Overmountain Victory National Historic Trail.
The Gathering at Sycamore Shoals TNSAR Acting Commander John Clines led the Color Guard made up of Compatriots from Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Kentucky, and Ohio, along with members of the Overmountain Trail Association. Pictured with the Color Guard are special guests NSSAR Southern District Vice President General Gerald Brent (far left), and NSSAR Treasurer General Warren Alter (center). President Eagan presents the TNSSAR Wreath during Sycamore Shoals dedication ceremony. The Color Guard was escorted by the Watauga Valley Fife and Drum Corp. Wreaths were presented by SAR chapters from TN, VA, NC, SC, KY and OH plus two NSSAR General Officers. Also presenting wreaths were DAR chapters, CAR, Watauga Historical Society, Colonial Dames of the 17 th Century, and the National Daughters of 1812.
Battle of kings Mountain 236 th Anniversary Col. Benjamin Cleveland Chapter goes to School Despite a driving rainstorm, TNSAR 1 st Dist. Director Ronnie Lail commanded the color guard of TNSAR and Overmountain Men compatriots with a musket volley to dedicate a new memorial at the park. Members of the Col. Benjamin Cleveland Chapter visited E. L. Ross Elementary School to teach about the Revolutionary War. Pictured with the 3 rd and 4 th grade students are Compatriots Claude Hardison, Jim McKinney, Randall Higgins and John Clines. The new Memorial was dedicated to three black participants in the Battle of Kings Mountain. The new memorial is shown with descendants of the three patriots named on the memorial stone. Pictured in the center is Brig. Gen. (Ret) James R. Gorham who delivered the keynote address for the event. The TNSAR wreath was presented by Darryl Addington (2 nd from rt) pictured here with color guard members from NC and SC. Compatriot John Clines explains the role of a soldier in the Revolutionary War to the students.
Grave Markings Pvt. Seth Babb Sr., Cpl Joseph Hawkins and Lt. Henricus Stonecypher Greene County The graves of three Revolutionary War Soldiers were marked at the Babb Family Cemetery in Greene County on 15 Oct 2016. Pictured above are family members of Pvt. Seth Babb, Cpl. Joseph Hawkins and Lt. Henricus Stonecypher with members of the Kings Mountain Chapter Color Guard and TNSAR Acting Commander John Clines. Descendant Hugh Babb, Korean War Veteran is shown seated. Dr. Chambers had these memorials placed beside the aging headstones for each patriot. Compatriot Dr. Joe Chambers (L) hosted the event and was instrumental in clearing and cleaning the Babb Cemetery. Dr. Joe Jefferson (R) introduced the descendants attending. A full article of the event was reported in the Greeneville Sun Newspaper on 17 Oct 2016. Compatriots Ricky Stonecypher and Ben Stonecypher, descendants of Lt. Henricus Stonecypher took part in the ceremony as members of the Kings Mountain Chapter Color Guard.
Col. Return Jonathan Meigs Dayton The Benjamin Cleveland Chapter hosted two grave markings on 22 Oct 2016. The first was at the Garrison Cemetery in Dayton honoring Col. Return Johathan Meigs, who served as Colonel in the 6 th Connecticut Infantry, commanded by Gen. Anthony Wayne. He also served under Gen. Benedict Arnold in the failed assault on Quebec, where he was captured by the British but was exchanged in the following year. Cannon Volleys highlighted both grave-markings on this day in Dayton. Cannoniers Steve Gaines and Jim Johnson transported and manned the cannons. The TNSAR Color Guard commanded by Acting Commander John Clines served this grave marking in the morning and then traveled to the second grave marking in the afternoon Musket volleys honored the patriots at both events. Major David Campbell Dayton TNSAR Color Guard marching into The David Campbell Memorial Park in Dayton to honor Major David Campbell, who served as Major in the Virginia Militia under the command of Gen. Nathaniel Greene. Color Guard members for both events were: Commander John Clines, Jim McKinney, David Whaley, Bob George, James stone, Claude Hardison, Larry Poole, James Hobbs, Ken Whitaker, SAR State President David Eagan, John Clark, Sanford Payton, Joe White, Ron Melton, and Cannoniers Steve Gaines & Jim Johnson.
Capt. John Medearis Petersburg The Joseph Greer Chapter conducted a Grave marking ceremony on 29 Oct 2016 for Patriot Captain John Medearis at the Medearis Family Cemetery near Petersburg, TN. NSSAR Southern Dist. Color Guard Commander Colon Wakefield reviewed the Color Guard led by TNSAR Acting Commander John Clines. The Color Guard was made up of compatriots from Tennessee, Alabama and Kentucky, along with four cannons. Capt. Medearis was honored with a three volley musket salute. Capt. Medearis grave honored by the Joseph Greer Chapter. Color Guard is pictured with descendants of Capt. Medearis, who was instrumental in obtaining supplies for George Washington's Army during the harsh winter on the Potomac. Payment for services was issued in land grants to officers, based on their time of service and rank. Capt. Medearis obtained a large tract of land in Tennessee on which he retired after the Revolution. He called this plot of land "Liberty" and there is a State historical marker where the old home site still sits. Southern Dist. Color Guard Commander Colon Wakefield stands guard. The Cannon Crew honored Patriot Capt. Medearis with a phased firing salute.
Detrich Teter Nave & Leonard Bowers Elizabethton TNSAR Acting Commander John Clines leads the combined color guard to the memorial Grave Markings of Teter Nave and Leonard at the Old Nave Cemetery in the Siam Valley near Elizabethton, TN. Color guard was made up of compatriots from Tennessee, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Ohio and Kentucky. Color Guard with dignitaries and family members at the Nave/Bowers grave-marking. Upcoming Events The event was hosted by the Watauga Chapter and Dist. 1 Director Ronnie Lail. Special guest speakers included TN SAR President David Eagan, NSSAR Southern Dist. VP Gen. Gerald Brent, and NSSAR Treasurer Gen. Warren Alter. Teter Nave served as a volunteer with the Overmountain Men under Col. Isaac Shelby in the Battle of Kings Mountain. Leonard Bowers also served with the Overmountain Men under Col. Shelby. Bowers married Teter Nave s daughter. Don t forget Wreaths Across America on 17 Dec 2016 A three shot musket volley was presented to honor the Patriots. Wishing each compatriot and your family a wonderful and blessed Christmas