The Trigg Patriot JOHN HUMPHRIES JANUARY 2016 CHAPTER SERVICE AWARD HONOREE Compatriot John Humphries rendered amazing service to veterans in Caldwell County last month! He personally sponsored eleven Veteran s Appreciation Medals in December! John will be retiring later this year and moving to Elizabethtown. We are definitely going to miss his faithful service to our chapter and area veterans! 1
ANNOUNCING! THE COL. STEPHEN TRIGG CHAPTER 2015 ELEMENTARY POSTER CONTEST WINNER! Kerrigan McManus Southwest Ca!oway Elementary School Murray, Kentucky! Kerrigan received the chapter s $50 Grand Prize cash award, along with a Citizenship Medal, certificate, and a copy of Reuben T Durrett s, Siege of Bryan's Station and the Battle of Blue Licks. Her winning poster on the Battle of Blue Licks has been forwarded to the Kentucky Society as the chapter representative in the state competition. 2
CARGO TRAILER FUND The Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter voted in its August meeting to begin a savings fund for the purchase of a cargo/storage trailer for chapter use. The funding goal is $2,500. In order to reach the goal, the chapter will hold raffle fundraisers at local festivals and events and accept donations from charitable givers. Donations (tax deductible as allowed by law) or ticket requests should be made payable to the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter and mailed to 1969 Kings Chapel Rd. Cadiz, KY 42211. Our Progress! Total Goal!!! $ 2,500.00 Tickets Sold!!! $ 935.00 Contributions!! $ 1660.00 Total Raised!!! $ 2,595.00 Remaining!!! -0-3
A HERO DEPARTS OUR RANKS! It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of a heroic soldier and honored Compatriot of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter. Herbert Segler, 96, of Hopkinsville, Kentucky, passed away on Monday, December 7, following a prolonged period of illness.! Herb Segler served our country with distinction in the Second World War. He enlisted in the National Guard in Florida in 1937, then transferred to the Regular Army in November 1940. Though a Private in his early days, he was nominated for Officers Candidate School and commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in July 1942. He was assigned as a tank platoon leader at Camp Campbell (now Ft. Campbell, KY). He married a local girl from Christian County, Frances Farmer, on April 3, 1943, then shipped out four days later to the ETO (European Theater of Operations).! Lt. Segler fought across North Africa. He was in the invasion of Sicily, and after the fall of Palermo, his unit was transported to England. His unit, the 2nd Armored Division (Hell on Wheels), was the first armor on Omaha Beach, fighting across Belgium and France! His unit crossed the Seine River and entered into Belgium on September 15, 1944, then moved quickly through the Siegfried Line, crossing the Roer River into Aachen, Germany, and making it all the way to the Rhine River on December 16. When the Germans pushed through at Bastogne (Battle of the Bulge), the 2nd Armored was ordered to relieve the American forces surrounded there. Lt. Segler fought in that battle until Jan. 16, 1945.! The 2nd Armored later moved to the outskirts of Berlin where it took many German prisoners fleeing from the Russians. After the end of hostilities, he was stationed at Berlin until October 1, 1945, when he was pulled out to return home.! Upon returning home he served in the Army Reserve and National Guard. He retired from the Guard as a Major on his 65th birthday in 1974 after 44 years of combine active and reserve service. After his retirement he worked for many years with the Internal Revenue Service and owned his own accounting business.! Herb Segler was a descendant of John Payne, Sr., of Virginia who rendered Patriotic Service during the Revolutionary War. He was administered the oath of membership into the SAR on December 13, 2014. During his short time in the SAR he was awarded the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal (2014) and the War Service Medal with World War II Device (2014). 4
CHRISTMAS IN THE PARK - 2015! For the second year in a row, the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter has placed a Christmas display in the West Cadiz Park. It is displayed among several dozen other community displays as part of the town s festival of lights in the downtown park. The combined displays provide a beautiful drive-through opportunity for area residents to experience the Christmas season. The Col. Stephen Trigg display is a combination of a seasonal manger with a painting of George Washington in prayer. A couple of Bennington 76 flags finish the simple presentation. It is lighted with a single soft yellow spotlight after sunset.! This display remained in place throughout the entire month of December. 5
NORTH CALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL December 3, 2015! On Wednesday, December 3, the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter recognized participants from the North Calloway Elementary School in Murray, Kentucky, for their participation in the annual SAR Poster Contest. Ninety-six fifth-graders made posters as a class assignment and were included in the contest.! The school winner was Elizabeth Morrow. She received a Bronze Medal, a copy of the book, Battle of Blue Licks, and a twenty dollar cash prize. In addition, her poster was entered as the school winner to compete with the winner from Southwest Elementary School in Murray to represent the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter in the Kentucky Society competition. her winning poster. Here is a photo of Elizabeth with 6
NORTH CALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL December 3, 2015 In addition to poster awards, Geoff Baggett also presented the program, Revolutionary War in a Trunk, to three classrooms over three separate class periods. 7
SOUTHWEST CALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL December 4, 2015! Three Compatriots of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter traveled to Murray, Kentucky, on December 4 to present the Revolutionary War in a Trunk presentation to three fifth-grade classes at the Southwest Elementary School. Steve Mallory and Bob Sholly accompanied Geoff Baggett in leading an energetic, fun-filled living history presentation.! Amazingly, the county superintendent of schools gave permission for our teaching team to bring a flintlock rifle into class to provide a truly authentic historical experience! Steve was able to show the mechanism and action of a flintlock. As it turns out, the teacher thought we were going to take everyone outside and fire the rifle! Everyone was disappointed that they didn t get to hear the big boom! So next year, incredibly, we have been invited to demonstrate firing for the students! Only in common-sense, small town Kentucky...! The Compatriots also gave certificates and medals to the annual poster contest winners, including three classroom winners the School Champion Kerrigan McManus. 8
SOUTHWEST CALLOWAY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL 9
CADIZ CHRISTMAS PARADE December 6, 2015 For the second consecutive year the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter took part in the annual Cadiz Christmas Parade. Six Compatriots marched with the chapter banner and flintlocks, waved to the crowd, and promoted the values and mission of the Sons of the American Revolution. The event provided an excellent opportunity for the chapter to display its mission in front hundreds of people in the community. An enormous crowd enjoyed the unusually beautiful weather on parade day and lined the entire parade route. Participation in parades is limited due to the difficulty and duration of the march. However, plans are already in the works for a fantastic, creative float for next year! Hopefully, this will enable more of our Compatriots to take part. 10
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Lawrence Cemetery - Trigg County, KY December 12, 2015! Approximately twenty people from the Trigg County community joined nine Compatriots of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter to celebrate the Wreaths Across America in the first-ever WAA ceremony held in Trigg County, Kentucky.! Compatriots led the ceremony at the Lawrence Cemetery in rural Trigg County, rendering honors to the seven ceremonial wreaths, firing a flintlock rifle salute, and played taps in honor of the veterans. Following the ceremony, everyone present went about the task of placing wreaths on the graves pre-marked with new U.S. flags.! Thirty-five graves of veterans from World War I through the Vietnam War are located in the cemetery and marked by VA footstones or headstones. Descendants helped identify another four veterans of the Civil War for marking. Following the ceremony, the chapter had another fourteen wreaths available for placement. Participants and Compatriots took the remaining wreaths to other cemeteries and placed them on their ancestors graves.! Chapter President Geoff Baggett placed a single wreath and flag at the Military Memorial in East End Cemetery in Cadiz. This monument names many of the Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Trigg County. 11
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA 2015 12
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA 2015 13
2015 COL. STEPHEN TRIGG CHAPTER ANNUAL AWARDS DINNER December 12, 2015! Approximately twenty Col. Stephen Trigg Compatriots and their guests gathered at the Crossroads Fellowship church in Cadiz this past weekend for the chapter s third annual Awards Dinner. Attendees enjoyed a catered barbecue supper from Porky s BBQ in Cadiz and a program on the Battle of Blue Licks from author and historian Eddie Price.! Following the dinner and program, Kentucky Society President Chuck Scott presented several Patriot Grave Marking Medals and Col. Stephen Trigg President Geoff Baggett recognized chapter members with medals and certificates for their service in 2015.!! The highest honor of the evening went to Ron Drennan of Owensboro, who joined the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter in 2014. He was awarded the Chapter Distinguished Service Medal, the highest decoration awarded by a local chapter. The chapter president is authorized to present just one of these awards each year to the recipient of his choice. 14
AWARDS DINNER PHOTOS 15
COL. STEPHEN TRIGG 2015 CHAPTER AWARDS SAR Patriot Grave Marking Medal State Award - Presented by KYSSAR Pres. Chuck Scott Ken Oakley, Ron Drennan, Glenn Greenfield, James Sumner (First Awards) Geoff Baggett (Third Award) Steve Mallory (Third Award) Certificate Awards 2015 Col. Stephen Trigg Grave Marking Service Awards James Sumner, Ron Drennan, Steve Mallory, Geoff Baggett Color Guardsman of the Year Award - Steve Mallory Colonel s Muster Award (Top 5 Color Guard Participants) Glenn Greenfield, Jack Dawson, Eddie Price, James Sumner, Ron Drennan 2015 Col. Stephen Trigg Service to Veterans Award Glenn Greenfield, John Humphries Medals and Pins 10-Year Service Pin John Humphries 2015 Congress Medal Eddie Price Military Service Medal Steve Francis Living Historian Award Rick Sheets Veteran s Service Medal - Geoff Baggett (With Oak Leaf Cluster), Steve Mallory Bronze Color Guard Medal -Geoff Baggett, Steve Mallory Bronze Roger Sherman Medal Geoff Baggett New Member of the Year Jack Dawson Long Distance Member of the Year Eddie Price Chapter Distinguished Service Medal Ron Drennan 16
NEW MEMBER! RONNIE MATHIS - AURORA, KY Ronnie hails from the community of Aurora, lust across the lakes in Marshall County. He is already an active living historian. Ronnie is a member of the 1st Virginia Hoggs Company French and Indian War re-enactors based in Western Kentucky. He descends from Leonard Stringer, a Patriot who had a very diverse and lengthy service in the American Revolution. Leonard Stringer was born 1760 in Georgia, he entered the Revolutionary Army at about age 15. He drove a provision wagon until he was considered old enough to enter the regular service. In 1837, Leonard Stringer of Kentucky applied for a pension based on 5 months service as a Virginia militiaman, an indefinite tour as a soldier aboard the civilian sailingvessel "Polly Hacker", and two indefinite tours driving wagons. We are very excited about having Ronnie Mathis as another experienced musketeer on the firing line at our commemorative events! 17
NEW MEMBER! STICE GOODWIN - PRINCETON, KENTUCKY! Stice Goodwin is an honored new member of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter. He is 90 years of age, and a veteran of the U.S. Navy in World War II. He served on board the battleship USS Colorado in 1944 and 1945, taking part in the Battle of Leyte Gulf, as well as the capture of Guam, Saipan, and Tinian. His ship suffered numerous hits from shore batteries and kamikaze planes. Compatriot John Humphries honored him with our chapter s Veteran s Appreciation Medal in 2016! After the war he eventually returned to Princeton, where he worked for the Illinois Central Railroad for thirty-two years before retiring.! Stice descends from Edward Mitchusson, who served in the South Carolina Militia. He fought both before and after the fall of Charleston. At one point he served ad adjutant and acting Captain. He later moved to Kentucky where he died in Caldwell County in the early 1820 s.! We look forward to this brave World War II Patriot serving as a member of our chapter! 18
PATRIOT GRAVE MARKING MEDAL! All members of our chapter are pursuing the Patriot Grave Marking Medal by their participation in recognized ceremonies. Credit for participation can be earned through several methods, primarily by taking part in the program Two other methods involve labor and cash (minimum $25) donations. GRAVE MARKING MEDAL PROGRESS Name Graves Marked # Remaining Eddie Price 8 7 Randle Cruse 8 7 John Humphries 10 5 Steve Francis 9 6 Dennis Adams 8 7 Bobby Skinner 5 10 Robert Ward 6 9 Billy Redd 4 11 Travis McCloud 3 12 Dickie Thomas 5 10 Gary Thompson 2 13 Jack Dawson 4 11 Bobby Joe Roberts 2 13 Bob Sholly 4 11 Dilly Anderson 1 14 Kevin Stroud 1 14 Miles Ward 3 12 Ryon Ward 3 12 L.J. Ward 3 12 Keith McGrath 2 13 James Rudd 2 13 Jim Blackburn 2 13 Second Award Tony Dothsuk 5 10 Ron Drennan 7 8 Ken Oakley 2 13 James Sumner 2 13 Glenn Greenfield 0 15 Fourth Award Geoff Baggett 12 3 Steve Mallory 4 11 19
KENTUCKY CENTURION MEDAL! We have completed the two-year look-back through January 2013, gone over all of the records of our events, and updated an attendance sheet for all members. The progress of all of our active compatriots is recorded below. Once you reach the 100-event threshold and the medal is available, the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter and Kentucky Society will award it to you! Name Events Attended # Remaining Ken Oakley 58 42 Travis McCloud 11 89 Gary Thompson 38 62 Glenn Greenfield 42 58 Tony Dothsuk 26 74 James Sumner 62 38 Billy Redd 32 68 John Humphries 38 62 Dilly Anderson 26 74 Bobby Skinner 28 72 Kevin Stroud 6 94 Ron Drennan 45 55 Randle Cruse 9 91 Dennis Adams 20 80 Joshua Claussen 3 97 Seth Clark 8 92 Jack Dawson 12 88 Eddie Price 10 90 Dickie Thomas 6 94 Robert Ward 8 92 Miles Ward 2 98 Ryon Ward 2 98 L.J. Ward 2 98 Kerry Darnell 1 99 Steve Francis 6 94 Bobby Joe Roberts 2 98 Bob Sholly 14 86 Jim Blackburn 2 98 Ronnie Mathis 1 99 Medal Earned Geoff Baggett, Steve Mallory 20
JANUARY CHAPTER SCHEDULE 19 (Tuesday) 6:30 PM Chapter Meeting & Dutch Dinner Cadiz Restaurant. Program: TBA 22 (Friday) - Revolutionary War in a Trunk Presentation - Lakeland Elementary School, Lakeland, Tennessee (Poster Contest Awards and Presentations) Donate to the Scholarship Fund Today! Help us Reward Our Essay Contest Winners! Designate your Tax-Deductible Gift to the Col. Stephen Trigg Scholarship Fund and give it to Mr. James Sumner. 21
SERVICE TO VETERANS MEDAL! Every active member of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter is steadily making progress toward the SAR s prestigious Service to Veterans Medal. To receive this award, a Compatriot must accumulate 5,000 points for activities, service, and donations to veterans causes. This service includes participation in the various Special Observances in honor of veterans (holidays, grave markings, etc...), time invested in service projects, visiting with veterans, attending or participating in the funerals of veterans, and donation of money or goods. Subsequent medals are earned for each 3,000 points! We are able to track involvement in our various events and medal presentations, but it is CRITICAL that all members report their activities outside of our normal chapter events. SERVICE TO VETERANS MEDAL PROGRESS Name Current Points Billy Redd 390 Bob Sholly 200 Bobby Joe Roberts 60 Bobby Skinner 210 Dennis Adams 2,633 Dickie Thomas 125 Dilly Anderson 560 Eddie Price 385 Gary Thompson 441 Glenn Greenfield 1,928 Jack Dawson 975 James Sumner 1,530 Jim Blackburn 70 John Humphries 1,425 John Vinson 506 Name Current Points Ken Oakley 1,075 Kevin Stroud 137 L.J. Ward 45 Miles Ward 95 Randle Cruse 290 Robert Ward 160 Ron Drennan 1,125 Ryon Ward 95 Seth Clark 210 Steve Francis 385 Stan Todd 150 Tony Dothsuk 845 Travis McCloud 454 Geoff Baggett (3rd) 1,702 Steve Mallory (2nd) 1,163 22
VETERAN S APPRECIATION MEDAL Jack Scott Princeton, Kentucky U.S. Navy World War II Presented by John Humphries 23
VETERAN S APPRECIATION MEDAL Duran Frosty Martin Cadiz, Kentucky U.S. Navy World War II Presented by Geoff Baggett 24
SHOPPING FOR THE VETERANS OF PENNYROYAL VETERANS CENTER!! In November the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter received a sum of $500 as a grant from the Kentucky Society SAR for veterans causes. The Pennyroyal Veteran s Center in Hopkinsville provided a big wish list of items needed by the residents at their center so that we had a shopping guide for the $500 gift.! In early December chapter president Geoff Baggett, accompanied by his wife, Kim, and daughter, Katie, took the cash to Wal-Mart and attacked the list! They purchased a basket full of winter coats, gloves, winter caps, umbrellas, socks, underwear, t-shirts, and house slippers. It was amazing how quickly $500 disappeared. The items were dropped off at PVC just in time for Christmas.! The Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter is humbled and honored to have received this gift from the KYSSAR to pass 25
PATRIOT S DAY COMMEMORATION REGIONAL COLOR GUARD / GRAVE MARKING EVENT Saturday, April 16-2:00 PM Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West In Cooperation With the John Manire Chapter The Patriot s Day Ceremony Will Be Held at the SAR Monolith in Kentucky Veterans Cemetery West 71 Patriots of Christian County, Kentucky, are Named and Honored on This Memorial Since 39 of those Patriots are Buried in Unknown or Destroyed Grave Sites, Participants are Authorized to Count 5 of those 39 Toward the 15 Required to earn the NSSAR Patriot Grave Marking Medal Plan NOW to be a part of this event and make significant progress toward earning this prestigious medal from the SAR! 26
FORGOTTEN PATRIOTS HEADSTONE PROJECT There are ten Patriots of the American Revolution who died in Trigg County and are buried in unknown, unmarked graves. It is our responsibility, as the Sons of the American Revolution, to insure that these Patriots are remembered and honored with permanent markers. Over the next two years we will begin to raise the funds to purchase ten VA-style headstone markers to place in a prominent location (to be determined) in Trigg County. This is an ambitious project. To total cost for ten markers and a dedication stone will be approximately $6,000. We will begin receiving donations to this cause immediately and continue fundraising until the project comes to fruition. Each donation of $50 will be recorded as contributions eligible for the NSSAR Patriot Grave Marking Medal upon dedication of the markers. More information will be forthcoming in the next few months. PATRIOTS TO BE REMEMBERED Sample Stone William Armstrong Peter Battoe Abraham Boyd William Davenport Thomas Dawson James Ederington William Johnson Thomas Wadlington Robert Goodwin Randolph Johnson 27
NEWSLETTER OF THE COL. STEPHEN TRIGG CHAPTER - SAR DECEMBER 2014 Give generously and regularly to the special projects of our chapter! All financial gifts to the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter, including designated gifts, are fully tax-deductible as allowed by law. Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter 1969 Kings Chapel Rd. Cadiz, KY 42211 28