April 2015 The Saguaro Patriot A newsletter of the Saguaro Chapter, Arizona Society, Sons of the American Revolution Join Us In Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the Saguaro Chapter Mail Your Reservation Today! Call Allen Nash for details. 623-566-1784 You are invited to attend and celebrate fifty years of celebrating our ancestors who fought for our liberty. Registration will begin at 11:00 a.m. at the Briarwood Country Club, 20800 North 135th Avenue Sun City West, Arizona 85375 Saturday, April 11th See larger photo on page four with names. The Saguaro Chapter was the first SAR Chapter formed in a retirement community in the USA. In 1965 Sun City was a new community and efforts to form a chapter of SAR were accomplished by a dedicated group from the Aqua Fria Chapter of the DAR and the Arizona Society of the SAR. The Charter members of the Saguaro Chapter were Charles E. Stevens, Hugh Buxton, Warren Donaldson, Lewis K. Leonard, Roy Martin DeWitt, James Emmett Griffin, Peter Charles Mattison, William W. Gorton, James Edgar Nash, Howard N. Lentz, Gerrit V.D. Cortelyou, Van K. Wolcott, Clifford L. Stone, Chester J. Wright, and Frank Oliver Garrett. The first president of the Saguaro Chapter was Frank O. Garrett. Officers were installed at a luncheon Saturday, April 17, 1965 at the Sun City Community Center.
HMS Gaspee burns June 9, 1772 Compatriots Eddie and Peter Zuleger native Rhode Islanders share pre-revolution story. Compatriots Eddie and Peter Zuleger entertained the Chapter by telling a story of patriots who were involved with the destruction of the HMS Gaspee. Acting as the Sutton brothers they engaged attendees to taunt and cheer. CALENDAR: Opportunities to be involved with Society Activities 11 April 2015: 50th Anniversary Celebration of the Saguaro Chapter. 11 a.m. Briarwood Country Club, 20800 N 135th Avenue, Sun City West, AZ. 18 April 2015: AZSSAR BOM Meeting. At The Property, 1251 N. Gila Bend Hwy, Casa Grande. 9:00 10:00 Arrival & Check In; BOM meeting 10:00 12:00; Lunch 12:00 2:00.*Chapter Presidents and Committee Chairs: 9 May 2015: The Saguaro Chapter May meeting at the 5 & Diner Deluxe. Compatriot Chris Beisner to speak. 14 May 2015: Estrella Chapter DAR invites SAR Members to their brunch at the Colonnade in Surprise, AZ. For information contact Marsha Hanson at mah0910@cox.net 13 June 2015: 119th anniversary of our 1st Arizona Society Charter. 25 June 1 July 2015: 125th Congress, in Louisville,KY The Hyatt Regency is where rooms are available 1-502-581-1234. 19 September 2015 Constitution Day Meeting 25-26 September 2015: Fall Leadership Meeting, Louisville,KY. Call the Brown Hotel at 1-888-888-5252 for reservations. Compatriots Eddie and Peter shared their story from the viewpoint of patriots Robert Sutton and Bob Sutton.part of the party who were involved in the burning of the HMS Gaspee off of Namquid Point near Warwick, RI. HMS Gaspee and her hated commander, Lt. William Dudingston, were sent by King George III to Rhode Island waters in March of 1772 to enforce the maritime trade laws and prevent smuggling. The British made no friends amongst the colonists by harassing shipping and delaying, often unjustly, ships that had properly passed custom inspection in Newport. The latter was the case on June 9, 1772, when the packet sloop Hannah left Newport for Providence. When the Gaspee gave chase, Hannah's Captain Lindsey deliberately lured her across the shallows off Namquid Point (now Gaspee Point) and left the British ship hard aground on a sandbar, unable to move until the flood tide of the following day. Upon arrival in Providence, Captain Lindsey reported the event to John Brown, one of the most prominent and respected merchants in Rhode Island, who sent out a town crier inviting all interested parties to meet at Sabin's Tavern to plan the Gaspee's destruction. Under the leadership of Abraham Whipple, the small band of patriots rowed eight longboats with muffled oars to the stranded ship. Lt. Dudingston and his crew were taken prisoner and removed to Pawtuxet Village. Near daylight on June 10th, the Rhode Islanders set fire to the Gaspee, burning her to the waterline whereupon her powder magazine exploded. Efforts of the Crown to learn the names of the culprits were unsuccessful, although a sizable reward had been offered. Public sentiment was in accord with the venture; this spirit of unity soon spread to the other colonies with the formation of the Committees of Correspondence to prevent further threats.
If you are a history buff and wish to know more about the American Revolution the following is a great resource for you. Saguaro Chapter President Jan Huber and Palo Verde Chapter President Jim Skaggs represented SAR at the Southeast Regional Library Genealogy Fair in Gilbert, AZ on March 7, 2015. Chaplain s Corner (Eddie W. Zuleger) If My people will humble themselves, and pray then I will forgive their sin and heal their land. (2 Chronicles 7:14) First of all, my very first comment for my first commentary in our Chapter s newsletter is that I want to give Mike Fisch a big pat on the back for his efforts on the publication on our chapter s monthly newsletter. Great Job Mike! A year and a half ago, our Chapter President, Jan Huber telephoned me and asked if I would like to serve as the Chapter Chaplain and I was humbled to be asked to serve the chapter in this capacity. I accepted the position and I take its responsibilities very seriously. It has resulted in my becoming closer to God and a greater understanding of His mercy and endless forgiveness. We live in difficult times! Times when the moral fabric of our country is being constantly questioned, challenged, and unfortunately being degraded to the detriment of our young people. An act s rightness or wrongness does not depend upon the number of its supporters, yet, that seems to be the trend on a number of issues in our country. The ever-ending call for the legalization of drugs and the push for release of non-violent offenders from our country s jails and prison is a good example. From years of experience working within the criminal justice system and seeing first hand vivid examples of what can and does happen in this regard it speaks for itself. One doesn t need all these years of experience - for all that s required is to pay attention to the nightly news and learn for yourself. I frequently tell people America must return to raising our sons and daughters to live their life with integrity to offset the moral decay that is jeopardizing our republic. Charles Carrol, a signer of the Declaration of Independence once said it best: Without morals a republic cannot subsist any length of time God be with you all, compatriots now and forever. Journal of The American Revolution www.allthingsliberty.com This beautiful photo was taken in 2011 at Fort Snelling National Cemetery in Minneapolis. The eagle had landed on the grave of Sgt. Maurice Ruch, enlisted in the US Army Air Corps in December 1941. Known for his keen eye, he became a rifle marksman and was stationed in the Aleutian Islands. He served four years in the military and earned a bronze star. Found on scanningwwii.com.
Saguaro Chapter Sons of the American Revolution Is Celebrating Its 50th Anniversary You are invited to attend a Celebration Luncheon Saturday April 11, 2015 Registration 11:00 a.m./lunch 12:00 Noon Briarwood Country Club 20800 N 135th Avenue Sun City West, Arizona 85375 Advance registration and payment of $25 each is required no later than Wednesday, April 8, 2015. GUESTS ARE WELCOME. For further details or questions please contact Compatriot Allen Nash at 623-566-1784 or email at nashal13@cox.net Luncheon Entrees Choices Are: Almond Crusted Chicken * Beef Sirloin Kabob * A Vegetarian Meal is available on request. SUPPORT YOUR CHAPTER AND JOIN US TO CELEBRATE 50 YEARS OF PROGRESS
This is a news clipping from the founding meeting of The Saguaro Chapter of the SAR that was published in the News-Sun, Sun City on April 15, 1965 Arizona Please Assist in Contributing Content to the Chapters Newsletter The Saguaro Patriot. Compatriot Mike Fisch, now editor of the newsletter is asking all Compatriots to share stories, photos, calendar listings and history items for publication in The Saquaro Patriot. We will publish a newsletter the months we meet and the more you contribute the better the newsletter will be for all Compatriots. If you are involved with any activity related to SAR or DAR or have a history of your Patriot you would like to share send Mike Fisch a copy at his email mjfisch2010@gmail.com so he can publish it in the newsletter. The next newsletter deadline will be April 20th for the May 2015 newsletter.