August 2014 The Long Rifleman Louisville-Thruston Chapter Gen. George Rogers Clark Founder of Louisville Kentucky Society of the Sons of the American Revolution 2013-2015 Officers President: Douglas T. Collins President Elect: Rev. Paul W. Smith 1st Vice-President: Drake W. Rinesmith 2nd Vice-President: James W. Jackson, Sr. 3rd Vice-President: Donald C. Thom Secretary: Jon E. Huffman Treasurer: Joseph L. Shields Registrar: Jessie Hagan Chancellor: George Timothy Todd Kitchen Historian: Jon E. Huffman Chaplain: Rev. Paul W. Smith Past President: John H. Huffman, Sr. Color Guard Cmdr.: Daniel N. Klinck President s Message Compatriots, Now that summer is about over, it s time to kick into high gear on our Youth Programs. Last year was a tremendous year for our youth contests, and I see no reason why we should not continue to recruit quality candidates. But to do so, I need your help in expanding our coverage in local schools. I would like to see us sponsor the Americanism Poster Contest for elementary schools. With the 2015 National Congress being held in Louisville next June, it would be great if we had representation in the national competition for as many of the youth contests as we can muster. Volunteers are needed to visit local public and private/parochial schools in order to encourage student participation. Our Color Guard continues to be the face of the SAR. Their representation at Memorial Day programs, 4th of July activities, patriot grave markings and national memorial events like was held recently at the Blue Lick Battlefield site, continues to remind the public about our history and the heroes whose sacrifices provided us with the freedoms we enjoy today. The Color Guard is always looking for new recruits. If you have questions or think you may be interested in joining and showing your patriotic colors, contact Dan Klinck (dnklinck@att.net). He will be happy to discuss how you might play a part with the Color Guard. At the recent Congress in Greenville, SC, newly elected President-General Lindsey Brock asked me to Chair a new committee. The SAR Patriot Ancestors Biographies Committee is charged to help perpetuate the memory of our Revolutionary War Patriot Ancestors by providing a media for SAR members to submit biographies of their patriot ancestors. This will provide another tool in the recruitment of new members. You are requested to send a biographical sketch of your ancestor to patriotbios@sar.org. Information should be provided in a file that is Microsoft WORD compatible. The biographies submitted should be limited to approximately 500 words and consist of a brief sketch of the patriot. The data will then be merged into the Patriot and Grave Index. I am requesting your support of this new program. While this information should be as accurate as possible, it is not intended for use as source document material for SAR or DAR applications, therefore we are not requiring sourcing of the information. We intend for these biographies to encourage prospective applicants and provide a reference point from which to start (or continue) their research. It would also be helpful to identify SAR Compatriots who are descended from each of the patriots referenced. By including a name and SAR member number, additional research connections may be possible.
President s Message (cont.) Page Two This, of course, is all voluntary and not a requirement. As I mentioned earlier, the 2015 Congress will be held in Louisville starting in June. We need your assistance to help make this the best Congress to date. We will need teams to handle registration as well as helpers posted throughout the Galt House to assist and direct attendees to various locations. Please email me if you can help with the Congress. As Co- Vice Chairman, I am counting on the support of Louisville-Thruston members to showcase our hometown. You can contact me directly at: aliedoug@twc.com. I would appreciate your feedback to see what we can do to enhance participation and our exposure in the local community. Doug Douglas T. Collins, Chapter President Flag Day Meeting Held on June 14, 2014 Forty-five compatriots and guests attended the Flag Day Luncheon Meeting on Saturday, June 14, 2014 at Hurstbourne Country Club. President Doug Collins called the meeting to order followed by posting of the Colors by members of the chapter s Color Guard organization. Rev. Paul Smith offered the Invocation, which was followed by the Pledge of Allegiance and the SAR Pledge. Color Guard Commander Dan Klinck gave a presentation using several flags on display including the Grand Union flag, the First Virginia Regiment flag, the Betsy Ross flag, the Culpeper flag, the Gadsden flag and the Navy flag. New members John Bozell and Jon Huffman were introduced by President Collins, and each was presented an SAR rosette pin by their respective sponsors (and fathers), Doug Bozell and Jon E. Huffman. The featured speaker was Maj. Gen. Carl Black, who spoke on the subject How To Destroy America. After the speaker came the awards and recognition part of the program, and veterans from both WW II and Korea were on hand as special guests. Each compatriot veteran was formally recognized by President Collins and presented with the SAR Certificate of Patriotism and War Service Medal. Among the WW II veterans honored were Everette Berkeley, Hayden Fuller, Walter Johnson, Frank Preston, Leslie Tanner and Donald Thom. Korean veterans receiving awards were Maj. Gen. Carl Black, Harold Boggs, Sr., Everett Coleman, Warder Harrison, Anthony Howard, William Manby and Col. William Park. Compatriot Joe Shields was presented the Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of his outstanding service as the chapter s Treasurer. Jon E. Huffman was presented the KYSSAR Bluegrass Award as editor of the chapter s newsletter, The Long Rifleman. The Louisville-Thruston Chapter received Certificates from the Kentucky State Society (KYSSAR) for sponsoring the state winners of the Knight Essay, the Eagle Scout Essay and the JROTC Essay Contests. President Doug Collins spoke about the Flag Day Resolution of 1777. Dan Klinck gave a presentation on several early American flags. Compatriot Maj. Gen. Carl Black was the featured speaker.
Flag Day Meeting (cont.) Page Three Compatriots John Bozell (L) and Jon Huffman were on hand to receive SAR rosette pins presented by their sponsors. Treasurer Joe Shields was presented the Distinguished Service Medal by President Doug Collins. Korean veteran Col. William H. Park (Army) was awarded the SAR War Service Medal and the Certificate of Patriotism by President Doug Collins. Bill traveled from his home in Maryland to accept the award. WW II veteran Frank N. Preston (Army) was part of the occupation forces stationed in Japan at the end of the war. U.S. Air Force veteran Anthony Tony Howard (L) and Navy veteran Warder R. Harrison (R) served in Korea during the Korean War and both compatriots received the SAR War Service Medal and the Certificate of Patriotism from President Doug Collins.
Flag Day Meeting (cont.) Page Four Carol Grissett was on hand to accept the SAR War Service Medal and Certificate of Patriotism for her cousin, compatriot Everette P. Berkeley, who served with the U.S. Army in New Guinea and the Philippines during WW II. Past President John H. Huffman, Sr. presented SAR Certificates of Patriotism to WW II veterans Donald Thom (L) and Hayden Fuller (R). Both compatriots previously received the SAR War Service Medal at the Flag Day meeting in 2012. Retiring the Colors at meeting s end. Maj. Gen. Carl Black was awarded the SAR War Service Medal and Certificate of Patriotism for his service with the U.S. Air Force during the Korean War. He also received a gift from the chapter in appreciation for serving as the featured speaker. Approximately 45 members and guests attended this year s Flag Day Luncheon Meeting at Hurstbourne Country Club.
Are You Eligible for the Vietnam Veterans Corps? Page Five The Vietnam Veterans Corps is the third Veterans Corps established by the NSSAR Veterans Recognition Committee along with the World War II Veterans Corps and the Korean Service Veterans Corps. These programs are designed to recognize those compatriots who served in the U.S. Armed Forces in a war or action that has been recognized by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States and for which a campaign medal and ribbon are authorized. When approved by the NSSAR Veterans Recognition Committee, a Certificate of Patriotism signed by the NSSAR President General will be sent to your chapter and presented to you at a chapter meeting. To date, the Louisville-Thruston Chapter has presented SAR Certificates of Patriotism and SAR War Service Medals to 26 World War II veterans and 7 Korean Service veterans. Now we want to formally recognize and honor those of our members who served in Vietnam. If you served in Vietnam during the period beginning on February 28, 1961 and ending on May 7, 1975, you are eligible to apply for the Vietnam War Veterans Corps. The key campaign medals that provide the required verification are the Vietnam Service Medal (VSM) and/or the Vietnam Campaign Medal (VCM). The Vietnam Service Medal is retroactive to 1961 and supersedes and replaces the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, which was issued for Vietnam Service prior to 1965. If you believe you qualify for the Vietnam War Veterans Corps, or if you know of another member who might qualify, you are encouraged to contact the editor of this newsletter or send an email to Chapter President Doug Collins: aliedoug@twc.com. If you believe you qualify for the World War II Veterans Corps or the Korean Service Veterans Corps, please do likewise. Vietnam Service Medal (L) and the Vietnam Campaign Medal are the qualifying medals associated with Vietnam service. Notice to the Members The Persian Gulf War Veterans Corps was recently announced as the fourth Veterans Corps to be administered by the NSSAR Veterans Recognition Committee. Key points regarding eligibility for this Veterans Corps will be outlined in the October issue of The Long Rifleman. JROTC Awards Navy JROTC Cadet Petty Officer Anthony Watson was presented the SAR Bronze Medal by Don Thom at Shawnee H. S. on May 16, 2014. Navy JROTC Cadet Brian Warner was presented the SAR Bronze Medal by Don Thom at Valley H.S. on May 22, 2014.
Member Activities Page Six Color guardsmen from the chapter s Dr. V. Edward Masters Memorial Color Guard presented the Colors at Slugger Field on August 2, 2014 for a Louisville Bats baseball game. Marching in the annual 4th of July parade in the Robinswood neighborhood of Louisville is an event both kids and adults look forward to every year.
Volume 5, Issue 4 Page Seven Member Activities (cont.) Chapter Treasurer Joe Shields (R) and his brother, Anthony Shields were welcomed back home on June 6, 2014 when their D-Day Anniversary Honor Flight returned to Louisville from Washington D.C. (Left) A highlight of the Robinswood parade on July 4th is the firing of black powder muskets. Over one hundred participants gathered near the 34 foot granite obelisk at Blue Licks Battlefield State Park on August 16, 2014 to mark the 232nd anniversary of the Battle of Blue Licks, one of the last engagements between American and British forces during the Revolutionary War.
National Society Sons of the American In Memoriam Page Eight Curry, Charles Arthur, 82, passed away July 6, 2014. He was born June 13, 1932 in Louisville, KY to the late Clarence and Emma Webb Curry. He graduated from Louisville Male High School and was a member of the Louisville Genealogical Society. Compatriot Curry had been an active supporter of the Louisville-Thruston Chapter, SAR since he became a member in 1990. The Long Riflemen Is Published Five Times Annually Jon E. Huffman, Editor 116 Creel Ln. Bardstown, KY 40004 (502) 348-8510 Watkins, Jennings Edward, 94, passed away Sunday, July 27, 2014 at the Nazareth Home. He was born in Louisville, KY on November 17, 1919 and graduated from Male High School in 1938. After attending Spenserian Business School, he was employed by Wood Mosaic Company in Louisville until 1942 when he was drafted and assigned to the Army Air Corps. He was trained as a radio operator and deployed overseas to the India-China Wing of the Air Transport Command. He flew mainly in the C-46 Commando carrying supplies over The Hump from Chabua, India to troops in China and Burma. In civilian life, he returned to work for Wood Mosaic Company until 1980, when the company was sold. Compatriot Watkins had been a member of Louisville-Thruston Chapter, SAR for 32 years and served as Chapter President in 1990-1991. He was also a member of the General Society of Colonial Wars and the Society of Cincinnati. Visit Our Web Site at: http://louthrustonsar.org Welcome New Members A very warm welcome to Dale Lee Cobler (#191782), whose application for membership in SAR and the Louisville-Thruston Chapter was approved on July 31, 2014. It is hoped you will take an active roll in our society. Congratulations Doug! Join our Color Guard! Contact Dan Klinck at 429-0382 Louisville-Thruston Chapter President Doug Collins was recently appointed as Vice President General of the International District by NSSAR President-General Lindsey Brock. He was formally sworn in July 23, 2014 at the 124th National Congress Meeting in Greenville, SC. As most of you know, Doug is also President of KYSSAR, which means he currently holds SAR offices at the local, state and the national levels. Upcoming Events Saturday, September 20, 2014 - Constitution Day Meeting: Louisville-Thruston s next regularly scheduled meeting will be a joint SAR/DAR luncheon at Big Spring Country Club, 5901 Dutchman s Ln., Louisville, KY. The Corn Island Chapter, DAR will host this year s meeting with local historian Dr. Tom Owen as the featured speaker. Saturday, October 25, 2014 - Board of Governors Meeting: DeMolay Commandery Bldg., 1410 Gardiner Ln., Louisville, KY. Friday, December 12, 2014 - Christmas Candlelight Dinner & Dance: Louisville Boat Club, 4200 River Road, Louisville, KY. Plan now to join us for an evening of fine dining, live music and good fellowship.