The Wolverine Minute Man The Wolverine Minute Man The Wolverine Minute Newsletter of the Michigan Society Man Sons of the American Revolution Newsletter of the Michigan Society Newsletter of the Michigan Society Sons of the American Revolution Sons of The Wolverine Minute Man September, 2018 Save the Date! Message from the President It s been a busy summer. Sue and I vacationed in Pennsylvania and spent a few days in Philadelphia. We visited many of the historic sites, including Independence Hall, the Betsy Ross House and the new National Museum of the American Revolution. Several members from Michigan attended the National Congress in Houston. Our Past President Paul Callanan was the Congress Committee Chairman again this year. From the perspective of this attendee, it was a success. The new President General, Warren Alter, is a dual member of the Northern Michigan Chapter. In addition to having a Society member elected President General, Michigan was honored to play a special part in the installation ceremony of the new PG. Paul Callanan led the Honor Guard for the ceremony while Keitha Callanan had the honor to carry George Washington s ring for the installation. October 26-27, 2018 Great Lakes District Meeting Springfield, IL. See MISSAR.org for details Continued on page 2 1
Message from the President Continued Michigan was recognized with several awards. We received the Colorado Award for being the State Society with the highest percentage increase in membership among states with more than 100 members. Michigan was among the Societies that received the Officer Attendance Award in recognition of our President (Paul Callanan) and National Trustee (Joe Conger) having attended both Trustee meetings and National Congress over the past year. Other recognitions for the Society included Certificates of Participation for Partners in Patriotism, Americanism Poster Contest, Sgt. Moses Adams Memorial Middle School Brochure Contest and the Eagle Scout Scholarship Contest. Some of these recognitions include a streamer for the Society flag. The Huron Valley Chapter, the Kensington Valley Chapter, the Northern Michigan Chapter and the West Michigan Chapter were recognized with the Partners in Patriotism Certificate. Several members were recognized for their work during the year. Four members were awarded the Liberty Medal, or oak leaf clusters for addition awards. These chapters and members will be recognized at the Board of Managers meeting. Michigan is involved in the National Society this year. Paul Callanan is the Vice President General for the International District and a member of the Executive Committee. A total of eleven Michigan members have been appointed to 44 committee assignments on 36 committees, including several vice chairmanships. In addition, there are several dual members in Michigan who serve on committees. Our membership is increasing. So far this year, we have 68 new members, 15 new junior member and 17 members who have been reinstated. We started the year with 460 members and as of August 24 th, we have 555 members. There were a few transfers and we ve lost six members who have passed away. Twenty supplemental applications have been approved and 44 applications are at National. Continued on page 3 2
Message from the President Continued Since June, I ve attended three chapter meetings, and the grave dedication ceremony for Compatriot Paul VanWormer at Great Lakes National Cemetery as part of the Color Guard. I joined several other members of the Huron Valley Chapter at the funeral of Compatriot Wally Dixon, who was a veteran of the U.S. Army and Marine Corps. I will be attending another chapter meeting and the grave dedication of Patriot Levi Collins later in September. Last month, I attended the Board meeting of the Michigan Society Children of the American Revolution. I spoke to them about the various youth contests. With schools back in session, it s that time of year to reach out with information about the various youth award programs. We will be celebrating Veterans Day soon. Recognize our veterans. Volunteer or donate in some way to help our veterans. God Bless the United States of America and the SAR. James Petres President, Michigan Society SAR 3
Chapter Presidents 2018-2019 Gary Pastiva David Anderson Joseph Williams James Petres Dennis VanWormer Allison Bryant James Walker Norman Palmer David Van Hoof Tommy Young Craig Avery Blue Water Central Michigan Detroit Metro Huron Valley Kensington Valley Northern Michigan Oaks Paul Emery River Raisin Sauk Trail West Michigan 4
Flag Display Dates JANUARY FEBRUARY MARCH New Year s Day (Jan. 1) Martin Luther King Day Inauguration Day Lincoln s Birthday (Feb. 12) Washington s Birthday (Feb. 22) President s Day Boy Scout Day (Feb. 8) JULY AUGUST SEPTEMEBER Independence Day (July 4) Air Force Day (August 1) Coast Guard Day (August 4) Labor Day Patriot Day (Sept. 11) V-J Day (Sept. 2, 1945) Constitution Day (Sept. 17)* Easter Sunday (Variable) Girl Scout Day (March 12) OCTOBER NOVEMBER DECEMBER Columbus Day APRIL MAY JUNE Army Day (April 6 each year) Revolutionary War began (April 19, 1775) NSSAR organized (Apr. 30, 1889) V-E Day (May 8, 1945) Mother s Day Armed Forces Day (May 20) Memorial Day (or weekend) Flag Day (June 14)* Father s Day NSDAR organized (Oct 11,1890)* Revolutionary War ended (October 19, 1781) Navy Day (October 27) Election Day (Nov. 7) Marine Corps Day (Nov. 10) Presidential Election Day Veteran s Day (Nov. 11) Thanksgiving Day Pearl Harbor Day (Dec. 7, 1941) Bill of Rights Day (Dec. 15)* Christmas Day (Dec. 25) *Originated through the efforts of the NSSAR. 5
Upcoming Color Guard Events GREAT LAKES DISTRICT MEETING OCTOBER 26th-27th, AT THE WYNDHAM SPRINGFIELD CITY CENTRE, SPRINGFIELD, ILLINOIS -GERALD BURKLAND COMMANDER -RON BARNARD VETERANS DAY CELEBRATION NOVEMBER 11 TH, SUNDAY AT THE CATHEDRAL CHURCH OF ST. PAUL 4800 WOODWARD AVE. DETROIT MICHIGAN 4 PM -PAUL CALLANAN -JAMES PETRES -KEN GOODSON -DENNIS VANWORMER -BILL VETTE WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DECEMBER 15 TH, HOLLY CEMETERY, GRAND RAPIDS VETS CEMETERY -KEN GOODSON -DENNIS VANWORMER -GERALD BURKLAND -AARON WILES -STEVE WILLIAMS Ken Goodson 1 st VP MISSAR Vice Commander MISSAR Color Guard 6
Fourth of July Quiz These questions were posed in the June edition of the WMM. How many did you answer correctly? 1. In what year were fireworks first used to celebrate the Fourth of July? Answer: 1777 in Philadelphia 2. Which president was born on the Fourth of July? Answer: Calvin Coolidge in 1872 3. Which three presidents died on the Fourth of July? Answer: John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, and James Monroe 4. In what year did the Fourth of July first become a federal legal holiday? Answer: 1870 5. What country gained independence from the U.S. on the Fourth of July? Answer: The Philippines in 1946 Source: ibtimes.com 7
Veterans Day Quiz Answers to these questions will appear in the next edition of the WMM. 1. On what date was Armistice Day first declared? 2. In what year was the name Armistice Day legally changed to Veterans Day? 3. In what year was the Unknown Soldier buried at Arlington Cemetery? 4. At exactly what time of day is a wreath laid at the tomb of the Unknown Soldier? 5. Where and when was the first Veterans Day Parade held? Sources: softschools.com, omnimilitaryloans.com 8
Special Veterans Day Events The Lucinda Hinsdale Stone Chapter of the DAR will be conducting a Luminarium on November 11th, 2018 to honor Kalamazoo County soldiers who died in WWI. Contact Elizabeth Kraatz at kraatze@gmail.com for more information. The WWII Legacy Memorial Committee will be holding an event at the main branch of the Ann Arbor District Library on November 10th, 2018. Contact michiganww2memorial.org for more information. The Canton Village Theater will present a Salute to Service performance at 7:00 pm on November 11th, 2018. Contact cantonvillagetheater.org for more information. 9
MISSAR Meeting On Saturday, September 22nd, 2018, the Michigan Society held a meeting at the Radisson Hotel in Kalamazoo. Highlights of the meeting were: NSSAR President-General Warren Alter presented the MISSAR with a check for $200 to purchase a Minuteman pop-up banner which can be displayed at future meetings Michigan CAR President Jasmyn Johnston presented a CAR project to assist homeless veterans. In cooperation with the American Legion, she designed a pin to be sold to raise funds for this effort A new MISSAR chapter, the Colonel Westnedge Chapter in the Kalamazoo area, was formally approved MISSAR bylaw changes were approved New bylaws for the Sauk Trail Chapter were approved Provision to place a bronze marker on the gravestones of past MISSAR presidents was approved Left: Jasmyn Johnston presenting pin. Right: MISSAR president James Petres with NSSAR President-General Warren Alter. 10
MISSAR Meeting Photos Above left: Michigan CAR president Jasmyn Johnston accepts a check from MISSAR president James Petres. Above right: MISSAR 1st vice-president Ken Goodson receives the Silver Color Guard medal from MISSAR president James Petres and NSSAR president Warren Alter. Above left: Oaks Chapter president James Walker, Color-Guard Commander Gerald Burkland, and MISSAR president James Petres. Above right: James Petres, past MISSAR president Paul Callanan, and Warren Alter. 11
MISSAR Meeting Photos Continued Let us not forget that young men represent the future of our organization. Above left and right: Junior MISSAR member James Kraatz with James Petres, Warren Alter, and the Michigan state flag. 12
DAR State Conference Banquet The Michigan DAR held their annual State Conference Banquet on September 21st in Kalamazoo. SAR officers were in attendance. Above left: NSSAR president Warren Alter, Linda Ashby, Great Lakes VPG Tom Ashby, Sue Petres, and International District VPG Paul Callanan. Above right: Paul Callanan, Warren Alter, State Regent Gina LaCroix, James Petres, and Tom Ashby. Above: James Petres speaking. 13
Levi Collins Grave Rededication September 16th, 2018 On Sunday, September 16th, 2018, the Oaks Chapter hosted a grave rededication for Pvt. Levi Collins at the McCafferty Cemetery in Bruce Township, in St. Clair County. Above left: Color Guard Commander Gerald Burkland. Above right: Color Guard with boy scout troop. Above left: Levi Collins plaque. Above right: John Raya speaking. 14
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA Wreaths Across America (WAA) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded to continue and expand the annual wreath-laying ceremony at Arlington National Cemetery begun by Maine businessman Morrill Worcester in 1992. The organization s mission Remember, Honor, Teach is carried out in part each year by coordinating wreath-laying ceremonies in December at Arlington, as well as at more than 1,200 veterans cemeteries and other locations in all 50 states and beyond. This will be the third year that the Detroit Metropolitan Chapter (DMC) of the Sons of the American Revolution is promoting the purchase of wreaths to be laid at the Great Lakes National Cemetery in Holly at 12 pm noon on December 15, 2018. The DMC is registered as a Fund Raising Group with the WAA, and for each wreath purchased at $15, the WAA will return $5. In the first year, the Chapter collected enough funds for the sponsorship of 54 wreaths, and received a $250 refund, which they donated to the Clinton Township Chapter of the Viet Nam Veterans of America (VVA). Last year, this increased to 140 wreaths, resulting in a $650 refund and donation to the VVA, plus a portion of the refund to one of the MISSAR Chapters. We are hoping for even more in 2018. The DMC invites all SAR Compatriots, friends, associates and businesses throughout the State of Michigan to purchase one or more wreaths. You may submit donations directly to the WAA, online at the WAA Website, register your group as a fundraising activity, or send your donations to the DMC for submission to WAA. The DMC will provide each Chapter with their portion of the refund from WAA, as long as you have identified your Chapter, and provided the name and mailing address to whom the check should be mailed. Checks to purchase wreaths should be payable to WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA TM. Please annotate each check with the DMC group number and cemetery code: MI 0118P; MI GLNH. If you receive cash donations, please deposit into your Chapter checking account and issue a Chapter check payable to Wreaths Across America. Please mail checks to: Tom Reardon, DMC Secretary, 38356 Hamon St, Harrison Twp, MI 48045 by November 20, 2018 Or Directly to WAA with DMC Sponsor Numbers on the notation line of your check at: Wreaths Across America TM, PO Box 249, Columbia Falls, ME 04623 or online. NOTE: If donations are made directly to WAA, refunds cannot be issued to the contributing Chapter, as WAA will not release names of donors to us. 15
Questions? Call Tom at (586) 465-4021, email tbreardon@comcast.net, or check the WAA web page: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/ Great Lakes National Cemetery 4200 Belford Road, Holly, Michigan December 15, 2018, 12:00 noon 16