Flagler Chapter Sons of t he American Revolution October 2014 Chapter Officers President First Vice President Secretary-Treasurer David Kelsey David S. Hammond William H. Knisely 386-447-0350 386-313-1433 Sergeant-at-Arms Chaplain Registrar-Genealogist John W. Thomas Raymond Thompson William S. Creager 386-437-9380 Next Meeting: Thursday, October 16, 2014, 11:00 AM Palm Coast Yacht Club À la Carte Lunch (optional) at conclusion of meeting $12 Speaker: Mr. Al Hadeed, Local Historian Topic: History of Long Creek & Hernandez Plantation Landing in Palm Coast Mr. Hadeed is a long time member of the Flagler Historical Society as well as the Flagler County Attorney. Across the salt-water canal from our meeting site, at the Palm Coast Yacht Club, is the new Palm Coast Long Creek Nature Preserve. This Preserve is located at the site of the early 1800 s Hernandez Plantation Landing on Long Creek and is considered a major archaeological resource reflecting life in Florida during the plantation period. Compatriots: FROM THE PRESIDENT Compatriots John Thomas, Bill Knisely, and David Hammond have been appointed as the 1 P a g e
Nominating Committee for the election of chapter officers in 2015. The election will take place at the November 20, 2014 annual meeting. Any Compatriot wishing to run for office or wishing to nominate a Compatriot for office, please contact a member of the Nominating Committee. The Fallen Heroes Memorial Service was held on September 11 th at Heroes Memorial Park in Palm Coast. I wrote Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte the following: "Chief Jerry, The Fallen Heroes Memorial Service was great. During the course of the ceremony, Victoria & I were able to observe your firefighter paramedics in action as on separate occasions they treated two gentlemen who suddenly became ill, incapacitated, and unconscious. The professionalism and skill exhibited by your firefighter-paramedic teams was of the highest order and something we can all be proud of as citizens of Palm Coast." On September 18, 2014 at our Chapter Luncheon, Compatriot David Eldredge was presented with an SAR Certificate of Appreciation issued by the Florida Society of the Sons of the American Revolution honoring his distinguished service as President of the Flagler Chapter in 2008. Compatriot Trevor Crosby became a member of the SAR and joined our Chapter during the spring of 2014. He is currently enrolled at the University of Florida in Gainesville and plans to acquire a chemical engineering degree. If you have not been receiving a copy of The Florida Patriot magazine or the national SAR magazine, The SAR, please let me know. Several potential new members have been invited or are in the process of being invited to the October 16 meeting: Ken Neu, Rick Staly, Jay Spears and Norm MacDonald. Thank you all for attending our September 18 th Chapter Meeting & Luncheon at the Palm Coast Yacht Club. 15 attended with 11 Compatriots and 4 guests. The service & meal provided by the Palm Coast Yacht Club was excellent. All enjoyed retired U.S. Coast Guard Chief Boatswain s Mate Scott Schmoele s in-depth presentation based upon his first-hand experiences. Thank you all again for your participation in our Chapter activities. Anyone interested in joining any of our Chapter Committees or volunteering to fill our vacant positions, feel free to contact me or any Board Member with your interest and/or questions. I hope to see you all at the October 16 Chapter Luncheon. Compatriot David Kelsey President 2 P a g e
FROM THE CHAPTER FIRST VICE-PRESIDENT In March 2014, Compatriot Casey Kelly was one of five Stetson students who accompanied an MD on a trip to Cameroon in West Africa. The purpose of the trip was to provide medical assistance and care to residents in small villages outside of major cities in Cameroon. Compatriot Kelly has graduated from Stetson University and plans to enter medical school next year. He will be our speaker at the November 20 Chapter Luncheon and will relate to us his personal experiences in Cameroon. Fallen Heroes Memorial Service On September 11, 2014, the City of Palm Coast held a Fallen Heroes Memorial service at Heroes Memorial Park in Palm Coast. This ceremony honored all those who lost their lives on September 11, 2001. Thank you to Compatriots Bill Knisely, Ted St. Pierre, and David Kelsey for attending along with Victoria Kelsey. A special thanks to Compatriot Jack Fields for participating in this event as a member of the Choral Arts Society. Shown in the picture is Deputy Fire Chief Jerry Forte standing beside the September 11 Memorial Monument in Heroes Memorial Park proudly wearing his red SAR Fire Safety Ribbon awarded to him by our Chapter in 2005. Chief Forte was the first recipient of our Flagler Chapter Fire Safety Medal. 3 P a g e
Meritorious Service Medal Presentation On September 18, 2014, at the Flagler Chapter Luncheon, Compatriot David Stark Eldredge was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal for his notable services in behalf of our American Principles. Compatriot Eldredge has been a member of our Chapter for 28 years since 1986 and has served 2 terms as President and four years as Secretary-Treasurer. He donated to our Liberty Tree project in Heroes Memorial Park. Two of his sons, Mark and William, are Chapter members. On behalf of the Flagler Chapter, congratulations on earning this richly deserved award for your support of our Chapter. Compatriot David Eldredge (L) Receives Meritorious Service Medal from Chapter President David Kelsey (R). Bronze Distinguished Service Medal Presentation On September 18, 2014, at our Chapter Luncheon, Compatriot David John Kelsey Sr. was presented with the Bronze Distinguished Service Medal in recognition of outstanding personal service provided to the Flagler Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution. The medal was presented by 2008 President David Eldredge. He noted that Compatriot Kelsey had served 4 P a g e
two terms as Chapter President in 2005 and 2007, one year as Secretary-Treasurer, several years as Awards Chairman, and six years as Newsletter Editor. In addition, Compatriot Kelsey led the Chapter effort in planting a Liberty Tree honoring our Founding Fathers in Heroes Memorial Park, establishing a veterans photo montage at the Flagler County Supervisor of Elections main office and establishing an SAR Memorial Membership for U.S. Marine Corp Lance Corporal Timothy Creager who gave his life for our great nation in the war in Iraq. Compatriot David Kelsey (R) Receives Bronze Distinguished Service Medal from 2008 Chapter President David Eldredge (L) (Yes, these were two different awards ) GENEALOGIST/REGISTRAR'S UPDATES I have processed two applications and was told that the SAR applications for Peyton Segrest and David Hammond have passed the State review and have been forwarded to the National Headquarters in Louisville, KY. When received, I will pass along any updates. 5 P a g e
NEW MEMBER RECOGNIZED On September 18 th, 2014 at our Chapter meeting, Randall Scott Morris was officially sworn in as a member of our Chapter. Compatriot Morris application was approved on July 24, 2014 by our National Office based on the patriotic service of Morris ancestor, Andrew Putnam. Compatriot Morris was presented his official SAR Membership Certificate and, in the absence of Genealogist Registrar Bill Creager, 1 st Vice President David Hammond presented the SAR Rosette. 1 st Vice President David Hammond (L), Compatriot Randy Morris (C), President David Kelsey (R). FALL 2014 CALENDAR OF EVENTS Friday-Sunday, October 3-5, 2014 FLSSAR Board of Management Meeting Orlando, FL Wednesday, October 8, 2014 EMS Award to Firefighter/Paramedic Colin Craig 10:00AM City of Palm Coast Fire Dept., Station #22 Palm Coast Pkwy & Clubhouse Drive Thursday, October 16, 2014 11:00AM SAR, Flagler Chapter Meeting Palm Coast Yacht Club Speaker: Mr. Al Hadeed, Local Historian 6 P a g e
Topics: History of Long Creek & Hernandez Plantation Landing in Palm Coast Tuesday, November 11, 2014 08:30AM 10:00AM Thursday, November 20, 2014 11:00AM Friday, November 21, 2014 6:15PM December 2014/January 2015 Veterans Day Ceremonies Heroes Memorial Park, Palm Coast Flagler Government Services Bldg., Bunnell SAR, Flagler Chapter Meeting Palm Coast Yacht Club Speaker: Compatriot Casey Kelly Topic: 2014 Mission of Hope to Cameroon Election of Officers for 2015 SAR Christmas Tree Festival of Trees Flagler County Library Thomas Creek Battlefield Hike (Near Callahan, FL) COMPATRIOT MASON Compatriot Perley Henry Mason, age 87, passed away on August 9, 2014, at his residence. Perley joined the SAR in 1975 and transferred his membership to our Chapter in 1990. Perley is buried next to his wife, Margaret, in Peekskill, NY. Mr. Mason served in the Army during WWII. His photo, taken about 1945, is part of the military photo display at the Flagler Supervisor of Elections office. Perley is in uniform standing next to a monument in France dedicated to the WWI soldiers who fought in the war that ended all wars. 7 P a g e
September 18 Speaker Chief Boatswain s Mate Scott Schmoele, speaker at our Chapter meeting, provided an in-depth presentation on United States Coast Guard Operations and the War on Drugs which answered the following: How do drugs get into the U.S.? How 9/11 changed the USCG? How recent budget reductions have impacted the USCG & the War on Drugs. Chief Schmoele relayed a number of interesting first-hand experiences during his 20-year career with the USCG. Currently, the Caribbean is blanketed with assets watching for drug smuggling operations via balloons, planes, etc. Consequently, drug smugglers are attempting to circumvent surveillance by building semisubmersible submarines. However, the drug dealers have not yet perfected the technology and are having problems preventing exhaust fumes from overwhelming the submarine crew! Chief Boatswain s Mate Scott Schmoele (L) Receives a Certificate of Appreciation from President David Kelsey (R). REVOLUTIONARY WAR FACTS The Battle of Bennington was a battle of the American Revolutionary War that took place on August 16, 1777, in Walloomsac, New York, about 10 miles from its namesake Bennington, Vermont. An American force of 2,000 men, primarily composed of New Hampshire and Massachusetts militiamen, led by General John Stark, and reinforced by men led by Colonel Seth Warner and members of the Green Mountain Boys, decisively defeated a detachment of General 8 P a g e
John Burgoyne's army led by Lieutenant Colonel Friedrich Baum, and supported by additional men under Lieutenant Colonel Heinrich von Breymann. The battle was an important victory for the American cause, as it reduced Burgoyne's army in size by almost 1,000 men, led his Indian support to largely abandon him, and deprived him of needed supplies, all factors that contributed to Burgoyne's eventual surrender at Saratoga. The victory also galvanized colonial support for the independence movement, and played a role in bringing France into the war on the American side. The battle anniversary is celebrated in the state of Vermont as Bennington Battle Day. (From The AmericanRevolution.org) Respectively submitted: Compatriot David S. Hammond First Vice President/Editor 9 P a g e