Established April 1960 Lafayette Chapter, Kentucky Society Sons of the American Revolution

January 2015 Lafayette Chapter News

What’s Inside

From the President 2Dec. Speaker 3Events 3Dec. Photos 4New Members 5Fall Events 5About Us 6

Officers

President:Ben Mann

President Elect

Secretary:Don Adams

Treasurer:Greg Landon

Registrar:Al Coleman

Historian:James Evans

Chaplain:Ben Mann

2015 Officers Elected

President Ted Kuster installed Lafayette Chapter officers for 2015 at the December 2014 meeting at Duncan Tavern. Pictured are: Historian, James Evans; Registrar, Al Coleman; Treasurer, Greg Landon; and Secretary, Don Adams. Not pictured are: President, Ben Mann; who also serves as Chaplain.

The Lafayette Chapter held the annual Christmas luncheon meeting at Duncan Tavern Historic Center in Paris, KY, on December 13, 2014. Attending were 32 members and guests. Among the attendees were prospective Lafayette Chapter members: Frank McCracken, Jr. and son, Asa McCracken, John Douglas and Bret Jones, son of former Kentucky Governor Brereton Jones.

President Kuster presented the following Membership Service Certificates: Five Years: Compatriots Greg Landon, Del White and Roger BainTen Years: Compatriots James Landon, Charles Landon, John Landon,

Al Coleman and Ted KusterFifteen Years: Compatriot Lucien RiceThirty Years: Compatriot Don Adams

The Navy Sea Medal Ribbon and Certificate was presented to Cadet Brandon Montgomery, 15, of Henry Clay High School, Lexington, KY. His goal is to achieve the rank of Chief Petty Officer and be selected to attend the Sea Cadet International Exchange Program in Russia. His career goal is to train to be a nuclear engineer for the U.S. Navy. Lt. jg Joe Ryan accompanied Cadet Montgomery to the meeting.

IMPORTANT - SEE INVITATION - PAGE 3

On the Road to Christ

January-February 2015

It has come and passed by once more. November 11 (Armistice Day) the day to end the war of all wars. Sadly, as a species, we seem not to have learned from past experience. Echoing in our minds are Chateau Thierry, the Meuse, Verdun, the Argonne, Somme, Ardenne, Ypres, Gallipoli, Flanders Fields, and many more. As in so many years past, the war became a struggle for oil. Great Britain had decided to leave its mines in Wales in favor of oil. Convoys from the US tried to carry oil to Europe and thence fell prey to German submarines. Familiar, right? Introduction of the “tank” code named “cistern” and “reservoir” gave new impetus to the oil struggle as the “tank” made Germany vulnerable to overwhelming power and strategy.

Many years ago in the northeast US, it was common custom to wear a red poppy in the lapel of your coat on November 11. People looked askance as those who did not wear this memoriam. Like “Decoration Day” for those killed in the great American Civil War, Armistice Day was in memory of those who made the ultimate sacrifice. Why have we not learned from WW1 and successive wars? Pride, power, possessions, position and prestige come to mind. In our personal lives all of these five P’s enter in. To be dominated by “self” is s form of slavery. To be dominated by “self” is to ignore the Trinity that is the source of all life. As the well noted author, Daniel Yergin, observed, oil became the wellspring of our discontent. So goes the world! What follows here is an outtake of poetry written by Canadian Lt. Col. John McRae:

“in Flanders Fields the poppies blow, between the crosses row on row, that mark the place and in the

sky, the larks still bravely singing fly Scarce heard amid the guns below

We shall not sleep though poppies grow in Flanders Fields”

We should struggle to overcome ourselves and then emerge triumphant on the battlefield against self.

What is the mark of insanity? Repeating the same acts over and over whilst expecting different results!

We who await a new world might be well advised to try and change the one we live in now.

Grace and peace to all who read this.

Benjamin Mann

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From the President

Members and guests at the main dining table.

President Kuster presides over the meeting.

President Kuster introduced our guest speaker, Lafayette Compatriot James D. Birchfield, former editor of The Kentucky Review. He was a board member of the Blue Grass Trust for Historic Preservation, a member of the Henry Clay Foundation and a president of Clay Lancaster’s Warwick Foundation. Nearing the end of the bicentennial of the War of 1812, Jim chose as his stimulating and timely topic “Richard Mentor Johnson and The Battle of the Thames: October 5, 1813.

The battle, also known as Battle of Moraviantown, took place near present-day Chatham, Ontario in Upper Canada and was one of the most decisive battles against the British and Indians in the War of 1812, a war very popular in Kentucky. In The Palladium Extra, Kentucky Governor Isaac Shelby, a Revolutionary War hero, and Kentucky statesman Henry Clay, were raising a militia of 2000 troops. Kentucky native and statesman Richard M. Johnson, a War Hawk, also clamored for war with the British. On the River Thames with struggles to control the Great Lakes, Colonel Johnson defeated British General Henry Proctor and is credited with killing Shawnee Chief Tecumseh, leader of 1500 Indians. Indian lore states Tecumseh was killed by a man on horseback and Johnson was one of the few on horseback in the swampy battle. The body was found near Johnson’s

scabbard and hat, shot from above by Johnson’s two buckshot and a pistol ball. Compatriot Birchfield’s lecture was enhanced by numerous slides, including a two-wheeled brass cannon presented to Gov. Shelby, a British drum captured by Johnson and given to General Wm. Henry Harrison, who gave it to the Ky. Historical Society; a gold watch worn by Gov. Shelby during the Battle of the Thames, maps and lithographic arts.

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Above from December Minutes by Don Adams

The Lafayette Chapter SAR has been invited to join the Sons of the Revolution and Sons of Colonial Wars for a George Washington Birthday cocktail supper at The Lexington Club on the evening of February 20th. (Black Tie or Suit)

It will be held at The Lexington Club, 170 The Esplanade, Lexington, Kentucky. Cocktails will begin at 6:30 with dinner at 7:15. The speaker for the evening will be Ron Williams who will speak on Washington - his strategy and spies.

The cost of the evening will be $80 per person and spouses and guests are welcome and encouraged. Reservations will be required by Monday February 16 with checks made out to Buzz Carmichael and sent to him at 702 Robin Street, Lexington, Kentucky 40502.

There will be a joint DAR-SAR grave marking ceremony April 4, 2015 in Powell County, Kentucky for Patriots of Compatriots Mike Sullivan & John Lyons, the latter a past president of the Tucson, Arizona Society Sons of American Revolution.

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Annual Meeting Photos

Don Adams Presents Bronze Grave Marking Oak Leaf to Compatriot Blen Newman for 30 ceremonies.

President Kuster presents Bronze Good Citizenship Medal and Certificate to Barney Judd for representing Lafayette Chapter at District Naturalization Ceremonies.

Compatriot Al Coleman received the Bronze Color Guard Medal and Certificate from Don Adams

President Kuster presented 125th National SAR Conference Medallions to (left to right) Don Adams, Bob Hughes, and Jim Evans for service during the year.

President Kuster presented his wife Betsy with a Medal of Appreciation and Certificate for rendering tremendous assistance to the President and Lafayette Chapter

The Navy Sea Medal Ribbon and Certificate is presented to Cadet Brandon Montgomery from Henry Clay High School, Lexington, KY

Jim Evans receives his 40th year membership certificate from President Ted Kuster.

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“Respect for our national symbol, the American

Flag” and our ancestors who served and

struggled during the fight for independence is a cornerstone of SAR.

Some Regional DAR Contacts

Barbara Glass Zink, Regent Kentucky State DAR

Nancyetta Palumbo Capt. John McKinley Chapter

Robin West Lexington Chapter

Brandy Osborne Transylvania Chapter

Mikie McKelway Capt John Waller

Georgia Clemons Bryan Station Chapter

Debra Baker Trabu Chapter

Jennifer Spradlin Gen. Marquis Calmes Chapter

Fara Fox Tyree Hart Chapter

Elizabeth (Betsy) Burch Boonesboro Chapter

Fredia Shoemaker Jemima Boone Chapter

Myrgle Huffman Jane McAfee Chapter

Stephanie Griffin St. Asaph Chapter

For a complete list with contact information visit

http://www.kentuckydar.org/

From the Fall

Compatriots Don Adams and Al Coleman presented Floral Tributes at the grave of Patriot Thomas Wilkins at Little Mount Cemetery, Larue Co., Ky on November 15, 2014. Patriot Glen Newman (not pictured) also presented a Tribute

State Meeting, Williamsburg, KY Nov. 8, 2014 Don Adams, KYSSAR President Douglas Collins, KYSSAR Recoding Secretary Del White, and Glen Newman attended the State Meeting . Don and Glen are members of the Lafayette Chapter Color Guard.

KYSSAR President Doug Collins presented the Patriot Grave Marking Medals to Glen Newman of Lafayette Chapter, Steven Mallory and Geoff Baguette of the Col. Stephen Trigg Chapter at the State Meeting.

Lafayette Chapter New Members 2014

Hassell Henry Craft IIIJesse Earl Rathbun

Thomas B. StephensDavid Tudor

Ronald B. Williams

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National Society Sons of the

American Revolution 100 South Fourth St. Louisville, KY 40203

(502)-589-1776

http://www.sar.org

Lafayette Chapter News

Bob Hughes, Editor 3505 Willow Spring

Lexington, KY 40509

E-MAIL: hughessar@twc.com

We’re on the Web! See us at:

http://www.lafayettekyssar.org

The Sons of the American Revolution is the leading male lineage society that perpetuates the ideals of the war for independence. As a historical, educational, and patriotic non-profit corporation, we seek to maintain and expand the meaning of patriotism, respect for our nat ional symbols, the value of American citizenship, and the unifying force of "e pluribus unum" that was created from the people of many nations -- one nation and one people.

You must first be accepted into the National Society proving lineage to a patriot before joining state and local chapters. Please, contact us if you are interested in joining our organization. ✯

SAR Pledge: “We the descendants of the heroes of the American Revolution who, by their sacrifices, established the United States of America, reaffirm our faith in the principals of liberty and our Constitutional Republic, and solemnly pledge ourselves to defend them against every foe.”

About our Organization

Bulletins**Please note that Lafayette Chapter Newsletters will NOT be mailed due to cost of printing and mailing. **If you know a Compatriot that does not have e-mail, perhaps you could print them a copy. **We are always in need of articles; write one about your Revolutionary Ancestor.**If you have a short message to share with other Compatriots, we would be glad to include it here. Bob Hughes - SAR e-mail - hughessar@twc.com

Don’t forget to purchase a 125th National Congress coin, ribbon, or raffle ticket for the Pennsylvania Fowler Rifle. Support the KYSSAR. Order thru the web site.