Future Supplements currently completed will cover New York troops and uniforms, then Vermont troops and uniforms.
The New York Supplement will mention the Patriots of three members.
The Vermont Supplement will mention Patriots of two members.
Beginning work on Virginia. We have many members with Patriots who served there.
jgp
The acceptance of my Article to the National SAR magazine for last Summer's Issue came as a surprise. We'll see if lightening will strike again!
I submitted new article to our National SAR magazine for the Winter Issue. I hope it will be accepted.
Here is a preview of the material submitted.
Redcoat -Foe or Friend?
By Jim Penny
SAR#102201
Alexander Hodge Chapter
#49
We have
all heard of Paul Revere’s ride and the warning shout of the “The Redcoats were
Coming, The Redcoats were Coming”.
Although, that particular warning phrase has recently come under scrutiny. Yet, still when one hears of a Redcoat, the
British soldier immediately comes to mind.
Yet, this was not always the case. The American forces were short on uniforms
through much of the War. About 15,0004
captured British uniforms were used during the War and often without taking the
time to dye them a more friendly color. The
Leadership of American Forces had mixed feelings on the use of both captured
uniforms and the use of red uniforms of some American military Units.
For example, When St John’s (Saint Jean,
QC) fell to the Americans in November of 1775, correspondence between from American
commander General Richard Montgomery to General Philip Schuyer reveals “The
officers of the First Regiment of Yorkers, and Artillery Company, were very
near a mutiny the other day, because I would not stop the clothing of the
garrison of St. John’ s. I would not have sullied my own reputation, nor
disgraced the Continental arms, by such a breach of capitulation, for the
universe; there was no driving it into their noddles, that the clothing was
really the property of the soldier, that he had paid for it, and that every
Regiment, in this country especially, saved a year’ s clothing, to have decent
clothes to wear on particular occasions.”
Yet, another entry by General Montgomery
indicates that he did not have the same views for uniforms captured from a
British storehouse at Montreal since it was a lawful seizure and not the taking
of personal property of captured British soldiers. “With a year’ s clothing of the (British) 7th and
26th, I have relieved the distresses of Arnold’s corps, and forwarded the
clothing of some other corps. The greatest part of that clothing is a fair
prize, except such as immediately belonged to the prisoners taken on board;
they must be paid for theirs, as it was their own property.” He is referring to the uniforms provided as relief
for the survivors of Colonel Benedict Arnold’s march through the Maine
wilderness to the gates of Quebec City.
From
Headquarters at Morris Town, General Washington addressed his concerns on the
use of red uniforms to Colonel
Stephen Moylan and to James Mease on May 12th, 1777. Colonel Moylan was commissioned a commander of the 4th Regiment of
Continental Light Dragoons known as Moyan’s Horse, with the rank of Colonel, on
January 8, 1777. Note: The regiment was known for taking the field in captured
British scarlet coats faced with blue and saw action at the Battle of
Brandywine and the Battle of Germantown in their scarlet uniforms. James Mease served as Clothier General of the
Continental Army from 10 Jan. 1777 until the department was reorganized in 1779.
(To Colonel Moylan) “Sir… A party of your Regiment arrived here
Yesterday…... Their appearance has convinced me fully of the danger which I
always apprehended from the similiarity of their Uniform to that of the British
Horse, …., and had they been travelling thro’ a part of the Country, where it
might have been supposed the Enemy’s Horse would be foraging or scouting, they
would in all probability have been fired upon. The inconvenience will increase,
when your Regiment joins the Army. Your patroles will be in constant danger
from our own scouting Parties….”. I
therefore desire that you will immediately fall upon means, for having the
colour of the Coats changed, which may be done, by dipping into that kind of
dye that is most proper to put upon Red. I care not what it is, so
that the present colour be changed.”
(To
James Mease) “Sir,
Being more and more convinced, of the impolicy of any part of our Troops being
Clothed in Red and that many injurious and fatal consequences are to be
apprehended from it, I think it necessary to repeat my request, mentioned in my
last, that you will have all the Clothes in your hands, of that Colour,
dyed of some other, as soon as you can. Yesterday an Escort from Colo. Moylan’s
Regiment dressed in that Uniform, ….., they certainly would have suffered.
Unless the matter is immediately remedied, by changing the Colour, our people
will be destroying themselves…..”
Washington continued writing James
Mease to seek a solution to American troops wearing red and in particular those
of Colonel Moyan.
On the 20th May 1777, Washington wrote
“Sir,… I am informed, that Colo. Moylan has provided Frocks for his men,
with which they can cover their Red Coats occasionally; if so, it takes off the
objection which I had to their Uniform. But this cannot be done by the Foot, as
they cannot carry a coat and Frock, you must therefore contrive to have their
Coats dyed, as quick as possible. Colo.
Mason’s Regiment must have the Brown and Buff Clothing…”.
On 17th April 1777, “I could wish
Colo. Moylan would put his Regt in any other Uniform than Scarlet, because I am
convinced that many Mistakes and perhaps some fatal ones will happen from our
Dragoons being cloathed in Red and Blue which is the same with the Queens
Dragoons. There now are going on, 1400 Suits of Brown and White and Brown
and Buff which are handsome, and good standing Colours, I had rather see
Moylans Corps in one of them than in scarlet, for the Reasons I have mentioned…..”
On
12th May 1777, a response from James Mease to General Washington
recountered how Colonel Moyan was desirous of changing the color of his
soldiers uniforms except the officers had went to great expense to outfit
themselves in red and did not want to change.
He also described some of the British uniforms being supplied to
American troops as the Red coats of the British 21st Regiment of
Foot having blue facings on the collar, lapels, and cuffs; the Red coats with
blue facings of the 16th (Queen’s Own) Regiment of Light Dragoons; the Red coats
of the British 47th Regiment with white facings; tRed coats of the 53d Regiment
with red facings; and the Red coat of the 62d Regiment with pale yellowish buff
facings.
Some American units had a history of the uniform’s color that
they did not want to give up. For
example, in attached Picture 1 and Picture 2 are Units
who are still keeping the tradition alive.
The list of Regiments that wore a heavily red uniform includes forces from Rhode Island, Virginia (1776), Connecticut (1777), Maryland (Baltimore, 1776), South Carolina (Charleston, 1773-1776), and several Continental Regiments. Both our Spanish and French allies had Irish Infantry Regiments from who wore a Redcoat. The Spanish had three Irish Regiments: Ultonia (Ulster), Irlanda, and Hibernia. The French also had three Irish InfantryRegiments: Walsh, Dillion, and Berwick Regiments. One of the Walsh Regiments were assigned to Capt. John Paul Jones flagship, Bon Homme Richard where they performed as a Marine Regiment (see Picture 3 and Picture 4).
Picture 1 Picture 2
Pautuxet Rangers - Rhode Island Kingston Reds Militia - Rhode Island
Picture 3 Picture 4
Adams reviewing the Marines assigned French, Irish Dillion Regiment
to John Paul Jones (French, Irish Walsh Regiment)
Sources:
1.
AN ILLUSTRATED ENCYCLOPEDIA OF UNIFORMS FROM
1775-1783; THE AMERICAN REVOLUTIONARY WAR
by Digby Smith, Kevin F. Riley, Consultant Jeremy Black MBE; publisher: Lorenz Books, London.
2. Pritzker Military Archives (pritzkermilitarylibrary.org). Located in Chicago, ILL. painting by Charles H. Waterhouse
3. “From George Washington to Colonel
Stephen Moylan, 12 May 1777,” Founders Online, National
Archives, https://founders.archives.gov/documents/Washington/03-09-02-0396.
[Original source: The Papers of George Washington, Revolutionary War Series, vol. 9, 28 March 1777 – 10 June 1777, ed. Philander D. Chase. Charlottesville: University Press of Virginia, 1999, p. 401.]
4. Seeing Red - Fort Ticonderoga
prepared by Jim Penny
Here is the last on viewership of our Blog.Came across this feature in the Blog in Oct. Interesting info on viewership.
sent in email on Oct 18. Nov 1st Dec 4th Dec 15
Today (10/18): 116 44 (11/1) 26 2
Yesterday (10/17): 81 65 (10/31) 43 (12/3) 38
This Month (Oct): 1070 44 (Nov) 208 (Dec) 1788
Last Month (Sept.): 10,574 1838 (Oct) 2266 (Nov) 2266
prepared by Jim Penny
In 2023, We heard many excellent discourses on a variety of American Revolution topics. Members who were not present missed great presentations!
Nov. 28, 2023. Our own Dr. Chis Hammond delivered a very detailed examination of the events surrounding the Boston Tea Party on the approach of the 250th Anniversary on December 16th.
Sept. 30,2023. Wesley Wright presented an excellent presentation on Gen. George Washington and his Farewell Tour to his troops. He provided members with a professional printed booklet of George Washington's actual Farewell Address. A handout on the Newburgh Conspiracy was included.
July 25, 2023. Dr Gregg Dimmick on the subject in his book "Sea of Mud". The book and his archeological excavations deal with the discovery of artifacts near Houston on the Brazo river relating to the Mexican forces retreat back to Mexico. Many military articles were lost in the mud along the river and at their crossing.
May 30, 2023. Andy Hall presented a topic was titled First Ashore, the Continental Marines at New Providence in the Bahamas in March 1776.
March 28, 2023. Our fellow member, Randall Hankla presented a very good topic on the Battle of King's Mountain. The presentation was accompanied with a map of the arrangement of forces during the battle. Additionally, examples of the firearms used during the battle was also present.
January 31, 2023. Texas SAR District VP, Richard Zdunkewicz spoke with a slide presentation of his family history of immigrating to Texas from Louisiana. The legacy family names of Chauvin, LeBleu, Camersac and Sallier are associated with this heritage. His family fought under Bernardo De Galvez command as an ally of the American government. Also, his family founded the city of Lake Charles, Louisiana.
prepared by Jim Penny
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Our SAR chapter dinner meeting will be on Tuesday November28, at Spring Creek Barbeque. The address is 4895 Hwy Six in Missouri City.
The featured speaker will be our own Dr. Chris Hammonds, and he will speak on “The Boston Tea Party at 250”.
Send checks to Carl Hill (call him for address). He will order the number that has been purchased.
Cost is $17.00 each.
Plan is to place them Dec. 16th.
Came across this feature in the Blog in Oct. Interesting info on viewership.
sent in email on Oct 18. Today's info (11/1)
All-time: 190,529 191,341
Today (10/18): 116 44 (11/1)
Yesterday (10/17): 81 65 (10/31)
This Month (Oct): 1070 44 (Nov)
Last Month (Sept.): 10,574 1838 (Oct)
Prepared by Jim Penny
Alexander Hodge Chapter President, Carl Hill and Secretary, Steve Barber joined with members of the DAR Alexander Hodge Chapter to greet the returning Veteran's Honor Flight at Hobby Airport.
The returning flight had the 25 Veterans who served in American Wars who had travelled to Washington D.C. to visit American War Monuments.
Patriotic groups who met them on their return to Houston included the SAR, DAR, American Legion, and others.
Pictured below:
Ed Sellers left in
uniform, next to him is Steve Barber and wife Sandy Barber, Carl Hill, Art Bynum is in the SAR uniform on the
right, The rest of the ladies are in Sandy's Alexander Hodge DAR Chapter. Ed and Art that are in uniform are members of the Freedom SAR Chapter in the Woodlands.
All members are invited to lend a hand and make short work of the clean-up of Hodges Bend Cemetery on December the 2nd. Time to meet is 9am. Will plan to finish by 12pm.
Weeds and vines need to be cut down so bring tools for the job.
Here are some pictures I took on May 30, 2023. I dropped by there before a Meeting. It is not far from Spring Hill BBQ.
The Chairman would administer SAR Programs that are encourage and award students sponsored by our Alexander Hodge Chapter.
The George S. and Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is for local high school students and will commence this Fall. Students submit an 800-1200-word essay, based upon original research dealing with a topic that shaped American history.
It can be on a person, event, philosophy or ideal associated to the American Revolution, Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution.
Local winners will be submitted to the State SAR competition and then those winners will be submitted to the National SAR competition. Submissions from our local students will be judged by Alexander Hodge members Randall Hankla and Dennis Giuffre.
State Competition Awards: 1st place is $3500; 2nd place is $1500 and 3rd place is $500.
National Competition Awards: 1st place is $6000; 2nd place is $2500 and 3rd place is $1,000.
We need a Chairman to oversee and administer this worthwhile Program.
Anyone interested contact our President, Carl Hill.
In preparation for a planned Event on Dec 16th, we need help from members by purchasing the needed Christmas wreaths which will be placed on the graves of Veterans. The price is $17.00 each.
We voted at the Business Meeting on the 31st to authorize the purchasing of 3 wreaths from Chapter funds. Additionally, a member has also purchased one. I am planning on purchasing 3 wreaths. Any help in making this a successful Event will be appreciated.
The wreaths will be delivered to our president, Carl Hill, and he will hold onto them until the Event.
More of the planned Event will be Posted at a later date. Please put Dec. 16th on your Calendar to save the date.
The Alexander Hodge Chapter DAR has invited all Alexander Hodge Chapter SAR members to join them at their November meeting on Tuesday, Nov. 21, 2023.
Location has been changed to Imperial Park Recreation Center in Sugarland.
It is located on 234 Matlage Way, Sugarland Tx. 77478.
Social time and snacks begin at 6pm followed by the Meeting beginning at 6:30pm
The highlight of the meeting will be by Denise Bennett who does historical reenactments. She will portray Priscilla Mullins Alden, a passenger on the Mayflower.
I hope to see you there!
All Chapter members are invited to an Event honoring Veteran's Day on November 10th at the Anderson VA Facility in Houston. The Chapter has been asked to participate in the parade in front of the VA facility.
We will also have a booth for patients and their relatives to visit.
Identifying the uniforms worn our Patriots and to include a discussion each Colony/State's role in the events of the Revolutionary War will continue as a Supplement to our monthly Newsletter.
But, here in the Blog, I will continue to add bits and pieces of background information so as not to repeat the same information for each of the Colony.
Early in the War, a standard uniform for any Colony either did not yet exist or didn't exist in the quality needed for expanded numbers of soldiers. Some Militias already had their own uniform colors.
Often the first uniforms were from the French and Indian War or were the common working or hunting dress of a soldier. Supplies were augumented from captured British uniforms or from imports from France and Spain. One American merchant ordered from France 30,000 yards of blue and of brown cloth. The Spanish alone supplied about 30,000 complete uniforms and the cloth for making more.
On 4th November 1775 Congress adopted brown as the first official color of the Continental Army. The various Regiments were distinguished by different color collars, cuffs, and lapels.
Any uniform or garment worn by soldiers in the field of battle did not last long and required replacing.
On 2nd October 1779, General Washington issued a General Order which set the standard for American dress regulations. The Infantry were to be clothed in dark blue, with different facings and distinctions for groups of states.
One dress that was wore when none of other were available, was the hunting frock or rifle dress. These were the type of preferred uniform of the frontiersman soldier of Pennsylvania, Virginia, etc. It was derived from Indian clothing and consisted of an unbleached homespun or deerskin shirt, or 'frock' fringed deerskin leggings and moccasins. Gen. Washington gave his official approval of this dress and required that 10,000 sets be made for the Army.
prepared by Jim Penny
Though the French and Indian War (The Seven Years War) of 1754-1763, the American colonists became skilled at defending themselves and in some case being part of a military force. Colonal officers, such as George Washington gained experience leading men in battle.
In 1769, the French sent Baron de Kalb to America to report on the preparedness of the colonists' for open warfare. He noted that they had facilities for creating a large merchant marine force. They did not have arsenals nor magazines, yet merchants carried stocks of gunpowder to the Indians. They were well supplied with cannon and with firearms. He estimated that there were 200,000 young men enrolled in the Militia.
New threats led the British to pass the Militia Law of 1775 which provided for the enrollment of all free males between the ages of sixteen and fifty. They were formed into Companies and Regiments with officers appointed by the Royal Governor.
They were required to supply themselves with arms, packs, blankets, and canteen. They were engaged to serve, without pay, for short periods within the borders of their own Colony. Colonies, such as Connecticut had 26,000 militiamen in 1774. By 1775, New Jersy had twenty-six Regiments of infantry and eleven of calvary and Pennsylvania had fifty-three battalions of infantry. By the time the Revolution started in 1776, most of the Colonies had a nucleus of a defense force.
At the time of the Revolution, a Company had about 50 men. A Regiment had 500 men. A Battalion consisted of four to six Companies but could contain about 1000 men.
prepared by Jim Penny
(Note: Looks like we have abt 89 members and 16 Jr members. If all paid that would be approx. $390.35 for 2024 & 2025).
Motion from the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument Committee
The Committee has approved the following in its meeting of 10/10/2023:
“The Texas SAR leadership challenges each of its chapters to contribute $3.75 per member per year for the next two years (2024 and 2025) towards the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument to be located at the Texas State Cemetery in Austin, Texas. If we are successful with full participation at this level and raise approximately $20,000, we will have, in addition to the $19,300 currently pledged by chapters and compatriots and $15,000 from the GWEF, obtained commitments for approximately $55,000 or the expected expenditure for the project.”
“Each chapter is responsible for challenging and coordinating with its own members to achieve these chapter goals. The Texas Society will not levee any fee on any member or chapter. This effort is entirely voluntary.”
Click here to view the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument web page on the Texas SAR website.
For questions, please contact the Texas SAR 250 Anniversary Monument Committee
Committee Members:
Richard Zdunkewicz, Committee Chair; rzdunkewicz@comcast.net
Tom Jackson, Committee Vice Chair; longhorntij@yahoo.com
Sam Massey; sartxpres2023.2024@gmail.com
Jesse Villarreal; jesseo2800@yahoo.com
Mel Oller; mel_oller@yahoo.com
Jim Kuykendall; jimkuy55@gmail.com
Joe Dooley;
2024 Dues Notice
Compatriots,
For those of you who have a deliverable mailing address, your 2024 Dues Notices should be arriving in your home mailbox within the next few weeks. These are sent Bulk Mail to your address of record as of September 1st. If you do not receive one by Thanksgiving, please look for your notice online, and help us get your address corrected.
Texas SAR has voted that Junior Members will not need to pay dues for 2024.
Keep in mind that your dues are considered late on January 1, 2024. If they are still unpaid 30 days later - NSSAR will drop you from the rolls and you will start to show a gap in your service and not get your magazine. So...please pay them online or by mail as soon as you can to help your Chapter and avoid a lapse in your SAR Service! As in previous years, you have 3 options for paying your dues.
Online/Paypal (option 1) - We encourage everyone to use this option, and pay your dues by credit card through Paypal. Click here for the online dues payment page and enter your National SAR # and Name as it appears on your Membership Certificate. Then select your primary chapter and any others you maintain dual membership with and follow the checkout procedures. This is operational on the TexasSAR.org website NOW. PayPal fees have been removed for 2024 Dues payments.
As mentioned, this online Paypal form also allows for secondary (dual) chapters to be added for those wishing to pay as a dual member.
US Mail (option 2) - You simply take the bottom section of the dues invoice you receive in the mail and send a check for the amount indicated with the pre-addressed envelope, stamp it, and return it to us by US mail. This is to be for your PRIMARY Chapter Dues Statements - it only includes dues for your Primary Chapter, State Dues, and National Dues where applicable.
US Mail (option 3) - Use this option if you want to pay by check, but did NOT get a dues notice in the mail or you want to pay NOW for whatever reason. Click here for the online dues invoice page on the private site, grab your dues notice online, print it out , and mail it back in with a check. This option is available NOW on the TexasSAR.org website.
(here is the ID & password to the private side...please do not publish this on any social media, webpages, or printed materials, ID: SARaccess & password: psTexasSAR)
Donations - As many of you are aware, our society has many beneficial funds that you can donate to for great purposes. Each year, when you renew your membership is a great time to make a donation to one of several great options. All Donation $ will be allocated as you indicate on the form. Please review the items listed in the donations section of the online dues payment page, and support these worthwhile programs. Thank you for your continued support of our programs!
Please do NOT mail to older addresses - those have been closed - USE THE ADDRESS ON THE RETURN ENVELOPE or the ONLINE DUES NOTICE ONLY. If you or your bank mail it somewhere else, there is no guarantee it gets to us or that you will be credited. Getting these in on time is important for your Chapter and you. The sooner your dues are in, the sooner our books are cleared with NSSAR and the funds available to your Chapter in the Spring - and no more reminder calls !!! We appreciate your patience and support !!!
Thank you so much for your continued support!
In Patriotism,
Mel Oller Don Hayes
Secretary Texas SAR Assistant Treasurer - Texas SAR
sec@txssar.com assttreas@txssar.org
The Texas SAR and National SAR have various areas that a Chapter can "compete in". This can win recognition for the Chapter and is often in areas that the Chapter is already doing.
There is a need for someone as a Chapter Historian to capture what we do during the year and to build a on-going Yearbook.
Quoted From the Texas SAR
"Chapter Yearbook Judging
Some Chapters are asking about beginner yearbook suggestions.
Here are my thoughts:
○ There are no rules, be creative, what will set your chapter above the others.
○ Your chapter is only competing against those in your chapter size category; don’t let the very large chapters scare you away from entry.
○ If your chapter is one of three, then you will win.
○ Ideas of things to submit: Programs/Speakers, Agendas, Minutes are a great start.
○ Strive for more: Newsletters, Civic activities, JROTC activities, Photos with captions, Awards given, Awards received, Speaker’s Bureau activities.
○ Organization by some criteria with a Table of Contents is great; by date, by activity type, whatever makes sense to the reader.
○ Video category: be creative and thorough.
Congratulations to this year’s winners of the Chapter Yearbooks as judged at the April 2023 Texas SAR Conference.
The winners are:
Small Chapters (1-49 members): 1st—Edmund Terrill #34; 2nd—Ark-La-Tex #69
Medium Chapters (50-99 members): 1st—Robert Rankin #62 2nd—McKinney #63
Large Chapters (99+ members): 1st—Dallas #2 2nd—Plano #37 3rd—Piney Woods #51
Video Submission: None."
prepared by Jim Penny
Here is the Plan for coverage of the Troops, their uniforms, and as it occurs, there will be Special Mention of the Patriots of our members. All this will be sent out by our Newsletter Editor, as a Supplement to the monthly Newsletter.
I had not accessed the Genealogical info for our members when I wrote on the Maryland troops. So, much later, I will profile the Patriots for all our members by the Colony they served.
I was able to profile 3 member's Patriots for GA and am working on another 3 member's Patriots for NY. There are 5 of them.
Middle Department or Main Army - Maryland; Pennsylvania, Delaware, New Jersey.
He will speak on George Washington. The presentation is on a sentinel moment in the life of George Washington.Wesley is a Houston Chronicle Correspondent and a native Houstonian who has been practicing law in the Houston area since 1982. He is a graduate of the South Texas College of Law and the University of Houston.
Mr. Wright is a Board-Certified attorney in Estate Planning and Probate Law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Certified Elder Law Attorney by the National Elder Law Foundation. His legal practice focuses exclusively in the areas of elder law, Medicaid planning, estate planning with an emphasis on the disabled and the use of special needs trusts, estate and trust administration, and guardianship.
He is an original founder of the Houston chapter of Disability and Elder Law Attorneys Association (DELAA), and served as President of that organization for its first two years. He has served as Chair for the Probate, Trusts, and Estates Section of the Houston Bar Association. He is a former President of the Texas Chapter of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys (NAELA) and served on the National Board of NAELA for two years.
He has been listed a Texas Super Lawyer for Elder Law from 2006-2013.He co-authors a monthly column in the Houston Chronicle called Elder Law Notes and he is a regular speaker on Elder Law topics. He is a co-author of Save My Home! Saving Your Home, Farm or Ranch from Medicaid Estate Recovery in Texas, a book on Medicaid Estate Recovery; and a co-author of West's Texas Elder Law (Volume 51, Texas Practice Series) written for lawyers.
Everette "EV" Shaw Gardner passed away on Sunday, September 10th surrounded by his wife, Mary Ann, and two daughters and grandchildren.
Dr Shaw was a member of the SAR and our Chapter for 11 years having joined both on September 12, 2014. He served as the Vice Chairman of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 and as the Veteran's Outreach Chairman. He was always faithful to attend both the Chapter's Business Meetings and the General Meetings.
He was not only an active member of Sons of the American Revolution, but also the Vietnam Veterans of America, The Sons of the Confederacy, and The Order of the Southern Cross.
Dr Gardner served 20 years in the Supply Corps of the U.S. Navy from which he retired with the rank of Commander. He was a Vietnam Veteran where he served on the destroyer, USS James C. Owens, as well as, the Aircraft Carrier, USS Dwight D. Eisenhower.
During his career, he held senior positions in Inventory Mangement and in Operations Research. He held a Masters and a Ph.D in Business Administration.
After retirement from the Navy, he served as a Fellow of the Honors College and Professor of Decision and Information at the University of Houston. He authored more than 50 articles in professional journals and served on the editorial boards of four scientific journals. Upon his retirement from U of H, a scholarship was established in his name for incoming freshmen.
In 2007, he was elected a Fellow of the International Institute of Forecasters. He has served as past President and as a Board member. He is listed in multiple Who's Who Directories.
Visitation will be held at Settegast-Kopf Company at Sugasr Creek from 6:00 to 8:PM on the 22rd of September and will be laid to rest at the Houston National Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that a donation be made to the Dr. Gardner's University of Houston scholarship.
Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 would like to welcome and recognize our newest members.
Dr Robert William Graves and A. Allen Bogard
We also have two transferring into the Chapter:
Robert L Walzel Jr. transferring from a Chapter in Lawrence, Kansas
Lyndon Alexander (Alex) Smith Transferring from Paul Carrington Chapter #5
Alex is the son of Member, Lyndon Allen and Molly Smith.
Hear ye, hear ye! The Knight Essay Contest makes a difference in the lives of patriotic young Americans every year by providing scholarships at the local, state and national levels to high school students who have researched and written outstanding essays relating to an event, person, philosophy or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Recent winners have come from Connecticut, Virginia, New York, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Kentucky, Pennsylvania, Georgia, Missouri and California. The Knight Essay Contest national level awards are not competitive with similar contests.
In 2020, the top prize was $5000. This amount is not commensurate with other national award contests. The proceeds from the sale of the Jefferson Medal will be used to enhance the essay endowment fund and increase the level of prizes that can be awarded in the contest. The medal is named for the author of the Declaration of Independence and one of the most important writers of the Revolutionary Era.
The colors of the drape are derived from the heraldic arms assumed and used by Thomas Jefferson. Please help the SAR educate future generations on the importance of the Revolution and its principles by contributing to the essay endowment fund TODAY! Contributions of $250 or more will be recognized with the medal and miniature. Each additional $250 donation earns an oak leaf cluster. A total cumulative donation of $1500 is recognized with a gold PATRON bar worn on the drape.
Donor Name: ___________________________Email:_________________________________
Address: __________________________________________Phone: ________________
Contribution Amount: $ ______________Additional Pledge: $___________ over ________years.
Minimum initial contribution: $250. Make checks payable to SAR Foundation, with "Essay Endowment" in the memo line.
Mail To: Ernest Coggins, 908 N Lebanon Street, Arlington, VA 22205-1434 THANK YOU FOR SUPPORTING THE SAR YOUTH ESSAY CONTEST
The National SAR has quite a collection of Revolutionay War resources. Select the pull-down heading "Education" on the Website's Home page, then select "For Teachers and Students". A page will open that has five subject selections, with one being, "Speaking Out About History".
The selection is quite a treat, with Brooks Lyle, The Historian General of The NSSAR, as the Emcc for each segment.
The first You-tube presentation is by former Marine Major-General Jason Q. Bohm. He presents his book, "Washington's Marines" in a very entertaining and through manner for fifty-nine minutes. The time is well spent and I look forward to hearing more of the Book Reviews.
The Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 Business Meeting was held August 29 th at 1:00 P.M. at the Spring Creek Barbeque located, at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX. Carl Hill President called the meeting to order.
Attending the Business meeting was Carl Hill (President), Steve Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt of Arms, Phil Whitley (Chaplain), Jim Penny (Webmaster), Lovell Aldrich and Kevin Buford (Prospective New Member.
Additional Secretary Report: Two existing SAR members are requesting transfers into the Alexander Hodge Chapter.
Mr. Lyndon Alex Smith, from the SAR Paul Carrington Chapter, #167193. Alex has requested to have his membership transferred to the Alexander Hodge Chapter N0. 49. Alex is the son of our chapter member
Lyndon Smith National #204715. That on-line transfer request has been submitted to the State SAR. In State transfers are quite simple to complete with a short online form to complete.
Out of State transfers are a whole different ball game.
Robert Walzel- National #218804- Has moved from Lawrence, Kansas. Bob was a member of the Charles Robinson Chapter of the SAR in Kansas. He was requested to transfer to the Alexander Hodge Chapter. The State Secretary of Kansas has requested the NSSSAR Transfer form be submitted for this transfer. The form has been given to Bob to submit to the State of Kansas SAR office, which will then be submitted to the State of Texas SAR Secretary to verify his membership is in good standing. That completed certification is then sent to NSSAR to complete the transfer.
New Contact Information:
Robert Walzel
2906 Wild Olive Way
Richmond, TX 77469
phone#: (801) 209-5025
email: robert.walzel@gmail.com
Bob has been invited to attend the Alexander Hodge Chapter meeting while this transfer is being completed.
Presidents report on unpaid membership dues. Originally 13 members were reported not paying their dues for 2023. Either an E-mail or Text was sent out to those members by the secretary of Alexander Hodge Chapter. Of the fourteen, one member was deceased (Leonard J. Williams,) and one member transferred to the Paul Carrington Chapter (Christopher Herewitz.) Of the 11 others, two now live out of State, five no longer live in the Houston area and one (John Hensley Jr. contact information was no longer effective. Lovell Aldrich volunteered to try and follow up on those 10 members that have not paid.
The secretary will provide the list of those 10 members.
Carl Hill reported that SAR dues will be going for 2024 from $35.00 annually to $50.00. New application fees will be going from $190 to $210.00 for each new application. It was noted notices for the dues will come out from the State SAR office,
Treasury reported $9,436.45 on account with now only one outstanding scholarship check for $500.00 outstanding. We are still waiting for a $329.00 reimbursement from the State SAR for 17 metals and certificates awarded this last school year to JROTC members. State is asking for a proof receipt, but the metals were not initially mailed out and then mailed with no receipt. Looking at providing the cancelled check as a receipt for proof of purchase and reimbursement.
Registrar’s Report in that there have been several new applications that have been submitted. First, there were several expense receipts submitted for approval associated with these applications which Lovell Aldrich and Steve Barber signed and approved for payment. Lovel Aldrich proposed that a petty cash fund should be set up for such expenses. That proposal has been tabled for now.
The following applications have been submitted for new SAR members for the Alexander Hodge chapter: Don Burns, Robert Graves, Alan Bougard, Steve Sanders, Kevin Buford, Richard Colwell, Scott Hutchson, Christipher Owens, John Placette ,Robert Godwin.
Of these ten applicates, only one has been returned for clarifications. (Robert Goldwin) We are still working on applications for the following prospective members.
Son of Allen Bougard, Son of Kevin Buford, Richard Laughlin, David Linder, Chris Pettitt, Charles Garten, Scott Hutchinson, Fred Louen.
New applications have been coming in at record levels, challenging the Registrar’s Committee. Mike Green said that the registrar function is probably the most time consuming. It is working well as a committee with Carl Hill and Mike Green working together with one taking care of administrative matters and the other performing the genealogical research. If anyone is interested in assisting in new application registrations to the SAR, please let one of these gentlemen know of your interest.
The application fee was $190.00 per applicant with $15.00 coming to the Chapter for each new member.
As mentioned above, application fees for new applicants are going up to $210.00. It is not clear yet if any of this increased fee will be coming back to the local Chapter.
Social Chair Report: George Theater September 6 th through Oct 1 st , 2023. “Forever Plaid” Barber Shop musical. Performance Wednesday through Sunday until October 1 st . Purchase Tickets by calling Box office 713-526-2721 or website adplayers.org. Let Sharon Aldrich know if you would like to join a group to attend this performance. Sharon and Lovell’s number 281-491-1542.
The Texas Tenors event at the Staford Center on September 23, 2023, is also available but tickets for this event costs are around $98.50 if you buy directly from the Staford Center. Ticketmaster is higher.
Carl Hill discusses various essays and or poster contests that could be promoted in the next school year.
The Essay competition was for high school JROTC candidates, and the poster contest was for middle school students. In the past, the Chapter also donated books on historical people and asked for essaysdescribing who that person in the book was in our history.
Carl had a sampling of Flag Cards handed out to all present. The cards are a giveaway for recruiting andexplaining who the SAR is and how to join.
The Aug 29th Business Meeting was called to a close by President Carl Hill.
END OF REPORT
The members of the Alexander Hodge #49, Sons of the American Revolution, gathered at Spring Creek Barbeque located at 4895 Highway 6, Missouri City, TX.
In the private meeting room, Carl Hill called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. with an Invocation given by Phil Whitley followed by pledges to the United States flag, to the Texas flag and to the SAR flag.
14 Attending Chapter Members: Carl Hill (President & Treasure), Everett Gardner (Vice President),Steven Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt. of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain), Jim G. Penny (Web Master), Mike Green (Newsletter) Randall Hankla, Dick Hudgins, Rick Giuffre, Dennis Giuffre, Matt Barber Lyndon A. Smith, and Ron Brown
Attending New Prospective Chapter SAR Members: Robert Graves, and Kevin Buford
Other Guests: Mrs. Bernice Mistriot, Mrs. Sandra Barber, Mrs. Melby Smith, Mrs. Pam Brown, Mr.
Robert Goodwin, Mr. Lyndon Alex Smith (SAR Chapter Paul Carrington), Ms. Eron Tynes and Dr. Gregg Dimmick (Tonight’s Speaker)
Recognitions: Matthew Ryan Barber was sworn into the Alexander Hodge Chapter N0. 49 under his recognized patriot, James Barber.
Matt was awarded his certificate of SAR Membership and his parents Steve and Sandy Barber presented his SAR Membership Badge. You can read about Matt’s patriot he came into the SAR under in the July Newsletter or on the Website.
Mr. Lyndon Alex Smith , visiting tonight from the SAR Paul Carrington Chapter #167193. Alex is requesting to have his membership transferred to the Alexander Hodge Chapter N0. 49. Alex is the son of our chapter member Lyndon Smith National #204715.
Dr Gregg Dimmick is the speaker for tonight’s meeting. Author of a book entitled “The Sea of Mud” Treasury Report:
Carl Hill presented the Treasures Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of $9,436.45 which includes two outstanding scholarships checks awarded for $300.00 and $500.00 that have not yet been cleared. These outstanding checks are the last 2 of the 4 scholarships the Chapter awarded to JROTC candidates. A total of $1,600.00 in Scholarship JROTC donations raised by District 7 VP, Richard Zdanowicz’s was awarded to four candidates from two different high schools by the Alexander Hodge Chapter.
The Chapter has not yet been reimbursed from the State for the 17 Bronze SAR JROTC metals and certificates presented at the annual JROTC year-end banquet.
We will have a new school added to this program in the coming school year – Crawford High School.
District.7 VP Zdunkwisc has a goal to raise $10,000.00 in contributions for the Junior ROTC program in 2024 in which $2,000.00 of that will be coming to the Alexander Hodge Chapter for scholarship awards to these three schools: Crawford High School, Fort Bend ISD and Lamar County SID.
Registrar’s Report:
Four applications are completed and being submitted for Don Burns, Robert Graves, Alan Bogard, and Steven Sanders. The committee (Carl Hill and Mike Green) are still working on the application for John Kovac.
Secretary’s Report:
The May 30 meeting minutes were published on the Chapter Website early July along with the Business Meeting minutes for membership review. These minutes were reviewed and approved at the June Business Meeting. A motion was made and seconded to accept these minutes on record.
Web Site and Newsletter Report:
Jim Penny on the Chapter Web Site, and Mike Green on the Chapter Newsletter reports that both are updated and available on months that there is no Chapter meeting planned. The Newsletter is sent out to members monthly and members can go to the Chapter Web page for more information. (http://www.hodgesar.org) Both publishers expressed a great need for more member news, similar to the write up in the July Newsletter on our new Member Matt Barbers patriot that he came in SAR on. Dig out your old SAR applications and share your patriot’s story.
Social Chair Report:
Sharon Aldrich, social Chairperson, was not attending the July meeting, but Carl Hill and Steve Barber submitted a couple ideas on social events that could be attended as a SAR group. There is still the possible Space Cowboys Baseball game in Sugar Land, Steve Barber recommended an event coming up at the Stafford Center here in Missouri City on September 13, 2023. The group called the “Texas Tenors: will be singing patriotic, classical and country songs. Texas Tenors got their start on American Has Talent about 15 years ago and have been performing as a group since. There is also a group called “FEVER” that organizes different local talent groups that perform in unusual venues around Houston. They organize what they call “Candlelight Concerts”, or “Roof Top Concerts” that has jazz groups, singers or string quartets performing various music from classical to modern pop and shows based upon various famous singers. (Frank Sinatra, James Taylor, Louis Armstrong etc.) The venues are at various interesting locations around Houston such as: at the Lone Star Flight Museum, The Astorian, The Old Majestic Movie theater, the roof top Gardens on the old Houston Post Office downtown. or the Resurrection Church in the Heights. The seating is sold in three sections, A, B and C. Tickets are very reasonable in cost. (Normally $25 to $55) This is the same group that put on the Van Gogh Exhibit. Web site: Feverup.com-Houston
Chapter Meeting Speaker: Dr. Dimmick presented his archaeological finding that documented the retreat of the Mexican Army after Battle of San Jacinto, as written in his book entitled “The Sea of Mud”. Dr Dimmick described the Mexican army at this time was not in retreat but was attempting to re-group their scattered troops. 250 Mexican troops were located at San Jacinto, with 1,200 others in around Richmond, and 1500 troops in the area, for a total of approximately 4,500 total soldiers in the army accompanied by approximately 1,500 woman and children.
Mexican General Filis Ola, ignored Santa Anita’s orders to come to San Jacinto and was attempting to regroup the troops out west near the Colorado River. In doing so, the group of approximately 4,000 attempted to travel through the Wharton Swamps rice field area. This very wet and swampy area (Sea of Mud) bogged down the movement of this group where they lost much of their supplies. Discouraged from these events, the Mexican Army started to retreat moving to Victoria.
Dr. Dimmick described some of the archaeological attempts to find artifacts from these activities. Using metal detectors and searching the San Jacinto area, most of those seeking artifacts find mostly many beer cans, shotgun shells and barbed wire. With perseverance, Dr. Dimmick recovered several artifacts related to the encampment and movement of the Mexican Army.
Specimens found that were available for examination, included Howitzer canisters, musket balls, cannon balls, Mexican Army 6 th Battalion buttons, Insignia, cane handle, a knife pommel, a trigger guard, chest plates, and silver coins dated 1834.
Closing Remarks:
President reported the next Alexander Hodge No.49-chapter meeting will be held September 27, 2023, at the Spring Creek Barbeque restaurant on Highway 6 in Missouri City, TX. The next Chapter Business Meeting will be at the same restaurant on August 29th at 1:00 P.M. All Chapter members are welcome to attend the business meeting. All Chapter Officers are required to attend the Business Meetings.
Recessional: The SAR recessional was recited by all present.
Benediction: Closing benediction was given by Phil Whitley, Chaplain.
Prepared by Steven J. Barber, Secretary
Application Due to Chapter by December 31
The Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence Outstanding American History Teacher Award is the result of a national contest in which local SAR Chapters select their candidates for the State Society Contest (in this case, the Texas SAR) for which there is a State Award. The winner of the State contest is submitted for consideration at the National (NSSAR) level.
Those teachers whose approved curriculum teaches students about the Revolutionary War era from 1750 to 1800 may enter the Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award Contest. The award is open to all teachers at the Elementary, Middle, or High school levels at a recognized public, private, or parochial institution.
Both application forms and release forms can be obtained from the NSSAR Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award page.
General
The NSSAR Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Award rules will apply to the Texas Society Sons of the American Revolution Outstanding American History Teacher. The Texas Society Outstanding History Teacher will be automatically entered in the NSSAR contest. The rules are also available on the NSSAR web site www.sar.org under the Education tab.
Texas Society Awards
There will only be a first-place winner but there will be 3 contests now; elementary school, middle school, and high school. We will have a winner in each category. Each category winner will receive a Certificate and one first place winner will be selected from the three category winners. The Texas overall winner will have a choice in their award. They can receive an cash award of $1,500.00 or they can elect to have a week of education experience with all expenses paid by the Texas Society. It is estimated that this award is worth about $3,500.00. The winner will receive travel expenses to attend the Texas SAR Convention not to exceed $270.00
Each category winner will be entered in the national contest where National Awards are possible.
National Awards
Each state winner will be entered into the National Contest and the National Committee will pick one winner for each category. Each National category winner will receive a $3,000 scholarship to attend a seminar trip to the Freedom Foundation Graduate Workshop in Valley Forge, PA which includes tuition and expenses. They will receive a $500 cash prize and a $500 reimbursement for educational supplies and materials related to the American Revolution they can buy for their classes. Also, in addition to this $4,000 value one teacher will be invited to attend the Sons of the American Revolution Congress with travel expenses up to $1,000 being covered.
How to Enter
Entry Package
Travel Expenses
The Outstanding American History Teacher Contest winners will be reimbursed according to the Travel and Convention Expense Allowance schedule for travel to the Texas SAR state convention.
Award recipients are responsible for any/all other costs including additional meals. If there are any questions about reimbursements, please contact the Chairman of your respective contest.
