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