We will meet on tis coming Tuesday the 27th for our Regular Bi-Monthly Business Meeting at Spring Hill BBQ on Hwy 6 in Missouri City. Meeting will begin at 1pm.
All members are invited. Officers need to attend.
Tribute and Remembrance of Sharon Aldrich wife of member Lovell Aldrich
on August 24, 2024
All Alexander Hodge Chapter members who knew Sharon are saddened to hear of her passing on August 22nd. She attended Chapter meetings along with her husband and member Aldrich. Sharon often filled the role of Chapter photographer and social chairman. she will be missed. The Service for Sharon will be at St. Martin's Episcopal Church on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. A Memorial Service will begin at 2pm. It will also be Livestreamed. The Church is located at 717 Sage Road, Houston, Tx. 77056. The Family requests that in lieu of flowers that donations can be made in her name to St Martin’s Episcopal Church or Texas A&M University Corps of Cadets. As her Obituary states, "She will be remembered by many for her great Christmas parties, her love of Astros Baseball, Aggie Athletics, love of travel, and her kindness to everyone she met. Her greatest joy became watching her six grandchildren be born and attend as activities as she possibly could. Sharon lived her life to the fullest and loved her friends and family with all her heart". "Sharon King Aldrich, 82, of Sugar Land, died peacefully at Methodist Hospital on August 22, 2024, surrounded by her family. Sharon was born on December 4, 1941 in Dallas, Texas to Harley Russell and Barbara Colleen King". "She leaves behind her husband of 58 years, Lovell; her daughter Molly and husband Craig Weynand; her daughter Abby and husband Trent Elliott; her six grandchildren Colleen Hall and husband Louis, Emma and Adam Weynand, Elizabeth, Drew and Wade Elliott; her brother Rusty King and wife Sallie, and many nieces and nephews." "Sharon’s life mission was raising her children to know God, love others, to achieve a college degree, and be happy and successful. Along the way, Sharon helped Lovell become a successful trial lawyer while staying at home to raise their girls. She was president of the elementary school PTA, volunteered with her children’s local swim team and dance companies, organized many of her husband's large family reunions, and was a member of Houston Junior Woman's Club. Later she became an active member in her local Aggie Moms Club where she served as president, and in St. Martin's Episcopal Church where she became involved with bible studies and Daughters of the King. She also loved supporting young Aggie Corps students on the Aldrich scholarships every year". Sharon was a loving wife, mother, sister, grandmother and friend and she will be missed dearly by everyone who knew and loved her. The Aldrich family would like to thank the community of St Martin’s Episcopal Church for their love and support throughout this difficult time. Thank you god for sharing Sharon with us for so many years. We all loved her so much! Her full Obituary can be found Online at Dignitymemorial.com or Echovita.com.
In Memorium - Frank L. Felcman May 10 2024
on August 23, 2024
Frank Leslie Felcman passed away on May 10, 2024, two days after his 100th birthday.
He was born May 8, 1924, to Elsie Ferrell Fuller Felcman and Frank Joe Felcman in Sealy, Texas where his father settled after emigrating from Prague, Czechoslovakia in the early 1900’s.
After his father’s death when Frank was 12, he worked with his mother and three sisters in the family bakery and confectionery. On graduation from Sealy High School Class of 1941, he attended Southwest Texas State Teacher’s College in San Marcos for a year.
He then worked with his sister, Leah, in Tulsa OK as a file clerk and mimeograph operator in the post office before enlisting in the U.S. Navy in December 1942.
He was called to active duty in June 1943 as an Aviation Cadet. He was based at the University of Texas facilities in Austin where he began ground school, flight training, and physical conditioning. Following earning his Naval Aviator wings (24 Oct 1944), he flew patrol missions over the Atlantic coast for the remainder of World War II. He was commissioned an Ensign, serving a total of 3 years. He also served 9.5 years in the Naval Reserves where he achieved the rank of Lieutenant.
After release from the Navy in December 1945, he attended the University of Texas at Austin graduating with a Bachelor of Science degree in geology in 1949 and began working for a geophysical exploration company. In 1950, he married Shirley Newman, his college sweetheart, and continued his oil exploration work which took him to many small towns in Texas, the swamplands of Louisiana, and as far north as the Badlands in North Dakota.
In 1963, he was transferred to Perth, Western Australia for a period of two years to work for West Australian Petroleum Pty. Ltd. (WAPET), a division of Standard Oil of California. He was transferred from Perth back to Texas and resided in Houston until his death. On the return trip to the U.S. in 1965, he and his family toured parts of the Far East, Middle East, Europe, and England over 45 days.
Following an urge to work for himself, Frank researched franchises in various industries and chose to move into the printing industry in 1971 when he purchased Kwik Kopy Printing #47. In 1981, he purchased a second location in Austin. He sold both businesses to his daughters in the mid-1980s, then worked for a variety of other printers until his retirement.
He was a member of Temple Lodge #4 AF & AM and was installed as Worshipful Master on July 13, 1974. In retirement, he became very interested in genealogy tracing several families through several generations.
Frank became a member of the Sons of American Revolution on September 11, 2012. His Patriot was Robert Gamble who served as a Continental Army soldier in the 2nd Carolina Regiment and was commanded by Lt. Col Francis Marion, the famous Swamp Fox. Frank was a member of the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.
He was predeceased by his parents and his sisters Leah Mayeaux, Helen Tomlinson (Lloyd), and Doris Nastoupil (Carl Jr.).
He is survived by his wife, Geneva Felcman; 3 children, Kathleen Barkley, Frank L. Felcman Jr. (Katherine), and Leah Linney; grandchildren, Charlotte Felcman Whitaker (Robert) and Kimberly Felcman Hatcher (Adam), and great-grandchildren Emma Whitaker and J.J. Whitaker.
Seeking Comments from Members on Newsletter subjects, etc
on August 18, 2024
Compatriots,
I would like to hear from you any ideas for Newsletter.
1. What subjects would you like included in every Issue.
* Such as State & National SAR news.
* Member's Patriot Profiles
* Revolutionary War Profile (battles, leaders, etc.)
* other ideas!
2. Any suggestions for Title of Newsletter, beyond Alexander Hodges Chapter #49.
3. Any other suggestions?
Thank you
Notice by Texas SAR of Application Fee Increase beginning Sept 1 2024
|
Upcoming CAR (Children of American Revolution) - Lineage Day on Sept. 15, 2024 at Constellation Field.
on August 2, 2024
$5 of eery ticket sold to the see the Space Cowboys play on Sept. 15th will go to benefit the Capt. Ed C.A.R. Project.
SAR Color Guard will be on the Field for the National Anthem.
Alexander Hodge has supported C.A.R. events i the past. Attached are members Carl Hill, Tom Green, and John Thompson at a past recognition for C.A.R. members.
Meeting Notice for July 30th from Chapter President
on July 24, 2024
Please plan on attending our upcoming SAR chapter dinner meeting on Tuesday July 30th at Spring Creek Barbeque. The address is 4895 Hwy 6, in Missouri City.
We will start to gather at 6:30 and the meeting will begin at 7:00 p. m. The featured speaker will be Compatriot John Thompson, who is a dual member of our chapter. His topic will be Benjamin Franklin.
Carl V Hill
Minutes from Business Meeting on June 25, 2024
on July 22, 2024
SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 BUSINESS MEETING – June 25th, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
Attended: Carl Hill, Mike Green, Don Burns, Don Rollins and Jim Penny
Officers Absent: Steve Barber (on vacation), Lovell Adrich, Phil Whitney, Robert Graves
Treasury Report: The two JROTC scholarship checks finally cleared, leaving the Treasury balance at $9.733.00.
Registrar Report: Working on three applications but having issues with one application needing information on Elijah Isaacks, 1775 S.C. The new State Registrar is on vacation and not available to help.
News Letter and Blog and Facebook page: Jim Penny will be taking over the monthly newsletter from Mike Green. Mike Green will assist and be the backup for the Chapter Blog site. Jim will work on documenting how to operate the Blog site. Jim is still developing photo albums on the Chapter Facebook page. It was emphasized that more photos were needed.
Other News:
A) The new SAR State VP for our Zone 7 is Art Byram from the SAR Freedom Chapter. He has taken over for Richard Zdunkewicz, who has accepted a new State position. Compatriot Byram was elected as our District VP at the Annual Meeting of the Texas SAR. Art, the immediate Past-President of the Freedom Chapter (Woodlands Area) is an enthusiastic leader who will do a terrific job supporting the District and the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.
One of Compatriot Byram’s focuses will be establishing or reinforcing a strong Color Guard for each Chapter in the District. The Freedom Chapter enjoys a very strong Color Guard, thanks to his leadership.
B) The 2025 Fall SAR State BOM meeting is going to be jointly hosted by the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter with the Paul Carrington SAR Chapter here in Houston, TX.
C) Carl mentioned that more events need to be planned and coordinated with the DAR Alexander Hodges Chapter. Coordination of events should be completed with Sandra Barber, the DAR liaison. Mobile Number (832) 451-9117). A liaison for the Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 needs to be to coordinate with the DAR Chapter.
D) Carl mentioned there is a new Challenge Coin issues. It features the Continental Congress.
E) There is an old Flag Presentation is on You Tube, presented by Tom Green. It is a rather lengthy program for schools on different flags from the American Revolution. Several other Alexander Hodge Chapter #49 members assisted on this flag presentation.
It was bought up that the Chapter needs to complete a Flag Certification on some of the new flags and a Flag Retirement event for some of the older worn flags. Don Burns suggested a Flag Certification Certificate to Sugar Land Fire Department.
F) It was announced that the July, 2024 Speaker for the Alexander Hodge #49 Chapter is going to be our new Chapter member John Thompson. John will be speaking on Benjamin Franklin.
End of Business Report
New State VP for District 7 - Art Byram
on July 21, 2024
Art was elected as the new VP at the annual Texas SAR Convention this past March in San Antonio. Art replaces Richard Zdunkewicz who has become the State Secretary.
Art is the immediate past president of the Freedom Chapter #38 in the Woodlands. He is an enthusiastic leader and will do a great job representing our District and our Chapter.
One focus that Art will have is to establish or reinforce a strong Color Guard for each Chapter in the District. While in the Freedom Chapter a very strong Color Guard tradition was created due to his leadership and vision.
Art's reinforcing of the strong Color Guard tradition at Freedom Chapter helped result in member David Hamaker being named the State Color Guardsman for 2024. In addition, he was awarded the Bernardo de Galvez Gold Medal for prolonged Guard service.
Texas S.A.R. State Events 2023-2024
Texas S.A.R. State Conference Texas S.A.R. State Fall BOM meeting
Texas D.A.R. State Conference Texas C.A.R. State Conference
Flag Day June 14 Audie Murphy Medal of Honor Parade, Farmersville TX
George Washington Parade and Bridge Ceremony, Laredo TX
Battle of Medina, August 2023 Dickens on the Strand Parade
Funeral of past Texas S.A.R. Presidents
Important Events not designated State Events
U.S. Naturalization Ceremonies- These ceremonies are chapter events but members are encouraged to support these events.
Texas State Fair- This is a great opportunity to share our society and encourage new members. This is a chapter event.
Minutes of Regular Meeting on May 28 2024
on July 19, 2024
Chapter President Treasurer
Carl Hill Carl
Hill
Vice President Registrar
Don Burns Mike Green/ Carl Hill
Secretary ` Newsletter
Steven Barber Mike Green
Sgt. At Arms Web
Master
Don Rollins Jim
Penny
Alexander Hodge Chapter No. 49
Minutes
May 28th, 2024
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.
9-Attending Chapter Members: Carl
Hill (President & Treasure), Steven Barber (Secretary), Don Rollins (Sgt.
of Arms), Phil Whitley (Chaplain), Jim G. Penny (Web Master), Mike Green
(Newsletter), Matt Barber, Don Burns, and Scott Burton.
Honorary Guest: Kent McGaughy
Tonight’s Guest Speaker
2 Other Guests: Mrs. Bernice Mistriot, and Mrs. Sherry Burns
Treasury Report: Carl
Hill presented the Treasures Report. The Chapter’s Treasury has a balance of $10,273.04.
All outstanding scholarship checks have cleared. Recommendation was made that
next year; the scholarship checks should include a notation that the checks
must be cashed within 6 months after the award.
Registrar’s Report: The Alexander
Hodge Chapter #49 has three new membership applications in the process for new
members. We also had four additional people expressing interest in the
Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.
Web Site and Newsletter
Report:
Web page for more information.
(http://www.hodgesar.org) Jim Penny continues his research into Virgina
Continental Uniforms worn during the Revolutionary War. This Chapter has thirty-one
members that trace their heritage back to Virginia.
Recognition was given to Jim
Penny’s great article on Continental Army uniforms worn that was published in
the National SAR magazine.
Jim is continuing to complete
research on activity of the military units that this Chapters members Patriots
participated in during the American Revolutionary War. Jim encourages any
member that has such stories to share those stories so he can publish those stores
on the Chapter Web site.
Jim Penny is also working on
the Memorial Section of the Web site, which is missing many past Chapter
members. He is including old photographs he has found of past Alexander Hodge
Chapter #49 activities found on the National and State Website and old Facebook
pages.
Mike Green has agreed to
continue as Newsletter Editor.
Current Activities:
On Wednesday April 17th. at
10:00 a.m., the Chapter hosted and completed a well-attended tour of
Independence Hall located on the campus of Houston Christian College. Dr.
Christopher Hammons, Professor of Political Science and Director of the Morris
Family Center for Law and Order, conducted a 90-minute tour of the facility and
discussed and explained the ongoing educational programs being conducted at
this location. Dr. Hammons explained that the facilities presentation to
visiting school children does not emphasize the people that formed and who wrote
the new country’s Constitution and Bill of Rights but emphasizes the basic principles
of these particularly important documents to the creation of the United States
of America. The Morris Family for Law and Liberty facility is an exact replica
of the Independence Hall in Philadelphia, PA. After the tour, participants
attended a luncheon at the Pappa’s Barbeque Restaurant just north of the campus.
Dr, Hammon is a member of the SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter #49.
On Saturday April 20th,
2024, at 7:00 p.m., there was another “Honor Flight” for twenty-one veterans,
returning from a Washington DC visit to the D.C. War Memorials. In the Hobby
Airport, Delta Terminal, these Veterans were welcomed back by approximately two
hundred people representing various patriotic organizations, an SAR Color Guard
and with a live orchestra playing patriotic music in the terminal. These “Honor
Flights” are organized to occur about every other month and all Patriotic
organizations are welcome to come and wave flags in support of the return of
these American War Veterans.
Chapter Meeting Speaker: Mr.
Kent McGaughy
Mr. McGaughy presentation
reviewed George Washington’s involvement in the expansion of the United States,
west of the Appalachian Mountains before and after the American Revolution.
Washington, as a younger man,
explored and surveyed the Ohio River Valley area. Working then for the British
Virigina Trading Company, he discovered in his surveying a very fertile land,
rich in timber, minerals, and wild animals and ideal for growing and producing
hemp, indigo, cotton and crops. Excellent water resources were readily
available with open lands available for expansion and development.
At this early age, 22 years of
age, Washington was six foot-4 inches tall, was physically in very good
physical condition to complete this task. The report of excellent expansion
opportunities led two hundred Virginia families immigrating to the Ohio
Vallery. Like today, this immigration was not approved by the British government,
and this infringed on Native American Indian hunting and sacred grounds. No
permits had been issues by wither the British Virginia or Ohio Trading Companies.
Although these trading
companies benefited from this expansion, the continued immigration led to
Indian uprising. Washington’s surveying for the trading companies continued to
develop six canals to facilitate trade and transportation from the Ohio Valley
back to Eastern Colonies. The French were also surveying this area from Canada
and had the same interest that the British had in settling this new area west
of the Appalachian Mountains.
This led to the French and
Indian War that started in 1754 and ending in 1763.George Washington fought in
this a 7-year war on the British side against the French and Indians. You can
say this was George Washington military training that led to him being an
exceptionally talented military leader in the American Revolutionary War.
This all led to interstate commerce
to start between the West and Eastern areas of the British Colonies, soon to be
the United States of America. With commerce flowing from New York to
Philadelphia and now down to Alexanderia, Virginia, Washington chose to build
his home in Virginia. Alexanderia, Virginia was the center of this new commerce
and trade route to the west.
Roads and passes through the
mountains were built. No canals were built in this western expansion, until the
later northern route to the West was developed through New York and the Erie
Canal system.
In conclusion, this western
expansion provided George Washington experience and wealth as a land surveyor,
trained him in warfare and military practices of the day, and provided
opportunities in developing commerce in new developing areas of the country.
Closing Remarks:
President Hill reported the next
Alexander Hodge No.49-chapter meeting will be held July 30th, 2024, 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 June 25th, 2024 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
SAR Alexander Hodge Chapter
#49 BUSINESS MEETING – June 25th, 2024, 1:00 p.m.
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