The Lake-Sumter Gazette

Editor: Robert L. Beightol April 2018

The President’s Message

Jerry Hardwich President

Lake-Sumter Chapter Sons of the American Revolution

With the coming of April, our patriot ancestors could begin to see the end of the depths of winter. Although the season may be changing, we still need to take time to remember their sacrifices. Winter may be relinquishing its grip on our relatives, but as with the war of independence, it

would continue to occasionally unleash its burdens on them. New England would continue to feel the brunt of Mother Nature for a few more weeks.

The anticipation of the beginnings of Spring, and the efforts of planting the seeds for their crops helped alleviate the dismal times of frigid cold and snow. It was the promise of rebirth as Spring approaches.

While our patriot ancestors were regrouping from a number of defeats, they were also reveling from some dramatic victories.

The continual dual concepts of protest and conflict competed for their time as the development of the theory of our foundation of independence was taking place. A number of events took place during this time frame, including: • On this day in history, March 16, 1751, James Madison is born. He would become one of the most influential of the Founding Fathers, the

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4th US President and most importantly, the “Father of the US Constitution.” • On March 23, 1775, Patrick Henry delivers his “Give Me Liberty or Give Me Death” speech. Henry was already well known for proposing the Virginia Resolves during the Stamp Act crisis, which challenged Parliament's authority to tax the colonists. By the time the American Revolution broke out, Henry was already a leading proponent of independence from Britain. • Nathan Hale decides to join the American Revolution on April 22, 1975. Hale was from a New England family that dated back to the founding of the Massachusetts Bay Colony. He grew up in a large farming household in Coventry, Connecticut. Freedom was being aggressively pursued, and the winds of change were underway. We continue to make strides and move the chapter forward. We as a chapter, and as individuals, keep active in a number of important activities: • The March meeting attendance was 28, including 19 members and 9 guests. • All our members that have participated in referring friends and family need to be congratulated. Keep sending John Moore the names of any additional family, friends, and acquaintances that may qualify for membership. Special thanks need to go to John Moore for his perseverance in getting new members on board. • Ron Grove led the Americanism Award effort. Thanks to all on the Executive Committee for updating the list of activities. Please see the list of our chapter’s accomplishments that was included in last month’s newsletter. • We have completed the Rumbaugh Oration contest, and our contestant came in second in the state. • Compatriot Grove has developed a new Poster Contest. The committee has been

working to secure participation of several local schools. At this time, we have three schools that have participated. A winner at the chapter level was determined and will be competing at the state level. • Bill Hayes has been working with both JROTC and Boy Scouts. - The Lake-Sumter SAR chapter presents awards to individuals in six JROTC units in Lake and Sumter Counties and one Sea Cadet unit in Lake County. - There have been eight Boy Scouts who have risen to the rank of Eagle Scout so far this year. All of them will be presented with SAR Certificates. Five Lake-Sumter SAR chapter members have volunteered to make the award presentations in April and May. • For February, our chapter participated in the GeorgeFest parade on February 24 in Eustis, FL. • Many of our members attended and assisted with The Liberty Tree dedication services in The Villages. Our chapter led the Color Guard and was well represented in the ceremony’s color guard presentation. • As we transition over the next few months to a new slate of officers, we will need additional volunteers in a number of areas including the Newsletter, Chaplain, Sargent – At - Arms, Historian, and Coordinator for Parades. Please consider these areas, as well as other areas in which you might be of service to your chapter. Feel free to contact me, or any of the officers, to discuss these opportunities. This is the last Newsletter that you will receive from me. At this time next month, your chapter will have a new slate of officers presiding over its operations. It has certainly been a pleasure working for the chapter over the past several years. I am just disappointed that my partner,

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Diane, was not able to see my tenure through. As I have told many of you, she enjoyed the meetings possibly more than I did. You were so supportive of both of us with her disability, and I thank each and every one of you from the bottom of my heart for all that you did to make her feel welcome.

In closing, please give thought to what our Patriot ancestors were challenged with:

protesting the implementation of taxes without any representation from the colonies.

God bless our patriot relatives for what they did to persevere and save our country. All the best to each and every member. Good health, prosperity, and happiness to you and your family.

Jerry Hardwich

President Lake-Sumter Chapter

Sons of the American Revolution

Wartime Memories of Donald Ross Voorhees

By H. Allan Lane

Author’s Note: In February 2018, I had the honor of interviewing Compatriot Donald R. Voorhees, age 89, concerning his experiences in the Army in the years immediately after WWII and again during the Korean War. Don entered the Army after he finished high school in 1946 and was assigned to Japan as part of the Army of Occupation. He returned to civilian life in 1948. In 1950, he was recalled to active duty in the Army and served in Korea during the Korean War. His unit of engineers was engaged in heavy combat as the Army stabilized the lines and then resumed the offensive against the North Koreans. His unit suffered many casualties. He returned home to discover that many people acted as if they did not even know we were fighting a war. This is the story of Don’s service in Japan, and in “America’s Forgotten War.”

I was born in 1928 in Haverhill, MA. My early schooling was in New York. During the war, my father worked on the Manhattan atomic bomb program in Oak Ridge, TN. While he worked at Oak Ridge, I attended Riverside Military Academy in Georgia, and high school in Chattanooga, TN. I graduated from Penn Yan Academy at Penn Yan, NY in 1946 and immediately volunteered for the Army. The Army sent me to Fort Dix, NJ, for basic training.

Following basic, I was sent to a specialty school in the engineering center located at Fort Belvoir, VA. There I was trained as a photo cartographer. I was trained to analyze aerial surveillance photographs and make maps from them. Upon completion of training, I was assigned to the 132nd Engineering Survey Company and shipped overseas to serve in the Occupation Army of Japan. We were billeted in suburban Tokyo for about one month when I was transferred to the

Compatriot Donald R. Voorhees

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64th Engineering Topographic Battalion. Our office was in a former department store which was one of the few buildings still standing in Tokyo. I could look out our office windows and see nothing but burned out and destroyed buildings for miles around.

I served in Japan for one year. My duties included the production of maps of the Far East. At the time the Nationalist Chinese were fighting a civil war against the Communist Chinese under Mao

Tse-tung. There were concerns that China would come under control of the Communists. General MacArthur ordered U.S. forces to make plans and preparations to invade China and come to the aid of the Nationalists. In this regard, my unit made a great many maps of China from aerial surveillance photographs. In many instances, it was not possible from aerial photographs to accurately measure critical dimensions, such as the height of railway tunnels or the width of a bridge or road. It was therefore necessary to fly engineering crews into China and take accurate measurements of topographical features. I participated in at least three such trips.

We flew into China on U.S. military cargo planes in three-man survey teams. I do not remember the name of the base we flew into, but it was at the end of “the Hump,” which was the name given to the allied air supply route across the

Himalayas during WWII. There was a civil war in progress and security was furnished by Chinese Nationalist infantry. We would go out in trucks to take our measurements and return to base. A few of the Chinese spoke English but not many. I remember being surprised that many of the Nationalist Chinese officers did not speak Chinese but spoke Japanese. I was told that during the lengthy Japanese occupation of China, the Japanese took the sons of Chinese upper classes and schooled them separately. These Chinese children learned Japanese and were essentially raised as Japanese to aid in the occupation of their homeland.

While in Japan, I saw General MacArthur one time during a military function of some sort. He was riding in a 1941 Cadillac. The officers and men around him had to keep their uniforms and personal appearance to the highest standards. I saw the Emperor of Japan on one occasion riding a horse during a parade.

My duties took me to various locations around Japan. I was able to see first-hand the destruction wrought by the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki. We conducted damage assessments of those cities and wore film badges to record our exposure to radioactivity. We would turn in our badges at the end of the day, but medical personal would never say anything except a terse “you’re fine.” I also attended Air Transport School and

Compatriot Vorhees (viewer’s right) with fellow soldiers in Japan

Photograph of bomb damage in Tokyo taken in 1947 by Compatriot Vorhees

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was trained as a paratrooper. We learned how to enter a combat zone by parachute or glider.

The Japanese people I met were cooperative and did not seem to bear any hard feelings towards American servicemen. We used them as workers at our facility. They were hard working, and I am sure they were very grateful to have work. Overall, I would say that our experience was good in Japan. We had good quarters, and some Americans wanted to remain in Japan. On the other hand, some did not adapt well. I remember one of our soldiers ended up committing suicide.

I returned to the U.S. in 1948 and was discharged. I wanted to remain in the Army Reserve and enlisted in a reserve engineering unit. I moved to Springfield, MA, and went to work for Stone and Webster Engineering Construction Company. I was working on a job in Wisconsin when the Korean War broke out in June 1950. Within a short time, I received notice that my unit was being activated and I was to report for active duty. I went back on active duty on Oct 9, 1950 and immediately was ordered to report to Fort Campbell, KY. From there, I was shipped to Korea. My assignment was as an engineer with the 65th Engineering Battalion, 25th Division.

When North Korea invaded South Korea, they did so with overwhelming force. The South Korean Army and the few available U.S. Army personnel available were pushed back steadily until enough forces could be brought to Korea from the U.S. and Japan to stop the North Koreans. This initial period before the lines were stabilized and the U.S. Army was able to go on the offensive was known as the “bug out period.” When I arrived in Korea in about November 1950, the “bug out” period was ending. Our job as engineers was to blow up bridges to halt the North Koreans. After the Army went on the offensive, we would repair and re-build the very same bridges and roads we had just blown up.

When the Army went back on the offensive, General MacArthur landed a force in the enemy’s rear at Inchon. I and other engineers were reassigned to an engineering company in a regular infantry regiment, Company C of the 27th

Infantry. Here I was in combat on the front line. We repaired and constructed roads, etc. at the front. I became proficient in all issued weaponry, such as the M1 Garand, M1 carbine and .45 caliber pistol. We took one of our trucks and rigged up a 57mm recoilless rifle which fit nicely in the machine gun ring on top of the truck. This gave U.S. some powerful fire power as we advanced against the North Koreans.

I remember on New Year’s Day in 1951 we blew up a bridge over the Han River. We thought all allied forces were across the bridge. We were surprised to see a British armored unit arrive on the other side of the river. The British disabled their tanks and abandoned them. We were relieved that all the British soldiers made it safely across the river. In about March 1951 we built a pontoon bridge across the Han to support troops advancing north again.

Another memory I have is of clearing mines. This was very dangerous work. We searched for buried mines, but the North Koreans would use mines that were detonated by a trip wire hidden in brush. One of our engineers was killed by a hidden mine and tripwire.

Sometimes when we were doing construction, the North Koreans would put U.S. under mortar fire. I remember distinctly this was the case when we built the pontoon bridge across the Han. We had an artillery liaison officer with us who called in artillery and eliminated the mortars.

My opinion of South Korean soldiers was mixed: some were good, some not. I found North Korean soldiers to be unimpressive.

I was sent home after completing one year in Korea. I would like to note that my primary unit, the 65th Engineers suffered about 50 or 60 killed or missing out of about 400 assigned during the “bug out” period when we were blowing bridges and preparing in case an evacuation by sea was necessary. Overall in the Korean War my unit suffered 92 killed or missing who never made it home. In the town of Penn Yan and surrounding Yates County there were 30 total who were called up for the Korean War. Of these, 11 never came back. One man who lived very near my home,

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Raymond Oscar Pierce, was married and had a daughter. I remember he said he was afraid that he would be killed, and his daughter would grow up without a father. He was killed in action on November 28, 1950.

The Korean War is often called “America’s Forgotten War.” This was true at the time. I remember after returning being greeted by co-workers I had known before Korea who simply asked “Hey, where you been?” It was as if many people did not even know we had been fighting a war. I am a member of the Korean War Veterans Association which tries to improve the public’s knowledge of the Korean War and the substantial sacrifices we made then.

After returning from Korea, I went back to work for Stone and Webster. I married my wife Marie 65 years ago in 1953. We had two children, a boy and a girl. Our son died five years ago. We have three grandchildren and are expecting our first great grandchild in April.

I remained with Stone and Webster for more than 40 years. I specialized in construction management and travelled to more than 60 countries on company projects. We lived abroad in Jamaica, Brazil, India, England and Abu Dhabi. At one time I had a security clearance when the company worked on U.S. Government projects, such as the U.S. Embassy in Bangladesh. At times, we worked on projects in countries that were not very stable. We always had evacuation plans but never had to use them.

One such place was Libya where we were working on a petro-chemical plant. One engineer whose first name was Scott, drove a BMW. The country’s dictator, Muammar Gaddafi, apparently did not like foreigners to drive fancy cars. As a result, Scott re-painted his BMW with a paint brush. That seemed to make the car acceptable.

We retired to Clermont in 1995. I joined the Sons of the American Revolution eleven years ago. As a child, I belonged to the Children of the American Revolution based on my ancestors on my father’s side who fought in the American Revolution. My membership in the SAR is based on descent from John Waterman, a Colonel of the 1st Rhode Island Regiment of militia. I have a total of nine Patriots in my lineage descended from both parents. My daughter has done extensive research into our family history, and furnished a photograph of Waterman’s house, (as seen below) which is still occupied to this day.

Author’s Note: I wish to thank Don for allowing me to interview him and make this effort to take down his military experiences in Japan and during the Korean War. I strongly believe these experiences need to be documented and shared as a reminder to all of U.S. of the sacrifices of millions of Americans in defense of our nation and democracy. It was my honor to speak with Don and learn of his personal experiences.

H. Allan Lane

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Table of Contents President’s Message 1 - 3 Member Induction 14

WWII Memories - Voorhees 3 - 6 Awards 14 - 15

Table of Contents 7 Next Meeting 15

Calendar of Events 8 This and That 16

Attendance Roster 9 Liberty Tree Dedication 16

Committee Reports 9 - 13 This and That 16 - 18

Presentation 13 Extra Photos 20

Chapter Officers

Out Going Incoming

President: Gerald C Hardwich Herbert Allan Lane 1st VP: Allan Lane Robert L. Beightol 2nd VP: George W Chaffee Richard K. Offutt Secretary: Edward J Riley Edward J. Riley Treasurer: Ronald L Grove Ronald L. Grove Historian: Richard K Offutt Richard K. Offutt Registrar: John H Moore John H. Moore Sergeant at Arms: Basil Linville, Jr Vacant Member at Large: Robert L Beightol Vacant Member at Large: Basil Linville Vacant Genealogist: Tom Wilcox Tom Wilcox Chaplain: Ralph D. Nelson, Jr. To Be Announced

Committee Chairs Public Service: Allan Lane Flag: Glen Langston Good citizen: Ralph D. Nelson, Jr. Veteran Recognition: Jim Carl SAR Service: Ralph D. Nelson, Jr. SAR Tenure: Ed Riley Audit: Allan Lane Awards: Allan Lane Color Guard: Glenn Langston Americanism Poster: Ron Grove DAR Liaison: Robert Moody Education: Ron Grove

Committee Chairs Eagle Scouts: Bill Hayes JROTC: Bill Hayes Oration: Ron Grove Meeting Donations: B.J. Linville Membership: John Moore Editor: Bob Beightol Nominating: Jerry Hardwich Program: Allan Lane Publicity: Bob Beightol Quartermaster: Vacant Veteran’s Programs: George Chaffee Website Manager: Scott Bushnell

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Calendar of Events

May 2018 • 5th - Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 5th - Member Meeting, 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 5th - Induction of Chapter Officer’s. • 18 & 19 - FLSSAR Spring Board of Management (BOM), Embassy Suites, Lake Buena Vista South. Details TBA. June 2018 • 2nd - Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 2nd - Member Meeting, 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 2nd - Chapter President announces Appointed Officers and Committee Chairmen. July 2018 • Summer Hiatus – No Meetings • 4th - 4th of July Parade – Tavares, FL – (Position and Gathering Point to be announced). August 2018 • Summer Hiatus – No Meetings

September 2018 • Summer Hiatus – No Meetings. • 23rd - DAR Bell Ringing, Constitution Week, 4:00 p.m. September 18, Eustis Historical Society, Eustis, FL. October 2018 • 6th - Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 6th - Member Meeting, 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. November 2018 • 3rd - Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 3rd - Member Meeting, 11:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. December 2018 • 3rd - Executive Committee Meeting, 10:00 a.m., American Legion Post 219, Fruitland Park, FL. • 3rd - Member Meeting, 11:00 a.m., Fruitland Park, FL.

Member Meeting – April 6, 2018

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Attendance Roster

Officer/ Committee Reports

At 11:00 a.m., President Jerry Hardwich, assisted by Acting Secretary George Chaffee, called the meeting to order. The Color Guard, led by Color

Guard Commander Glenn Langston, and consisting of compatriot’s George Chaffee, Ken Mosher, Ralph D. Nelson, Jr, Scott Bushnell and John Moore, posted the colors. Chaplain Nelson provided the invocation; and Compatriots Ron Grove and Bob Beightol led the attendees in the

Pledge of Allegiance and the SAR Pledge, respectively. A total of 19 members and 9 guests were in attendance. The guests were identified as presenter Dr. David Head; Ray McCleary, prospective member; Robert Burke, History Teacher of the Year; Matthew Karen and Varina Zhang, Rumbaugh Oration Contest winners; Jeri and Tony Castronovo, patents of Compatriot Michael Castronovo; and guests, Chuck and Diane Rousseau.

1 Members Guests 1 Baxter, Richard 1 Dr. David Head (Presenter) 2 Beightol, Robert 2 Castronova, Jeri 3 Carl, Jim 3 Castronova, Tony 4 Castronovo, Michael 4 McCleary, Ray (Prospect) 5 Chaffee, George 5 Burke, Robert 6 Grove, Ronald 6 Zhang, Varina 7 Hardwich, Gerald 7 Karen, Matthew 8 Hayes, Bill 8 Rousseau, Diane 9 Lane, Hubert A. 9 Rousseau, Chuck

10 Langston, Glenn 11 Linville, Basil, Jr. 12 Moody, Robert 13 Moore, John 14 Mosher, Ken 15 Nelson, Ralph D., Jr. 16 Offutt, Richard K. 17 Toops, Ron 18 Wilcox, Tom 19 Wilson, Merlyn

If your name is not on the list, then YOU did not sign in!!

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President: Under the direction of President Gerald Hardwich, the election of officers was conducted. The following slate of candidates were elected by the members without change:

President: Allan Lane 1st Vice President: Robert L. Beightol

2nd Vice President: Richard Offutt Secretary: Edward Riley Treasurer: Ronald Grove

The officer’s will be inducted during the May 2018 member meeting. President Hardwich explained that he would open the May meeting and conduct operations until the officer induction ceremony is completed. Following the induction, the remainder of the meeting will be conducted by incoming President Lane. President Hardwich also announced the departure of Compatriots Basil Linville, Jr. and Ralph D. Nelson, Jr. Compatriot Linville, currently holding the offices of the Chapter Sergeant at Arms, Quartermaster and Member at Large of the Executive Committee, is returning to Ohio to care for an ailing parent. Compatriot Nelson and wife Kay, will be moving to Durham, NC, to be nearer their daughter. Compatriot Nelson, is the Chapter Chaplain, holds a seat on the Executive Committee as a Past President and Chairs the Good Citizen and SAR Service committees, among his many other contributions. Both will be sorely missed and hard to replace. Members were reminded that any members needing transportation to the monthly meetings should contact either himself at 352-217-6816 or Bob Beightol at 850-206-7344 and arrangements will be made.

1st Vice President:

Vice-President Allan Lane reported that the speaker for the May 5th meeting was forced to cancel and that a substitute presenter has yet to be identified.

Editor’s Note: Subsequent to the member meeting, Compatriot Lane announced that our May 5th Presenter would be out own Compatriot John Moore. Perhaps we will hear his presentation on George Washington.

Education Committee: Compatriot Ron Grove, Chairman of the Education Committee, provided the following status for the individual competitions:

Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest: Ms. Yanni Varina Zhang, Montverde Academy, first place Chapter winner and Matthew Karen second place winner, were present. Compatriot Grove officially announced that Ms. Zhang had been awarded second place in the FLSSAR phase of the SAR oration contest. Mr. Karen and Ms. Zhang were presented with their certificates for their respective wins. Ms. Zhang was scheduled to recite her oration to the membership later in the meeting.

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American History Teacher Award: Compatriot Grove received word that our candidate, Mr. Robert Burke, won the FLSSAR portion of the contest and will receive a Certificate and $500.00 prize at the May 2018 BOM. Mr. Burke’s essay was forwarded to NSSAR for their contest; however, it was recently learned that he did not place in that contest. Their mistake!

Poster Contest: Compatriot Grove reminded the members that the topic of the 2018 poster contest was “The Battle of Pensacola” which occurred in 1781. The top three posters contributed by local middle schools have been collected and were on exhibit at the meeting. Members were asked to view the posters and vote for the poster they believed to be the best with the winner to be announced at the end of the member meeting.

And the winning Poster is …

Thank you, Education Committee Chairman Ronald Grove, for a job well done.

From Left to Right: Poster #1, by Ryan Mehr, Lake Park Middle School; Poster #2, Charlotte Sandoval, Groveland Middle School; Poster #3, Alessandro Becce, Montverde School.

Depicted is Matthew Karen and Yanni Varina Zhang, Montverde Academy, 2nd and 1st place winners, in the Rumbaugh Oration Contest. With them is History Professor Robert Blake, also of Montverde Academy, who won

the History Teacher of the Year for both the Lake-Sumter Chapter and FLSSAR.

Poster #2 by Ms. Charlotte Sandoval, Groveland Elementary School.

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DAR Box-tops for Education:

Compatriot Robert H. Moody, collected box tops from Chapter members and provided them to 1st Vice-President Lane for transport to the DAR.

Eagle Scout, JROTC Committee: Committee Chairman Bill Hayes announced that the SAR Award of Eagle Scout Certificates has been made to eight Eagle Scouts, thus far in 2018. Eagle Scout Michael Anthony Castronovo, who is in attendance will be

inducted as a member of the SAR to the Lake-Sumter Chapter.

During the months of April and May 2018, presentations of the SAR JROTC medal will be made to local seven local JROTC cadets and one Good Citizenship award to a Lake Cunty Sea Cadet.

GeorgeFest Parade/ Color Guard: Color Guard Commander Glenn E. Langston reported that, sadly, he must step down as the Chapter Parade Coordinator and that he has retired from management of Langston Motors. As a result, a Chapter member will be necessary to act as a Parade Coordinator responsible for Parade applications, liaison with his successor at Langston Motors for use of a golf cart, decorating of the golf cart and storage of the decorations between parades. The next parade will be the 4th of July Tavares Parade.

Newsletter/ Publicity/ Photography:

Publicity: Members were reminded to watch for SAR articles in local newspapers and bring them to the next meeting and we will ensure they get

counted in our next annual Americanism Report. The importance of the articles is that the Chapter receives points for each article published in a local newspaper in the Americanism Report. Thus far, we have had SAR articles published in the Daily Commercial, Triangle News, The Villages Daily Sun, and the Sumter Shopper, and there could be others of which we are unaware as we submit draft news releases to a total of twelve newspapers within our local area.

Photography: Members are reminded that if you need a photograph for the Chapter website,

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just let us know. We can take a suitable photo at the meeting. Also, member photos of SAR, historical or other events of interest are always welcome, and attempts will be made to publish those photos in the newsletter.

Reminder: The Chapter is still in need of a volunteer(s) to take over the duties of Newsletter Editor, Chairman of the Publicity Committee and Photographer. Questions regarding the obligations and responsibilities should be directed to the Editor.

Registrar:

Lake-Sumter Registrar John Moore reported three applications at NSSAR pending approval and 3 to 4 prospective member applications being researched and prepared.

Presentation: Privateers of the Americas

Dr. David Head, Ph.D. Head teaches American history at the University of Central Florida. A native of Western New York, he received his B.A. in history from Niagara University and his Ph.D. in history from the University at Buffalo. He is the author of Privateers of the Americas: Spanish American Privateering from the United States in the Early Republic and the editor of an encyclopedia of Atlantic world history and a soon-to-be-published collection of essays on pirates.

Dr. Head centered on the maritime “Privateers of the Americas” who preyed on Spanish shipping from the United States during the early 1800’s, telling the story of Americans who participated in the Spanish American Wars of Independence. These ‘Privateers” broke U.S. law to accept commissions from the new born republics of Spain's crumbling empire, capture Spanish vessels, and to keep what they captured. By now you might be asking what is the difference between a “Privateer” and a “Pirate”? Should you have attended you would know the answer.

Dr. David Head during his presentation.

Dr. Head as he receives a Certificate of Appreciation from Chapter 1st Vice – President

Allan Lane.

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MEMBER INDUCTIONS

AWARDS Service Awards:

Compatriot Thomas Q. Wilcox received a 10-year Service Certificate by President Hardwich during the lunch break at the member meeting. Unfortunately, Compatriot Wilcox was on a short break from his place of employment and no photograph of the ceremony was available.

Above, following the Ceremony, From Left to Right: Historian Richard Offutt, Mrs. Jeri Castronova, Compatriot Michael Castronova, Tony Castronova and

President Jerry Hardwich.

Below, Induction Ceremony of Michael Anthony Castronovo. From left to right: Chapter Historian Richard Offutt, Compatriot Castronova and

President Jerry Hardwich.

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Veteran Recognition Awards:

Compatriot Glenn E. Langston was presented with a NSSAR World War II Veteran Corps Certificate by our Chapter Chairman Jim Carl, Veteran’s Recognition Committee. Congratulations to Compatriot Langston, one of our three World War II Veterans.

Veteran Recognition Committee Chairman James M. Carl, presented Compatriots Richard K. Offutt; Basil Linville, Jr.; John H. Moore; and himself with NSSAR Certificates acknowledging their enrollment in NSSAR’s Vietnam Veteran’s Corps. Congratulations gentlemen

Next Meeting Topic: Compatriot John Moore provides information on George Washington. Date: May 5, 2018 Time: 11:00 AM - General Membership Meeting 10:00 AM - Executive Committee Meeting. Members are encouraged to attend. Place: John Gela Memorial American Legion Post 219, 194 West Fountain Street, Fruitland Park, FL Lunch: The Post will be serving their BBQ sandwiches or plates with pork & chicken, baked beans, slaw, and a roll. Coffee $1 with free refills and deserts for $1.00. Canned soda is available in the meeting room.

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Future Meetings June 2: Roger Smith received a Ph.D. in history from the University of Florida and currently works as an independent researcher and author. His presentation will be on Florida during the Revolution and is titled Florida, the Fourteenth Colony. Dr. Smith is a member of the St. Augustine Chapter of the SAR and has presented this lecture to the NSSAR Leadership Conference at the request of President General Guzy.

Liberty Tree Dedication: Lake-Sumter SAR by Ronald Grove

The Lake-Sumter Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, was chartered 30 years ago on October 22, 1988. To commemorate, at our November 3rd member meeting, we will plant our second Liberty Tree with a memorial plaque on the grounds of American Legion Post 219, where we meet. It will be a special part of our meeting and we expect several distinguished guests to attend. In 2009 the Liberty Tree Society (libertytreesociety.org) was founded to honor America’s first symbol of freedom in Boston. They provide the trees and memorial plaques for personal and private memorials. Their Liberty Trees are a disease-resistant American Liberty Elms developed by the Elm Research Institute in Keene, New Hampshire. We are looking forward to this celebration! For more information on the Liberty Tree Society and how to dedicate your own Liberty Tree, follow this link http://libertytree.org (Control Key, and click on the link).

Inscription for the Liberty Tree Marker: “On November 3, 2018, the Lake-Sumter Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution planted their second Liberty Tree, this one is to commemorate the 30th anniversary of this chapter.”

This and That Chapter Web Site: http:/ /lakesumtersar.org

FLSSAR Spring BOM/ Annual Meeting: May 18 – 20, 2018, Embassy Suites, Orlando – Lake Buena Vista South, 4955 Kyngs Heath Road, Kissimmee, FL 34746, sponsored by FLSSAR North Central Region Chapters. For additional details go to FLSSAR home page and click on the “State BOM” tab. Personal Information Update: Updating member information such as address, e-mail, or phone number is the responsibility of the member. If you are registered on the state/ chapter website (which uses the same data base) and/ or the National website (a different data base) you can update your own information. If you aren’t registered on either, or need help completing the update, contact or send the information to our Chapter Secretary Edward Riley, at apej2313@yahoo.com. He can then update the appropriate data base.

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Recruitment: Our individual primary effort should be in the direction of new member recruitment. Remember, male children, siblings and grandchildren are all eligible for the SAR. Should you have candidates, please connect with Registrar John Moore at jmoore417@gmail.com or via phone at 734-646-0902. Military Discounts – Lowe’s, Home Depot: An internet search verified that both Lowe’s and Home Depot offer military veterans with proper identification a 10% discount on almost all purchases. Generally, both stores offer the 10% discount to all active duty, or retired military members with proper identification and veterans with a service connected disability rating and VA health card ID card with a service connected designation and members of their immediate family members. Through the MyLowes link, a military member can register himself and his family member on line to receive the military discount at the register without showing an identification card, merely providing the telephone number registered to the account to the cashier. Use the following link to access the MyLowes/ Military registration page: https://www.lowes.com/mylowes/register?context=military . 2017 Americanism Report: For those members who might have missed the 2017 Americanism Report authored by Compatriot Ron Grove, and are wondering how the Chapter performed during 2017, the report is being reproduced here.

2017 Americanism Award Recap

• 10 Qualifying newspaper articles – Bob Beightol

• Speaker’s bureau established – Scott Bushnell o 7 presentations were made – most from Allan Lane

• Supported DAR on 7 different occasions

o 2 occasions included uniforms

• Youth contests o Essay contest – 3 $50 – Ron Grove o Oration contest – 11 $60 – led by Ron Toops o JROTC – 20 (cost of medals) – led by Bill Hayes o Poster contest – 8 $150 – led by Ralph Nelson o History Teacher – 1 $50 – Ron Grove o Boy Scout Council - $250

Total - $560 cash

• Public Service Award – Law enforcement - 1

• Event Participation o Leesburg Library Family History Fair – 5 o 3 Parades – Georgefest, July 4, Christmas o Wreaths across America – 5 uniforms

• 2 National committee members – Ralph Nelson and Scott Bushnell

• 10 New members

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• 9 Attended state meetings

Hyperlinks Editor’s Note: The following hyperlinks have been listed for your convenience. Simply use the CTL key and click and it should take you to the topic listed. Washington’s Life Guard: http://revolutionarywararchives.org/cncguard.html FLSSAR Patriot Magazine: www.flssar.org/FLSSAR/PatriotDocuments.asp?ButtonP=PATRIOT+MAGAZINE Box Tops for Education – Digital Product List: https://www.boxtops4education.com/earn/participating-products . NSSAR Color Guard Magazine: https://members.sar.org/media/uploads/pages/245/QdDfqRmiKxFN.pdf

Member News

Editor’s Note: Occasionally, the Editor receives news about members who are unable to attend or are involved in an event which would be of interest to other members. Should you have news for the Chapter, (i.e., illness, vacation, other SAR Chapter activities, supplemental Patriot, etc.) send it to the Editor and we will find a place for it in the newsletter to keep your members and friends informed. With enough input, we can make this a regular section of the Gazette. Compatriot Chuck White: Via letter, Compatriot Chuck Smith provided the following facts concerning his and his wife’s, Marlene, SAR and DAR history. “Several Years ago, his wife was awarded the Martha Washing Award for her contributions to Chuck’s northern chapter and the local DAR. In addition, his wife was the second Regent for the Mary Ellen Robertson DAR Chapter, Leesburg, FL. Compatriot also send greetings to Lake-Sumter members “Moody, Chaffee, Nelson, and Langston (Mr. Buick).

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Lake-Sumter Gazette Contact Information Robert L Beightol

Email: bogi0104@bellsouth.net Phone: 850-206-7344

Compatriots, please submit all news items and photos you believe of interest to the membership, via email, with a name and telephone number for a point of contact. Remember, if you think it is interesting, chances are your fellow

members will too!

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EXTRA PHOTOS