This month’s program was wonderfully presented by Rev. Gary Beard as George Washington and Jordan Meier as Young George. Interesting talk on history and anecdotes of our utmost Patriot, Revolutionary General and first President including a variety of artifacts from Mount Vernon.
Dear Compatriots,
Our chapter had its first board meeting of the 2019 term prior to last month’s meeting at our new location, Mimi’s in Lake Forest. Thanks to all of our volunteer board members who help make our chapter successful. One of my objectives for this term is to reinstate our Color Guard. Please let me know if any of you are interested in participating in this important activity. This is a great way for our chapter to promote and encourage patriotism in our community.
History is fascinating. In looking at the significant events of the American Revolution that occurred during the month of March we find the Stamp Act passed by the British Parliament on March 22, 1765. The objective of the tax was to help pay for the French and Indian war. The new tax was imposed on all American colonists and required them to pay a tax on every piece of printed paper including playing cards. The British felt the tax was justified as the colonies were receiving the benefit of the British troops. The Stamp Act was the first internal tax levied directly by the British government on the American colonists. The Stamp Act tax prompted the issue of taxation without representation which led to the armed rebellion against the British 10 years later. There was a secret organization, The Sons of Liberty, which was founded to champion the rights of the American colonists and played a major role in fighting taxation and the Stamp Act. Some of the more famous members of the Sons of Liberty include Samuel Adams, John Adams, Benedict Arnold, John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Joseph Warren, and Paul Revere.
Also of note is the month of March was named for the Roman god of war, Mars. And somewhat ironic the month of March was when military campaigns were typically resumed after the troops hunkered down for the winter.
In patriotism,
R. Scott Whitman
Our speaker, Doug Westfall, at our February meeting gave an interesting talk on the flight of Amelia Earhart and the search for her missing plane. Per Doug Westfall, recently a team of divers has recovered what they believe to be pieces of Earhart’s E-10 Electra off the Coast of Buka Island in Papua New Guinea, 100 feet below the surface. The divers discovered a wreckage that “share some consistencies” with Amelia Earhart’s unique E-10 Electra aircraft. The divers are planning an expedition back to Buka Island this spring to farther research the crash site. Books on Amelia Earhart can be found on the website: http://www.specialbooks.com/aeflight.htm. Our chapter presented to Doug a Certificate of Appreciation. Doug Westfall is shown below with Compatriots Steve Steinberg and Scott Whitman.
No name or date better symbolizes the spirit of America than “Washington 1776.” In the 21st century, we are slowly losing a sense of the dynamic behind the man who inspired and won the battle for independence and the date that separated tyranny from freedom.
For 39 years, the Rev. Gary Beard has portrayed George Washington in hundreds of classrooms, assemblies and churches. He has appeared at the Nixon Presidential Library each Presidents Day and Fourth of July for the past 17 years and was the official George Washington in all San Bernardino bicentennial events.
7:00 PM, March 19, 2019 at Mimi’s Cafe, Lake Forest
President’s Message
Greetings Compatriots,
It is an honor and a privilege to serve the South Coast chapter of the SAR as its new president. We are saddened by the untimely loss of our past president, Richard Bent, and our treasurer-to-be, David Hogshead. One of my objectives for this term is to resurrect the Chapter Color Guard. Another objective is to enhance the quality of our chapter meeting programs. Please let me know if you have any thoughts on either of these objectives. On Monday, February 18th, we celebrate President’s Day. This federal holiday to honor the first president of the United States of America was first established in 1885. George Washington was born on February 22nd, 1732 (per the Gregorian calendar). In 1971 the holiday was shifted to the third Monday in February. Some of you may recall the time when we celebrated Washington’s birthday and Lincoln’s birthday on separate days in February and on the day of their birth. Abraham Lincoln was born on February 12th 1809 in Hodgenville, Kentucky. The first attempt to create a Presidents Day occurred in 1951 when the “President’s Day National Committee” was formed by Harold Stonebridge Fischer of Compton, California. The purpose of the initiative was not to honor any particular president but to honor the office of the presidency. In some states Lincoln’s birthday is celebrated separately, as a stand-alone holiday on the anniversary of his birth. In other states, like California, the recognition of Lincoln and Washington’s birthdays is combined on Presidents Day. These two (2) men contributed mightily to making America the greatest nation in the world. I’m looking forward to serving you in the coming year and seeing you at our chapter meetings at our new location at Mimi’s in Lake Forest.
In Patriotism,
R. Scott Whitman
2019 SAR National Congress
Traditionally, approximately every 10 years, the SAR holds the National Congress in California. Many of you will remember the 2008 Congress in Sacramento and the great time we had there.
In 2019 California again will host the National Congress, this time in Orange County at the spacious Orange County Hilton at Costa Mesa, a stone’s throw from the famous South Coast Plaza, and “next door” to Newport Beach. The Congress Planning Committee chose this location after a comprehensive search, working with representatives of the California society to find a hotel which met the requirements regarding both budget and amenities.
The hotel is just minutes away from Orange County’s John Wayne Airport, served by all major airlines.
Scott
Chapter Activities
At our January meeting, we had our swearing in ceremonies for the new chapter officers. CASSAR Vice President South Brian Stephens performed the swearing in ceremony for the chapter officers. Brian Stephen was accompanied by his wife Diane. In addition to Brian, past CASSAR President Jim Fosdyck and his wife Un Hui Yi and CASSAR Trustee John Dodd was present at the meeting. The South Coast Chapter Officers for 2019 are listed below:
President Robert Scott Whitman
1st V.P. (Registrar and Genealogist) Leon L. Smith, Jr.
2nd V.P. (Programs) Steven H. Steinberg
Secretary Jerry L. Hereford
Treasurer Paul Weddell
Chaplain Robinson (Robbie) H. Jones
Newsletter Editor and Webmaster Paul W. Sapp
ROTC Maynard D. Rains
Eagle Scouts Curtis Michael Porter
Director Kurt Jeffrey Camp
Shown below are the South Coast Chapter Officers that were sworn in.
In addition to being sworn in as our new chapter president, Compatriot Scott Whitman was presented by Leon Smith a supplemental certificate for Scott’s patriot ancestor Josiah Lane who served as a 2nd Lt. in the Massachusetts Militia. Patriot Lane served under Capt. Enoch Whiton’s Company and Col. Benjamin Lincoln’s Regiment. This is Scott’s 8th supplemental certificate.
Registrar Leon Smith also presented to Compatriot Paul Weddell a supplemental certificate for Paul’s patriot ancestor John Grosh who served as a Judge on the Court of Appeals of Frederick County, Maryland. Patriot Grosh also provided money to the Revolutionary War and served as a member on the Committee of Observation. This is compatriot Weddells’ 3rd supplemental certificate. In addition, Leon Smith presented Compatriot Paul a Distinguished Service Medal and Certificate for his long service as the chapter treasurer. Paul has been the treasurer for at least 14 years. Also, Paul’s wife, Renee Weddell, was presented a Medal and Certificate of Appreciation for her support of our chapter. Her support included assisting Paul in treasurer duties, hosting past chapter picnics and our yearly chapter BBQ. She has on several occasions produced chapter membership directories. Paul and Renee are pictured below with Leon Smith presenting the honors.
Vice President’s Message
I hope that everyone had a very Merry Christmas. The new board of chapter officers were announced at our November meeting. At our January meeting, we will have the new officers sworn in to their positions by a SAR State Officer. I would like to see all the officers attend.
The January meeting will take place at our new meeting location on WEDNESDAY, January 16, 2019 at 7:00 p.m. Our meetings will now be held at Mimi’s Café, 22651 Lake Forest Dr., Lake Forest (n/w corner of Lake Forest Dr. & Muirlands Blvd). The 3rd Tuesday was already booked for January. We will be back on our normal 3rd Tuesday of the month for the rest of the year.
Mimi’s Café has offered us lunch and dinner menus in the price range from $13.99 to $20.99 before tax and gratuity. These menus include coffee, tea, lemonade or soft drinks plus a house salad, Caesar salad or cup of soup. We will still collect the $5.00 from our members to help defray the speaker’s meal cost. Mimi’s Café management has requested that our group pay with one bill. Bunny and I have calculated the tax (7.75%) and gratuity (18%) for each menu item. Please make your personal checks out to ‘South Coast Chapter’. The meeting room is more private and hopefully, we can hear the presentations. Lastly, the bar is next to our meeting room and if you order drinks not on the menu, please pay the host/hostess separately.
I know this is a lot to take in, but I’m sure that we will all settle in to the routine after a few meetings. I hope to see everyone there to support our new chapter president and officers.
In Compatriotism,
Leon Smith
Email: leonbuny@pacbell.net
Chapter Activities
In attendance at our November meeting was past CASSAR President Jim Fosdyck and his wife Un Hui Yi. In addition, CASSAR Vice President South Brian Stephens and his wife Diane was in attendance.
Our November speaker, Diane Stephens, gave an excellent presentation on the life of First Lady Dolley Madison, Wife of President James Madison. Our chapter presented to Diane a Certificate of Appreciation. Diane Stephens is shown below, in period costume, with Compatriots Steve Steinberg and Leon Smith.
At the dinner meeting, Chapter Registrar Leon Smith inducted the Father and Son team of Kevin and Nolan Forrest. Their patriot ancestor served in the following positions: Member of Committee of Correspondence, 1774; Member of Committee Reporting to General Court, 1776 to 1779; Delegate to the Massachusetts Constitutional Convention; and Member of the Council, Massachusetts Senate, 1780 to 1783. We want to welcome Kevin and Nolan to our chapter and hope to see them at our dinner meetings. Shown below with Leon Smith is the Forrest family:
In addition to inducting two new members, Leon Smith presented supplemental certificates to the following compatriots:
Pictures of Andy Bailey and Steven Steinberg are shown below
During appreciates the effort of Leon on assisting new members and assisting compatriot members in obtaining supplemental certificates. below are the Shown recognizing his sponsorship of new members. Each medal represents the sponsorship of 10 new members. Our chapter Leon Smith and Brian Stephens:dinner meeting, CASSAR Vice President South Brian Stephens presented to Chapter Registrar, Leon Smith a Liberty Certificate and two Liberty Medals,
