Richard Rankin Appointed as Virginia SAR Risk Manager

(WILLIAMSBURG, Va. - 13 September 2024) —The Virginia SAR Executive Committee has appointed Richard E. Rankin of the George Washington Chapter, Virginia SAR, to the newly created position of Virginia SAR Risk Manager, effective September 14, 2024.

The VASSAR Risk Manager will provide advice to the ExCom, Chapter Presidents and the Color Guard Commander on risk management and insurance issues which may impact the Society’s operational risk profile.

Lewis "Lew" Miller Ewing (1934–2024)
(Colonel James Wood, II Chapter SAR)

Lewis M. “Lew” Ewing, 90, of Winchester, Virginia, died August 7, 2024, at Winchester Medical Center. Lew was born May 8, 1934, in Stephens City, Virginia, son of the late James Earl Ewing, Sr. and Anna Virginia Golladay Ewing.

Virginia SAR Honors Frank Shatz with Silver Good Citizenship Medal

Williamsburg, VA – August 19, 2024 – The Virginia Society Sons of the American Revolution (Virginia SAR), with the support of the Williamsburg Chapter SAR, proudly presented the Silver Good Citizenship Medal Award to Mr. Frank Shatz at the College of William and Mary.

The Silver Good Citizenship Medal recognizes outstanding and unusual patriotic achievement and service at the state or regional level. The medal is presented to persons of prominence in areas of government, military service, religion, education, business, or other endeavors. Mr. Frank Shatz was born in Czechoslovakia in 1927. After the German takeover of Czechoslovakia, he was deported to a slave work camp in Romania. He managed to escape and returned to Czechoslovakia, where he became a member of the anti-German resistance. He began a career in journalism after the World War II and immigrated with his wife, Jaroslava, to the United States in 1958. He currently resides in Williamsburg, Virginia, where he writes a weekly column for the Virginia Gazette and is involved with the College of William and Mary.

Charles Leroy Mattocks, Sr. (1940–2024)
(Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter SAR)

Charles Leroy Mattocks, Sr., 84, of Stafford, Va., died at Mary Washington Hospital, Fredericksburg, Virginia, on Sunday, August 18, of complications from a fall. He was born in Meadville, Pennsylvania, on March 26, 1940, to Daniel “LLoy” Raymond Mattocks, Sr. and Helen Dorothy Waid.

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Steven Faught, who was presented the Fort Harrison Chapter Citizen of the Year in December was named the Virginia Society Citizen of the Year at its annual meeting in Richmond on February 10^th.

As the owner of two Automotive Service Centers, Steven has balanced a successful business and community involvement and continually looks for opportunities to serve his employees and the community. Being named the 2022 Harrisonburg Rockingham Chamber of Commerce Entrepreneur of the year shows the innovation, purpose and vision it takes to compete in a competitive market. Steven also received the 2022 DAR Community Service Award, the 2023 Rockingham Union #27 Community Builders award, and the 2023 Corporate Philanthropist Award from the Shenandoah Chapter of Fundraising Professionals. These recognitions illustrates his spirit of giving back.

His support for cancer research, survivors, and fundraising are extraordinary. He gives two annual scholarships to local high school students, one for automotive studies and one for a student in a family dealing with cancer. As a supporter of the American Cancer Society, events such as Relay for Life, Run Row and Rep for Breast Cancer, Be an Angel for Breast Cancer and Real Men Wear Pink are everyday activities for Steven. This year is the 7^th Annual Free Oil Change Day for cancer survivors where all materials and labor are free of charge.

Since 2017 donations of socks collected at his business has sent 12,000 pairs to the Sentara RMH Pediatric units to be worn by children receiving care.

Recently Steven, his wife, Robyn and his team started hosting a Veterans Appreciation Breakfast as well as a First Responders Breakfast where participants receive a complimentary breakfast as a way of thanking them for their service.

Shenandoah Automotive offers an annual tutorial class for new drivers where safety is the main emphasis. New drivers learn defensive driving and understanding the basic car functions.

In his spare time Steven participates in public safety events such as the Harrisonburg Police Ride Along program as well as serving as a volunteer with the Rockingham-Augusta Search & Rescue.

Your Excellencies –

Of the fourteen hundred medical practitioners who served in the Continental Army, only about ten percent had formal medical degrees. The majority of the rest had learned their practice through an apprenticeship with an established physician. Most were young men at the beginning of their careers. Few had prior experience of war. Their civilian practices had not prepared them for the grim realities of warfare in eighteenth- century America, where far more soldiers under their care would die from disease and infection than would be killed on the battlefield.

The Battle of Great Bridge discussion Wednesday December 6^th Noon – 1:00pm.

Join Encyclopedia Virginia managing editor Patti Miller in conversation with Norfolk Chapter compatriot, former U.S. Marine and professor at the National Defense University Dr. Patrick Hannum and Jon Stull, docent at the Great Bridge Battlefield and Waterways History Foundation, to discuss the Battle of Great Bridge.

The Battle of Great Bridge was the first major battle of the American Revolution fought in Virginia and a significant, if little recognized, factor in the eventual Patriot victory over the British. Find out how Great Bridge changed everything.

This event is free, but registration is required.

Link: https://virginiahumanities.org/events/2023/12/the-battle-of-great-bridge/

Wednesday, 16 August 2023

The Semi Annual meeting will be held in Winchester, VA, this year.  For information click on the link below.

Agenda

Workshops

The ExCom has designated two compatriots to serve on the newly created "Media Liaison Team"; namely, Eric Monday and Richard Rankin.

VASSAR Media Liaison Team

Compatriots:

            To introduce myself as your new Surgeon General, I will share my background as a physician.  I am an MD graduate of the University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City, Iowa, I completed a Family Medicine Residency at Ball Memorial Hospital, Muncie, Indiana, and earned a Masters in Health Science Education.  I entered the military as an Air Force Flight Surgeon during the Viet Nam era with the rank of Major, and then entered private practice at the time of my discharge.  After two years, the University of Iowa recruited me from practice into teaching; I remained at the University of Iowa for 17 years having served as Professor and Head of the Department of Family Medicine.  Moving to Lynchburg, VA, in 1999, I directed the Family Medicine Residency and Geriatric Fellowship for Centra Health until my retirement in 2012.  Volunteer practice at the Free Clinic of Central Virginia followed until full retirement in 2018.  I remain board-certified in Family Medicine and fully Licensed in Virginia.

            Education and scholarship have always been key elements of my career in medicine and I am pleased that, as your Surgeon General, you have provided me with a further opportunity to teach.  My plan is to create a monthly column about health on the VASSAR web site with a health tip, response to any emergency group need for medical advice (vis-a-vis the Covid pandemic), or provide education on any medical topic you might request.  My email is [email protected] and your thoughts and comments are always welcome. 

Charles E. Driscoll, MD

Surgeon General, VASSAR

 Spring Leadership and Trustees Meeting 2023

The Spring Leadership meeting in Louisville, KY, held from March 2-5, was attended by 17 Virginia SAR compatriots including Chancellor General Mike Elston, VPG Pete Davenport, PG Joe Dooley 2013-14, Trustee Jeff Thomas, Alternate Trustee Bruce Meyer, President Ernie Coggins, 1st Vice President Bill Greaf, Secretary Tim Dioquino, Assistant Secretary Forrest Crain, C.A.R. Liaison Chair Darrin Schmidt, Genealogy Committee Chair Bill Schwetke, Reenactor & Living History Committee Chair Brett Osborn, Ken Bonner, SGM John Champe President, David Cook, Ken Morris, Larry McKinley and first time attendee Mike Wilson, Col. William Grayson President.

Events at the meeting included the Executive Committee, Museum Board and Foundation Board meetings on Thursday, committee meetings and the opening banquet on Friday, and the Trustees meeting and closing formal banquet on Saturday.

Report of the Virginia Society Trustee

Trustees Meeting – March 4, 2023

The Board of Trustees took the following actions during the business meeting:

• Approved the Investment Policy statement and allocations.

The Board of Trustees received the report of the Executive Committee. The following actions were reported by the committee:

• Approved the Credentials and Registration rules for the 2023 Congress

• Approved the Revolutionary War Rarities podcast as an official program of the SAR

• Approved the use of the SAR logo on Henry commemorative rifles for America 250

• Pre-approved the use of the SAR Eagle logo by states and chapters on all memorials.

• Approved the Investment Policy statement and allocations.

The Board of Trustees received the report of the Nominating Committee. The following compatriots were nominated for the following national officers:

President General       John Dodd of California

Secretary General       Darryl Addington of Tennessee

Treasurer General      Michael Elston of Virginia

Chancellor General     Edmon McKinley of Alabama

Genealogist General   Gary Green of North Carolina

Registrar General       Allen Greenley of Georgia

Historian General       Brooks Lyles of North Carolina

Librarian General        Fred Olive of Alabama

Surgeon General         David Chaffin of Tennessee

Chaplain General        Dwight Elam of Florida

Foundation Board       Bruce Pickette of Alabama

Foundation Board       Jeff Thomas of Virginia

The Board of Trustees received the report of the Minuteman Committee. The following compatriots have been named Minutemen for the Class of 2023:

Bob Fish of West Virginia

Ken Goodson of Michigan

Allen Greenley of Georgia

Dave Jessel of Georgia

Lee Popham of Florida

Lou Raborg of Maryland

Committee Reports:

1. America 250 SAR Committee reported that thirty-one states have established 250^th committees.

2. Color Guard Committee reported the Color Guardsman of the Year is Allen Greenley of Georgia.

3. Congress Planning Committee – new credentials process approved for 2023 Congress – states will submit delegate list to National by May 1; all credentials will be issued at Congress. Registration for Congress should be available by mid-May.

4. Genealogy Committee has approved an expansion of the use of DNA evidence, requires the use of a genealogist certified by the committee, seeking approval of the Executive Committee.

5. History Committee has approved the History 250 program plan, a new Liberty Tree 250^th marker program and a list of America 250 SAR Signature Events. The Historic Sites & Celebrations committee approved the Battle of Springfield, NJ, as a national event.

6. IT Committee reports that a Digitization Specialist is being hired.

7. Merchandise reported than Ranger Industries, a U.S. based and veteran owned company, has been selected to produce all SAR medals.

8. National Dues Billing Task Force reports that two systems are being evaluated for potential national use: Member Clicks in Virginia and Club Express in Florida.

New Business:

An informational presentation was made on a proposed dues increase recommended by the National Dues Task Force. The Executive Committee has accepted the recommendation of the task force for an increase in dues of $15 from $35 to $50 to be proposed to the membership at the Annual Congress. The last dues increase was 2015. The purchasing power of the dollar has declined by 24% since the last dues increase. In addition, flat membership growth in the past 5 years has led to deficits in our annual operating budget, including a $292,000 deficit in 2022. A dues increase will help fund the resources needed to implement the SAR 5-year operational plan and prevent a reduction in our programs. Any dues increase approved at the 2023 Annual Congress would become effective for 2024.

The Annual Congress will be held in Orlando, FL, from July 13-20, 2023. The Fall Leadership and Trustees Meeting will be held at the Brown Hotel from September 20-24, 2023.