West Virginia

S.A.R.News Sons of the American Revolution

Volume 36 Number 1 Summer 2019

State President: Frank Khare Jr State Secretary:John Turley

STATE CHAPTERS General Andrew Lewis Chapter President: Thomas Galloway Daniel Boone Chapter President: Brian Casto Captain James Neal Chapter President: Ted Cox General Adam Stephen Chapter President: Martin Keesecker George Rogers Clark Chapter President: Paul Hickman II Greenbrier Valley Chapter President: Rhendal Butler Point Pleasant Chapter President: Edward Cromley IV Captain Ralph Stewart Chapter President: Robert Tilley General Hugh Mercer Chapter President: Gregory Morgan Fort Henry Chapter President: James (Jay) Frey Tygart Valley Chapter President: John Slaven John Beckley Chapter President: James Chapman. Tom Galloway, Newsletter Editor Email: tgalloway@marshall.edu Phone: 304-697-5363

The application form is online at wvssar.org. WVSSAR President Bob Fish (left) makes a presentation to General Hugh Mer-cer Chapter President Richard Lockhart. The Princeton based chapter hosted the WVSSAR Spring Board of Management meeting. PRESIDENT BOB FISH MESSAGE: As my term of office nears its end, I thank you for the privilege of serving as president of the West Virginia Society. I continue to be impressed with the tal-ents and commitment represented by our members. The West Virginia Society is strong and growing. We represent an important connection with history and heritage that our members value. We value our SAR membership and everything it represents. We trust the SAR to continue to honor all our patriot ancestors and to keep telling the true story of the American Revolution. As Compatriots, we each have special ties to the Rev-olution and we each have special responsibilities to show that patriotism in our own lives. An excellent way to express our patriotism is through the work of our chapters. That work takes many forms: marching with your color guard, researching and preserving patriot’s graves, teaching history in schools, researching your own genealogy, helping prospective members to complete their lineage research, serv-ing as a chapter officer and many other tasks that support our work. The WVSSAR is strong; help make it stronger.

Bob Fish, President, WVSSAR

2019 ANNUAL MEETING HELD AT NEW JOHN BECKLEY CHAPTER The John Beckley Chapter was the host of the 92nd West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution annual banquet and meeting May 3 and May 4 at the Black Knight Country Club. The WVSSAR's newest chapter was chartered January 27, 2018. John Beckley, the charter namesake, was a distinguished Virginia statesman before the Revolu-tion, having three times been elected mayor of Richmond and serving as clerk of both houses of the Virginia legislature. The chapter inducted 29 charter members. Paul Chapman is president of the new chapter. John Beckley was elected first clerk of the U.S. House of Representatives in 1789 and served in that capacity until 1797. He was appointed by President Thomas Jefferson as the first librarian of Congress and served from 1802 until his death on April 8, 1807. Beckley is buried in the public cemetery in Georgetown, Washington, D.C. Beckley's son, Allred, founded the county seat of Raleigh County, Virginia (created in 1850) and named the town after his father. Central Dis-trict Vice Presi- dent General Timothy Ward (left) presents Jay Frey with the Distinguished Service Medal at the 2019 WVSSAR banquet. At right is WVSSAR President Joe Khare.

WVSSAR President Bill Lester (left) receives the Patriot Medal from Central District Vice President General Bob Fish at the 2018 banquet. LESTER RECEIVES PATRIOT MEDAL WVSSAR President Bill Lester was awarded the prestig-ious Patriot Medal in 2018 at the state banquet in Parkersburg by Central District Vice President General Bob Fish. Receiving the Meritorious Service Medal were Greg Mi-chael, James Gary Auber and Calvin Wilson Hannah. Those awarded Certificates of Appreciation include: *Joe Khare. *Jay Frey. *Rhendal Butler. *Greg Michael. *Brian Casto. *Douglas Harvey. *Tom Galloway. *Ed Cromley. *Ken Smith. *Al Cummings. *Robert Dickinson. *Richard Lockhart. *Robert Talley. *Ted Cox. *Richard Greathouse. *Martin Keesecker. *Gregory Morgan. *Mendal Yoho. *Paul Hickman II. *James Chapman. *John Slaven. *Richard Brockway. *Bob Fish. *Lance Carter. *Jack Coles. *John Sauer. *Steve Hart. *Ira Cook Jr. *Raymond Kane Jr. SIX HONORED AT 2019 WVSSAR BANQUET Six compatriots were honored at the 2019 WVSSAR ban-

quet May 3 at the Black Knight Country Club in Beckley. The 92nd annual banquet was hosted by the John Beckley Chapter and featured special guest Central District Vice President General Timothy Ward. Those receiving awards were: *Bronze Good Citizenship Medal-Bill Lester. *Roger Sherman Medal-John Turley. *Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster-Ed Cromley. *Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster-Richard Greathouse. *Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster-Steve Hart. *Trustee Pin-Steve Hart. *Distinguished Service Medal-Jay Frey.

WVSSAR Secretary-Treasurer John Turley received the Roger Sherman Medal at the 2019 WVSSAR banquet. From left, Central District Vice President General Timothy Ward, Turley, WVSSAR President Joe Khare and First Vice Presi-dent Jay Frey. James Gary Auber receives the Meritorious Service Medal at the 2018 WVSSAR banquet. From left, Central District Vice Presi-dent General Bob Fish, WVSSAR President Bill Lester and Auber.

Ed Cromley was presented with the Meritorious Service Medal with Oak Leaf Cluster at the 2019 WVSSAR ban-quet. From left, Central District Vice President General Timothy Ward, Cromley, WVSSAR President Joe Khare and WVSSAR First Vice President Jay Frey.

Greg Michael receives the Meritorious Service Medal at the 2018 WVSSAR banquet. From left, Central District Vice President General Bob Fish, WVSSAR President Bill Lester and Michael. Bill

Lester (left) receives the Silver Color Guard Medal from WVSSAR Color Guard Commander Ed Cromley.

IN MEMORIAL: Clifford H. Mann Franklin J. Maxwell Jr. James L. Prince David G. Allen Thomas W. Block Leo F. Bolden John F. Deem Frank Dorsey David P. Harbert John T. Hoffman Joseph H. Quick Truman L. Sayre Larry A. Strite James E. Watson III Thomas W. Weller Henry K. Willard II Paul R. Greathouse Bill Lester plac-es the Pres-ident's Medal around Joe Khare's neck at the 2018 WVSSAR banquet in Parkersburg.

The WVSSAR News P.O. Box 697 Huntington, WV 25711

Bill Lester receives the Bronze Good Citizenship Medal at the 2019 WVSSAR banquet. From left, Central District Vice President General Timothy Ward, Lester, WVSSAR President Joe Khare and WVSSAR First Vice President Jay Frey. Ran- dall McGill (left) receives the Silver Color Guard Medal from WVSSAR Color Guard Commander Ed Cromley.

Ste- ve Hart (left) receives a Certificate of Appreciation from WVSSAR President Bill Lester for serving as Vice Chairman of the Re-enactor and Living History Committee from 2017 to 2018. Medal of Honor recip-ient Hershel Woody Williams is presented with the WVSSAR Patriot Medal at Milton in 2018. From left, WVSSAR President Bill Lester, Central District Vice President Gen-eral Bob Fish, Williams, and First Vice President Joe Khare.