News

The Embassy of France in the Georgetown section of Washington, DC was the location of the District of Columbia Society Sons of the American Revolution 2020 Sweethearts and Patriots Gala for the second consecutive year. The sixth annual Gala occurred on February 8, 2020. The 2020 gala beneficiaries are the Code of Support Foundation and Terre Fraternité.

His Excellency, the French Ambassador to the United States, Philippe Noël Marie Marc Étienne joined the 2020 Sweethearts and Patriots Gala as Honorary Chair.

Guests were greeted and welcomed by DCSSAR President Lane D. Brooks and were treated to a rendition of the French National Anthem by Colonel Remi Bouzereau, Military Attaché at the Embassy of France. 

The most captivating presentation was made by D.J. Skelton, Chairman of the Defense Language Foundation, who served in the US Army from 1996 to 2018. He was severely wounded in 2004 while leading a rifle infantry platoon in Fallujah, Iraq. After his recovery, DJ dedicated himself to advancing the causes of wounded veterans. He served as a military advisor to the Deputy Secretary of Defense and as a Special Assistant to the Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, advising on wounded warrior policy and veterans issues. He talked about his many personal challenges as wounded warrior and his gratification to the many organizations that support disabled veterans such our Code of Support and Terre Fraternité.

Among the attendees was Purple Heart and Bronze Star recipient Dawn Halfaker, who is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of Halfaker (https://www.facebook.com/Halfaker/) and Associates, one of the Gala Corporate Sponsors. 

Pictures from the Gala are in the album.

PRESS RELEASE

December 14, 2019 

In this excellent account of Monticello's ownership after Thomas Jefferson's death, Leepson, who has written for the New York Times, Preservation and Smithsonian, turns the spotlight on a family that contributed to the preservation of history but heretofore went unnoticed. When Jefferson died in 1826 his enormous debt forced his heirs to sell the beloved estate. Unfortunately, James Turner Barclay, a Charlottesville, Va., druggist who paid $7,000 for it, let the house decline during the few years he owned it. In 1834 the house was purchased by U.S. Navy Lieutenant Uriah Phillips Levy, a wealthy, bold, passionate admirer of Jefferson who quickly poured money into its repair. Thus began this Jewish-American family's nearly 90-year proprietorship of Monticello.

After being briefly appropriated by the Confederacy during the Civil War, it again landed in the hands of a Levy, Uriah's nephew Jefferson Levy. Monticello became a kind of surrogate child for this extremely successful, unmarried businessman and sometime politician. When the patriotic New York socialite Maud Littleton began her campaign to make Monticello a government-owned shrine in 1911, the battle that ensued in Congress and the newspapers was as emotional as any child custody battle, but more compelling for the dynamic lives and personalities involved. Through extensive research and with fascinating detail, Leepson uncovers the facts surrounding Monticello's owners and preservation involving great wealth, patriotism, anti-Semitism, and social and political influence. Leepson's absorbing account is an overdue chronicle and homage to the national treasure and its memorable saviors….Publisher’s Weekly.

Our guest speaker at the District of Columbia Society Sons of the American Revolution Holiday Dinner, held at the Capitol Hill Club on December 12, 2019 in the National Capital, was Marc Leepson, a journalist, historian and author of nine books. Those books include "Ballad of the Green Beret, a biography of Army Staff Sgt. Barry Sadler” (2017), "What So Proudly We Hailed: Francis Scott Key, A Life" (2014), "Lafayette: Idealist General" (2011), "Desperate Engagement, the story of the Civil War Battle of Monocacy and the Confederate attack on Washington, D.C." (2007), "Flag: An American Biography, the history of the Stars and Stripes from the beginnings to the 21st century" (2005), and "Saving Monticello" (2001).

During his presentation, while guest dined on Crab Cakes and Petite Filet Steak, Leepson highlights his book “Saving Monticello” that offers the first complete post-Jefferson history of this American icon and reveals the amazing story of how one Jewish family saved the house that became a family home to them for 89 years -- longer than it ever was to the Jefferson.

Our next event will be the 2020 Sweethearts and Patriots Gala, to be held at the Embassy of France on February 8, 2020. The beneficiaries for this event will be the Code of Support Foundation (https://www.codeofsupport.org) and l’AssociationTerre Fraternité (http://www.terre-fraternite.fr).  More Information can be found at https://www.facebook.com/SweetheartsandPatriots/.

PRESS RELEASE

DCSAR luncheon guest were treated to an excellent presentation by Robert Watson, Ph.D.,Distinguished Professor of American History at Lynn University, about Alexander Hamilton's relationship with George Washington and his role in the victory at Yorktown. His presentation covered the early life of Alexander Hamilton to his becoming an important advisor and confidant to General Washington. The October 26, 2019 Yorktown Luncheon was held at the prestigious Army and Navy Club in downtown Washington, DC., celebrating the 238^th anniversary of the American Victory at Yorktown and the major contribution to its success by France and French Heroes of the Revolution. 

Professor Watson is an award-winning author who has published 40 books and hundreds of scholarly articles and chapters on topics in history and politics as well as two multi-edition encyclopedia sets on the presidents and first ladies. His recent books include Affairs of State (2012), America’s First Crisis (2014)--winner of the Independent Publisher’s Gold Medal in History, The Presidents’ Wives (2014)--which is in 2nd edition, The Nazi Titanic (2016)--which is being made into a motion picture, The Ghost Ship of Brooklyn (2017)--which won the John Barry Book Award and John Lyman Book Award and is the subject of a National Geographic TV special, and George Washington’s Final Battle, forthcoming in 2020. Several of his books are in international translation, have been nominated for book awards, and were featured on Book TV and at prominent literary festivals. 

Guests received greetings from Colonel Remi Bouzereau, Military Attaché, Embassy of France, who led a toast on behalf of the people of France.

PRESS RELEASE

Knight Essay Contest Awardee

 Ms. Shannon Elliott captivated the audience who were in attendance at the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC on July 4, 2019 with her essay about one of the forces/motivations behind the American Revolution; taxation without representation.  Entitled "Taxation without Representation: History Repeated", Ms. Elliott, standing alongside the grave of  Vice President Elbridge Gerry, the only signer of the Declaration of Independence buried in the Nation’s Capital, compared this wrongdoing to the current taxation without representation of District of Columbia residents.

The George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest is open to any student in grades 9-12 in any public, parochial, private or home school within Washington DC. The student must write and submit an original researched and proven paper. The topic of the essay shall deal with an event, person, philosophy, or ideal associated with the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence, or the framing of the United States Constitution. Ms. Elliott received a $1000 prize as the 2019 contest winner from DCSAR President Lane D. Brooks alongside her mother, Ms. Sheila McCree.

Shannon Elliott is a long-standing District of Columbia resident. She recently graduated from McKinley Technology High School on a NAF certified Informational Technology Computer Science track and will be attending North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University in this fall majoring in civil engineering.  A growing number of top national and global companies have committed to NAFTrack Certified Hiring, a promise to give special consideration to college students and eventual job applicants who, as high school graduates, earned NAFTrack Certification.

PRESS RELEASE

The District of Columbia Society Sons of the American Revolution (“DCSAR”), the District of Columbia Daughters of the American Revolution (“DCDAR”), the Children of the American Revolution (“C.A.R.”) and members of many other lineage and patriotic organizations gathered on the Fourth of July 2019 for our traditional Independence Day kickoff at Congressional Cemetery.

C.A.R. led the way at 9:00 AM, laying a wreath at the grave of Revolutionary War drummer boy John Hunter. At 10:00 AM guest moved the short distance to the grave of Vice President Elbridge Gerry; to honor and remember not only Gerry himself, but all the other Signers of the Declaration of Independence. Vice President Gerry is the only Signer buried in Washington, D.C. 

During the program, new members were inducted into DCSAR. Compatriots Inocencio Orta and Christopher Dartagnan Orta are both descendants of the Revolutionary War Patriot Joseph Ingraham. Inocenio is a former DC C.A.R. State President and Christopher is a former NS C.A.R. Newsletter Chairman.

The posthumous memorial inductee was William O. Ritchie Sr., (1926-2001) a business icon and community leader formerly of Beckley, WV. Mr. Ritchie was the former managing partner of the Ritchie and Johnson Funeral Parlor Inc., in Beckley. He also served as the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Beckley Housing Authority where he was a proponent of ensuring equitable and affordable housing for deserving residents. The Lewis-Ritchie Apartments were co-named in his honor.  

On February 27, 2014 he posthumously received the Certificate of Recognition for extraordinary service to the citizens of West Virginia in the battle for absolute equality and civil rights for all from the Honorable Earl Ray Tomblin, Governor of the State of West Virginia. Governor Tomblin stated “It is important to remember our past as we look toward our future. You… have made this country a better place to live and it is because of your efforts, and your service to the great State of West Virginia, that we enjoy the level of diversity we have today. It is on your shoulders that we stand. Your commitment and passion to the struggle for equality and justice will not be forgotten.” Mr. Ritchie’s great grandfather, Harvey A. Reynolds, was born into slavery on August 15, 1828.

On this day that we celebrate our nation’s independence, Mr. Ritchie’s induction will be the fourth generation of his family that has proven their bloodline to the Revolutionary War Patriot Lieutenant Isaac Rucker, a member of the Amherst County Virginia Militia. Other family are William Ritchie Jr (son) and Delante’ Joiner (great-grandson) both members of DCSAR, Arian Ritchie Joiner (granddaughter) member of DCDAR and Devin and Destiny Joiner (great-granddaughters) members of C.A.R. Delante’ accepted the certificate for his late great grandfather. 

PRESS RELEASE

2019 Annual Installation of Officers and Awards Dinner

Awarded the 2019 Sons of the American Revolution (“SAR”) Fire Safety Commendation and Medal, District of Columbia Fire/EMS Battalion Chiefs Queen Anunay and Kishia Clemencia were recognized during the Annual Installation of Officers and Awards Dinner on June 4, 2019. The District of Columbia Society SAR event was held at the prestigious University Club in the Nation’s Capital. The recently promoted Battalion Chiefs have been cited as pioneers having risen through the ranks in a historically male dominated department. They have become an inspiration in their leadership roles to other female firefighters and women in general. 

Guests were also treated to a presentation by the Honorable Robert L. Livingston the former 11 term congressman from the State of Louisiana, who discussed his memoir “The Windmill Chaser”. Congressman Livingston gave his views on the current climate in Congress and ways it can be improved. He has earned multiple degrees from Tulane University and honors from other institutions of higher learning. He established the Livingston Group during 1999.

DCSAR President Lane Douglas Brooks presented a host of awards and commendations to members and guests during the dinner.

·        Silver Good Citizenship Medal to Congressman Robert  Livingston for his career of public service

·        Eagle Scout Scholarship Award – Eagle Scout Daniel Bayliss

·        Knight Essay Award  - Shannon Elliott

Certificates of Appreciationannounced at the 2018 SAR Congress

·        Paul Hays for serving as Vice Chairman of the NSSAR Community Engagement Committee 2017-2018

·        Carl Bedell for serving as Chairman of the NSSAR Operation Ancestor Search Committee 2017-2018

·        David Boring for serving as Vice Chairman of the NSSAR Investment Committee 2017-2018

·        David Boring for serving as Vice Chairman of the NSSAR Protocol Committee 2017-2018

DC Honor in Service Medal

·        Ann Schaeffer – for support of the Junior ROTC clothing drive

·        Fred Humphreys – for service as Assistant Registrar and as NSSAR new-member state point of contact

·        James Pender – for service as Treasurer

·        Tom Readmond – for program support and as member of Board of Management (“BOM”)

·        Sean Redmond – for program support and as member of BOM

·        Bill Ritchie – for service as 2^nd VP and public information officer

·        Ed Rodriguez, Jr. – for service as Sweethearts & Patriots fundraising chairman and on the BOM

·        Charles Roe – for program support as member of BOM (+ four oak leaf clusters for his Service to Veterans Medal for multiples of 3,000 “USS Stark Award” points)

·        Bethany Horyn - for service on Sweethearts & Patriots Steering Committee

·        Charles Nalls – for service as Chaplain

·        Rachel Norman - for service on Sweethearts & Patriots Steering Committee

·        Bart Smith – for program support as member of BOM

DC Patriotic Service Medal

·        Steve Cramner – for service as Assistant Secretary and on Operation Ancestor Search

·        Colin Timbers - for service on Sweethearts & Patriots Steering Committee and BOM

·        Randy Teague – for program support as member of BOM

·        Steven Rodriguez - for service on Sweethearts & Patriots Steering Committee and BOM

Lydia Darragh Medal

·        Catherine Timbers – for co-chairing Sweethearts & Patriots Gala

Martha Washington Medal

·        Marcia Guzauskas – for support to DCSAR as DCDAR State Regent

Liberty Medal announced at the 2018 SAR Congress

·        Fred Humphreys – for sponsoring 11 new members

·        Carl Bedell – for sponsoring 10 new members

·        Michael Rawlings – 1^st oak leaf cluster, for sponsoring 23 new members

·        Brock Bierman – 2^nd oak leaf cluster, for sponsoring 30 new members

·        John Sinks - 5^th oak leaf cluster, for sponsoring 61 new members

·        Paul Hays – 11^th oak leaf cluster, for having sponsored 122 new members

Silver Good Citizenship Medal

·        Cindy Hays – for decades of community service, promotion of international democratic institutions, & support of hereditary societies

Silver Roger Sherman Medal

·        Jadan Horyn – for co-chairing Sweethearts and Patriots & BOM service

·        Larry Miller – for over a decade as Registrar, and as Vice President

State Meritorious Service Medal

·        Dick Patten – for service as Vice President, President, National Trustee and Potowmack Ball Chairman

Chapter Medal of Distinguished Service – given only by the President, only once a year, to a truly outstanding Compatriot only once in his lifetime

·        John Sinks – who’s received just about every medal there is to give, including last year the Minuteman Award. He received the State Medal of Distinguished Service from Virginia in 2004 from VA SAR, so we may not give it to him again, but he’s never been given the Chapter Distinguished Service Medal.  So, since we’re both a State and a Chapter, we choose John Sinks as the 2019 DC SAR recipient of the Chapter Medal of Distinguished Service.

DCSAR Secretary Paul Hays gave the oath to new members Kent Charles Boese, Tyler Robert Crowe, and Charles Mehdi Malekzandi who were inducted during the dinner.

DCSAR Officers were installed by C. Louis Raborg, NSSAR Vice President General.

 

PRESS RELEASE

DC SAR 2019 Law Enforcement Commendation Award

The Washington, DC Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) invited DC SAR 2^nd Vice President and Public Information Officer Bill Ritchie to the MPD 2019 Annual Awards Ceremony to recognize Third District Officer Jose Jimenez with the Sons of the American Revolution Law Enforcement Commendation Medal for his swift and courageous response to a violent assault in progress. The ceremony was held on March 19, 2019 at the ARC in SE Washington and moderated by NBC4 News Anchor Meagan Fitzgerald.

Briefly, on July 27, 2018, at approximately 4:30 p.m., Officer Jimenez, who was off-duty and with his wife in the 3600 block of 14th Street, NW, observed two subjects engaged in a violent struggle in the street. Despite being off-duty, in plain clothes, and with his family, Officer Jimenez confronted the two subjects and ordered the assailant to discontinue his assault.  Upon confronting them, the victim fell to the ground bleeding while the assailant held a screwdriver, which he had just used to stab the victim multiple times.

Officer Jimenez ordered the assailant to drop the screwdriver and detained him while calling 911 for on-duty assistance.  The victim was transported to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries.  Officer Jimenez’s swift and courageous response resulted in the arrest of the suspect who was charged with Murder II while Armed.