The SAR MAGAZINE is the official quarterly publication of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution published quarterly.
Issue link: http://sar.epubxp.com/i/132097
FLORIDA SOCIETY Cherokee Chapter St. Augustine Chapter The St. Augustine Chapter recently honored three men for rescuing three stranded fisherman off Matanzas Inlet on New Year's Day 2013. Rodney Olney of Putnam County and Stephen and Chase Sabine of Flagler County were presented the NSSAR's Medal for Heroism during a ceremony at Old Kings Elementary School in Palm Coast. The Sabines and Olney observed three distressed boaters—Patrick David, Henry Moore and George Davis—being swept out to sea by the current. Their boat had stalled on a sandbar and was taking on water. The Sabines and Olney were able to retrieve the men from the water and transport them to the Ft. Matanzas Dock for medical treatment. Davis later died from injuries incurred while he was in the water. Any open-sea rescue places all parties, not just those being rescued, in danger. The medals were presented by Dr. Oscar Patterson III, president of the St. Augustine Chapter; William Roberts, past chapter president; and Ronald Stark, president of the Flagler Chapter. GEORGIA SOCITY Joel Early Chapter Compatriot Ronnie Balkcom, above, played the part of his Revolutionary War ancestor Otey Prosser in a skit about Gen. Marquis de Lafayette at a recent Joel Early Chapter meeting. Prosser saved the life of Lafayette at Brandywine after the marquis was wounded in battle there. Tampa Chapter Senior Librarian Ann W. Palmer of Hillsborough County, below, spoke at the January meeting of the Tampa Chapter held at Piccadilly Cafeteria. Twenty-eight people, including guests, attended the meeting, which included an excellent handout from Palmer of many of the services and websites related to the American Revolution. Palmer engaged all the compatriots with a well-thought-out presentation on our county's most impressive library. She also is spearheading a new project to bring the most in-depth research information available to people who need to dig deeper than normal. SPRING 2013 Joseph Habersham Chapter Compatriot Sandy Lyons of the GASSAR's Cherokee Chapter felt strongly about honoring America's veterans, and in 1997 he approached the editor of the Gilmer County Times Courier about publishing veterans' names each November. The list of veterans grew from fewer than 100 the first year to more than 3,600 in 2010. By that time, the tribute to veterans had evolved from a list in the local newspaper to a pedestrian bridge and memorial garden in the county's recreational complex. After a decade of planning and fundraising, culminating in a $271,000 grant from Georgia's Department of Transportation and thousands of dollars in local gifts, a 147-foot pedestrian bridge over the Coosawattee River was constructed to honor America's veterans and Founding Fathers. In the memorial gardens at the approaches to the Veterans Memorial Bridge, engraved granite headers designate each of the nation's wars from the American Revolution to Afghanistan. Veterans' names with significant notations engraved on Georgia-marble pavers are arranged underneath each war's header. Other large marble slabs depict America's documents, institutions, heritage and founders. Red brick pavers in the garden honor other groups and individuals. Beneath the granite header for the American Revolution lie six marble pavers for local patriots. Others may be purchased and added to honor America's "first veterans." Nearby, a special group of 41 red bricks pays tribute to members of the SAR. Patriots win again! That is, the eighth-grade girls basketball team of the Captain Hilliard A. Wilbanks Middle School, above, which finished with a perfect 13-0 season and the area championship. The school is named in honor and memory of Wilbanks, a Medal of Honor recipient and a memorial member of the Georgia Society's Joseph Sandy Lyons of the Cherokee Chapter, GASSAR, and Habersham Georgia Speaker of the House of Representatives David Ralston stood at Veterans Memorial Bridge on Chapter. Dedication Day. 27