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/604650
FALL 2015 7 I t was a special Patriot's Day for two American heroes this year. On Sept. 11, the District of Columbia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (DCSSAR) honored two former American prisoners of war. Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker, USN (Ret.) and Commander Everett Alvarez Jr. USN (Ret.) were presented with the Gold Good Citizenship Medal at a black-tie event hosted by Drs. Jack and Jennifer London at the Army Navy Club in Washington, D.C. London previously served as the 100 th President of the DCSSAR and Treasurer General of the SAR (2008-2009). Shumaker, a finalist in the Apollo astronaut selection, was shot down in Vietnam in 1965 and held in the Hoa Lo Prison ("Hanoi Hilton") for eight years. He was one of the POW leaders known as the "Alcatraz Eleven" and created the tap code communications system among prisoners of war. Alvarez was the first American pilot shot down over Vietnam in August 1964. He was taken prisoner and held captive by North Vietnamese in the Hoa Lo Prison until the general release of American prisoners in February 1973. His eight-and-a-half years of captivity was the second-longest of all POWs. More than 85 attendees were treated to the presentation of the colors by the Old Guard before the medal ceremony. DCSSAR President Dick Patton served as the master of ceremonies and welcomed President General Thomas Lawrence, who spoke about the importance of recognizing American heroes who exemplify enduring American values established during the Revolution, and educating American youth about both the principles and people behind the country. Compatriot London, who had nominated both recipients for the Gold Good Citizenship Medal, followed with remarks about Shumaker and Alvarez, and presented the recipients with their medals. In particular, London noted the strength of character displayed by both men during their captivity and how it continued in their careers after their return from Vietnam. Shumaker continued his Navy career, serving as the superintendent of the Naval Postgraduate School and director of the Navy's Tactical Air, Surface and Electronic Warfare Division. He later became an assistant dean at George Washington University and associate dean of the Center for Aerospace Sciences at the University of North Dakota. Alvarez served as the deputy director of the Peace Corps and the deputy administrator of the Veterans Administration. He was chairman of the CARES Commission, an independent panel on critical changes within the Department of Veterans Affairs, and served on the Vietnam War Commemoration Advisory Council. After leaving the government, he started an information technology and management services company, and co-authored two books about his POW experience. Shumaker, accompanied by his wife, Lorraine, and Alvarez, joined by his wife, Tammy, expressed their gratitude to the DCSSAR for the honor and their appreciation for the organization's mission. Shumaker became a member of the SAR in 2014, also sponsored by London. As London noted, "It was a special evening that showcased two American heroes, patriot role models, and the legacy of the American Revolution." ON THE COVER Commander Everett Alvarez, Jr. USN (Ret.), President General Thomas Lawrence, Rear Admiral Robert Shumaker, USN (Ret.), and Dr. J. Phillip (Jack) London at the DCSSAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal ceremonies on Sept. 11, 2015 in Washington, D.C. Gold Good Citizenship Medals Presented Memorial Celebrations A new statue of Gen. Nathanael Greene, right, quartermaster at Valley Forge and commander of the Southern Continental Army under Gen. George Washington, was commissioned and dedicated in August by the SAR. It is situated near the Washington Memorial Chapel on the Valley Forge grounds. Below, 26 compatriots from 10 state societies participated in the vigil at the Tomb of George and Martha Washington, Mount Vernon, Va. The states represented were: California, Georgia, Iowa, Kansas, Maryland, Missouri, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Texas. An NSSAR honor guard for the vigil gave a "huzzah" before taking their posts as sentinels. NSSAR sentinels Jim Fosdyck (Calif.), Karl Jacobs (Calif.), Eugene Moyer (Md.) and Russ DeVenney (Mo.) stood vigil at the Washington's tomb.