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/422786
16 SAR MAGAZINE H ave you given a speech or presentation to your local chapter, rotary or civic group? Would you like to share your speeches with other SAR members who are looking for ideas for their own presentations? One of President General Lindsey Brock's goals during his term is to compile an archive of notable speeches our members have given at various SAR and/or civic events. Our members often are asked to give a speech at a local meeting or to other community groups, but it can be challenging to come up with an idea for a presentation or to research a historic topic. By creating an archive of speeches given by others, we can assist other members with ideas for local meetings or for presentations to give to other groups in their local areas. These speeches will help to promote the SAR in our communities. If you have a speech you would like to add to the archive, please send it to Rae Ann Sauer, Asst. Librarian/Archivist at rsauer@sar.org. Please send speeches in Microsoft Word format so they can easily be downloaded by other members. You will be identified on the website as the author of any submitted speeches. The speeches will be available on the SAR website under the President General's Goals section and organized into categories by themes, such as Revolutionary War Battles, Patriotic Speeches, etc. If you have additional questions about this project, please contact Bill Stone, chairman of the Library and Archives Committee, at bstonealsar@gmail.com. As an illustration, here is an example of one of the speeches already submitted: The Attribute of a Patriot Speech at the President Harrison Wreath Laying Ceremony at Crown Hill, Aug. 18, 2012 By William E. Sharp, President of the Indiana Society, SAR We in the National Society Sons of the American Revolution identify our ancestors who were involved in the struggle for independence as Patriots. Webster's Dictionary defines a Patriot as one who loves their country and zealously supports its authority and interests. However, I believe this definition misses the kernel of what a Patriot is doing. The other day I was in a grocery store after casting my ballot in the Michigan primary election. The clerk commented about the sticker on my chest, which said that I had voted. "What is that?" she asked. I told her about it being primary day for all the competed, elective local, state and national offices. She said, "Must be important; guess I should vote," as if it weren't important, she wouldn't bother. I sacrificed my time to learn the issues and candidates and to vote; will she? And while I'm on that subject; during the 19th century over 75% of eligible voters cast a ballot! In the 20th century, it declined to about 58% casting a ballot! In the beginning of the 21st century, it has declined to 54%. Where is the sacrifice of time and self-interest? What was it that concerned our forefathers leading up to the Revolutionary War? They commented and commiserated on taxes being levied upon them by the King and Parliament and having no say in the matter; they had little say in the way they wanted to conduct their inter- colony business and trade; they complained of having no say in the matter of the selection of judicial and legislative and executive officials; they perceived risk in keeping a common storage for the powder for their militia arms; they even had to lodge the King's troops in their houses without their permission; they couldn't go into uninhabited lands for new opportunity at a livelihood even if they were willing to risk it; it appeared to our forefathers that they were being treated worse than even the lowliest of British citizens! Finally, they were provoked to fight, so they declared their independence from the King and his government so that they could construct a government that would provide for their safety and happiness and allow them to have their right of freedom. Over 50% of the 16- to 50-year-old male population at that time was willing to sacrifice their lives and property for this. In the wars that have transpired since then, there has been an ever-decreasing percentage of the population that was willing to sacrifice their lives, property and time. In the Civil War, about 33% of the 16- to 40-year-old male population was willing to sacrifice their lives, property and time to preserve the Union. In World War II, it was about 30% (when the women are counted who went to the factories), and then the entire nation went on rationing. In the current "Global War on Terror," a response to an attack on our soil that was as catastrophic as Pearl Harbor, less than 1% of the population has been willing to sacrifice their lives, property and time. The rest of us are not being asked to sacrifice anything! Why not? The man whose birthday we celebrate today [President Benjamin Harrison] said: "Unlike many other people less happy, we give our devotion to a government, to its Constitution, to its flag, and not to men." Should one sacrifice his time, property and self-interest in this devotion? I think yes. At all times, a Patriot is one willing to sacrifice for a greater good! Call for Speech Materials Compatriots, As President General Lindsey Brock stated in his address at his inauguration in Greenville, S.C., the Patriot Biographies database is one of the focus areas of his administration. Currently, approximately 200 biographical sketches have been submitted to be loaded into the Patriot and Grave Index. It is our hope that we build this database to serve two purposes. 1. We honor our patriot ancestors by telling their story. As we all know, too much of our history is lost, or is in danger of being lost to the ages. This is one avenue where we can make a difference. As presented in the 1894 Yearbook of the Kentucky Society, "The men whose forefathers took part in the establishment of the Nation were naturally drawn together, and in some of the older States formed themselves into societies to gather the scattered bits of history and save them for coming generations; to preserve alive a memory of the men who gave so much for country and paid so dear a price for liberty …" Approximately 120 years ago, our founders saw the need to preserve our history. 2. We will enhance the recruitment of new members for SAR. As described in the mission of the Patriot Biographies Committee: The purpose of this committee is to perpetuate the memory of our Revolutionary War patriot ancestors by providing a medium for SAR members to submit biographies of their patriot ancestor(s). There is no defined format for your submission. We ask that the information be limited to approximately 500 words and be sent in a Microsoft Word-compatible format. There is no need for documentation references. As noted on the database, it is the sole responsibility of the author to research the facts and data contained in the article. Citing sources is not required. The article cannot be used for proof of lineage. It can, however, serve as a guide for the continuation of research. Patriot Biographies President General's Goals for 2014-2015