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/518694
SPRING 2015 37 Compatriot Rayburn Mitchell presented an informative program on the Revolutionary War battles of Lexington and Concord, Mass. Mitchell recently visited these battle sites and provided the audience with many interesting and little- known facts about the minutemen who fought these battles for our independence. Williamsburg Chapter The 2015 officers of the Williamsburg Chapter were sworn in on Jan. 10 by outgoing President Bob Spencer. WASHINGTON SOCIETY Capt. John Paul Jones Chapter On Jan. 14, Chapter President Capt. Conrad Plyler and Chapter Color Guard Capt. Doug Nelson presented 15 Young Patriot Writer Certificates, below, to students in fifth through eighth grades at Bethany Lutheran Elementary School in Port Orchard. The students wrote essays describing their impressions of the chapter's living history presentation and the American flag. Seattle Chapter The highlight event of the annual Seattle Chapter September awards ceremonies for the 2014-15 SAR season was the presentation of the SAR Medal For Heroism to Jon Christopher Meis. With a packed room watching, including staff of the 13 Coins Restaurant, President John R. Berg read the citation: "On June 5, 2014, Jon Meis, a graduating senior at Seattle Pacific University in engineering, while acting in the capacity of hall monitor in the science and engineering building, found himself where no one ever wants to be, confronting an armed gunman, who had just shot four students with a shotgun, killing one. With spent shotgun shells littering the floor, the gunman stopped to reload. Heroically, and with little consideration for his own safety, Meis placed himself in harm's way, confronting the gunman with only a personal protection canister of pepper spray, with which he sprayed the attacker in the face, then grabbing the assailant around the neck and wrestling him to the ground. With the assistance of a couple other students Jon subdued the armed man, pinning him to the floor until police could arrive. A couple days after the shootings had taken place on the campus of this small Christian college associated with the Free Methodist Church Jon issued a statement to the news media and public, who had proclaimed him a hero. He asked for people's thoughts and prayers be sent out to the injured and family of the deceased, and forgiveness for the gunman. He ended his statement with, '… a hero cannot come without tragedy.' Meis's heroics are credited for saving countless lives. His actions represent the best qualities of our citizens who when faced with extreme danger rise to the occasion and perform acts of valor. The Sons of the American Revolution gives the Medal For Heroism to heroic individuals as recognition of their bravery." President Berg followed up with some fitting remarks on what it is to be brave. WEST VIRGINIA SOCIETY Governor Arch Alfred Moore Jr. Memorial Service On Friday, Jan. 16, members of the Sons of the American Revolution and the Sons of the Revolution paid their respects to the families and memory of West Virginia Gov. Arch Alfred Moore Jr. Steven D. Hart, president of the West Virginia Society of the Sons of the American Revolution, and Raymond M. Kane Jr., president of the Society of Sons of the Revolution in the State of West Virginia, attended the services for Moore, which were held at the West Virginia Cultural Center in Charleston. Raymond M. Kane Jr. is also a member of the SAR and is registrar of the WVSSAR. They had the privilege and honor of meeting with members of the Moore family, including U.S. Senator Shelley Moore Capito. Moore was a member of both the Sons of the American Revolution and of the Sons of the Revolution. His Patriot ancestor was James R. Jones, who served as a private in the Virginia Continental Line. Moore, 91, died on Wednesday, Jan. 7, 2015 in Charleston, Kanawha County, W.Va. He was West Virginia's first and only three-term governor, serving from 1969-1977 and again from 1985-1989. He also served in the U.S. House of Representatives from 1957-1969. Moore served in the European Campaign during World Installation of officers, from left, Billy Mitchell, president; Charles Crockett, chaplain; Ralph Sweeney, treasurer; and Alfred Howlett, registrar. Jon Christopher Meis receiving one of his many awards.