Minutes of the March 16, 2002 meeting of the Tampa Chapter SAR

President Tetrick called the meeting to order at 12:06. Jim Washburn offered the invocation and Vice President Bolen led the pledge to the flag and Vice President Bolen led the pledge to the SAR.

Members present: Dwight Tetrick, Marty Miller, Jim Washburn, Jack Bolen, Jim Chambers, Dan Stutzman, Walter Lane, Fred Patton, Ed Neugaard, and Kevin Yarnell.

Welcome guests: Billie Washburn, Janett Tetrick, June Bolen, Compatriot and Mrs. Jim Armitage of the DeVane Chapter, Richard McKenzie, and Jane Lane

The SAR membership approved the minutes of the February meeting as published in the newsletter.

The secretary reported that our entry into the state Knight Essay Contest placed third in the state. We hope to have the student at the May meeting. The state informed us that Winfield Patten Nelson and Ryan Patten Smith were accepted into membership. The certificates will be sent later. Janett Tetrick worked on these applications and explained to the membership how these gentlemen came to be in the SAR.

The President inquired as to the status of his supplemental applications. He has two pending. The secretary had no word from the state in this regard.

The Treasurer reported a balance of $2,247.88.

ROTC meeting will be held next month. The membership agreed to pay for the lunches of the cadets in attendance. At present three units have responded to our invitation but more are expected.

Jim Chambers will be presenting two senior ROTC awards in the coming weeks.

The meeting recessed for lunch.

Vice President Jack Bolen introduced our speaker Compatriot Jim Armitage who spoke on George Washington. He began with remarks concerning historical revision and political correctness as it applied to George Washington. One example concerned the removal of portraits in New Jersey schools.

The speaker then offered some facts and little known events of George Washington’s life. Some excerpts for Compatriot Armitage’s talk.

He shared some of the “Rules of Civility”. As a boy Washington copied this book and carried the pages with him in a small notebook. His father died when George was fairly young. His older brother Lawrence took George under his wing and saw to his education.

Washington’s military career actually began with the British army serving in the French and Indian war. He married Martha in 1759. Mrs. Armitage then gave some information about Martha. George and Martha met a year after Martha’s first husband died. George and Martha never had children of their own, but George raised Martha’s two children from the first marriage. Martha made a habit of visiting the troops in the winters and spent her time assisting with the care of the men.

Jim Armitage then resumed with other stories about Washington. He related the story of the Purple Heart medal. It was officially adopted during WWII, but its origins can be traced to an award that Washington gave some of his soldiers.

President Tetrick presented Compatriot Armitage with an SAR pin in appreciation for his talk.

Ed Neugaard won the 50/50 drawing. $9.50 was thus added to the treasury.

The recessional was led President Tetrick and Jim Washburn gave the benediction. The meeting adjourned at 1:27pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Kevin Yarnell

Chapter Secretary