The May 26, 2014, Memorial Day meeting of the GJB Chapter of

the SAR was held at the Bob Evans Restaurant on IAA Dr. at 7:00

am. This meeting was hosted by Dave Ashbrook. Members attend-

ing included Dave Ashbrook, Al Abbott, Al Abbott Jr., Gordon

Bidner, Don Lush, Harry Lush, Rodney Lush, William Miller,

Don Hyland, and Virgil Short MD. It was noted that attendance

may have been diminished somewhat due to a problem in getting

the newsletter out. This has been rectified and all efforts will be

made to ensure all members are notified in plenty of time to be

able to attend our meetings. After the invocation the members

engaged in a discussion in which each gave his answer to the gen-

eral question “What about this country are you most thankful

for.” Don Lush gave a report on the Honor Flights and GJB SAR

planned participation. Some discussion was had about upcoming

awards to be presented at the Jul 16, 2014 meeting. In addition it

was decided not to recognize the teacher (Derrick Schonauer)

from Normal Community High School for his heroic action which

prevented serious injury or death during the classroom incident in

which a heavily arm student threaten assault of the students and

teacher present. Since the school officials preferred not to do this

in any public manner the certificate will be presented privately.

The meal ticket for all members present was taken

care of by an anonymous individual who recognized

our group by the era uniforms worn by some of the

members present. This same individual paid for our

meal on the same day in 2012. We would like to ex-

press our thanks for this so if anyone knows his iden-

tity please let us know.

The next meeting will be our Flag Day meeting, Jun 14, 2914 at

the 1st Presbyterian Church 2000 East College Avenue, Normal,

IL with Jay Cummins/Dave Ashbrook hosting.

Following the meeting a number of the members regrouped in the

assembly area in downtown Bloomington to participate in the

Memorial Day Parade. Gorgon Bidner, Dave Ashbrook, Don Hy-

land, Don Lush, Harry Lush, and Virgil Short MD.

Jul 16 6:00 p.m. meeting at Michael’s Restaurant

downtown, Bloomington. Speaker Greg Koos sub-

ject School Masters in America’s Back Country

Hosts: Al Abbott/Dave Ashbrook.

AUG 7: ILSSAR Color Guard--Illinois State Fair

Twilight Parade

AUG 8 & 9: (Aug 9 meeting starts at 8:30 a.m.)

ILSSAR BOM Meeting. Springfield Hilton, Spring-

field, IL

SEP 18: 1:00 pm, SAR Constitution Week and Safe-

ty/EMS Awards. McLean Co Bloomington—Old

McLean Co Courthouse

July 2014

Upcoming Events

July 2014 Editor Don Hyland, Assistant Editor Kyle Hyland

General Joseph Bartholomew

Chapter

Son's of the American Revolution

Chartered Oct 21, 1975

May 26, 2014 GJB SAR Meeting Report by Virgil D. Short MD

Gordon Bidner President

Cemetery Marking Project The ILSSAR last fall started a project of marking patriot’s graves at

the entrance of the cemetery with a nice plaque. Our chapter has

started talking about putting together a proposal for our area. More

info to follow.

Left: Mem-

bers enjoying

conversation

before

Breakfast at

Bob Evans.

Right: Gathering

before the parade.

Letitia Green Ste-

venson DAR Chap-

ter Regent Judy

Bartolone between

President Bidner

and VP Dave Ash-

brook

BOM Weekend May 16 & 17

Page 2 July 2014

The General’s News

When I arrived at the Friday night Dinner the first person I meet was President General Dooley and Bruce Talbot and his family. I

was really impressed with President General Dooley. This was a great reception and dinner, while we were waiting for dinner the

silent auction was held in which I was able to add a sword to my uniform. After the dinner we were honored by a appearance Abi-

gail Adams wife of second President John Adams. This was very interesting as she talked about the lives she and John led. After

her presentation the Awards were handed out to members and chapters recognizing their accomplishments for the last year. Our

chapter and members did very well.

The General Joseph Bartholomew SAR Chapter was represented by Dave Ashbrook and Don Hyland on Friday night and the

meeting on Saturday morning. Bill Hammitt also attended the Saturday luncheon.

Following are a listing of the awards/recognition received by the GJB SAR Chapter/Members

1. Patriot Medal—Dave Ashbrook---two are given by ILSSAR each year—this year along with Dave was Dale Bottom of the Fox

Valley Chapter

2. Silver Color Guard Medals to Don Hyland and Don Lush

3. Silver Good Citizenship Medals to Jay Cummins, Bill Hammitt, Virgil Short and Bill White

4. Meritorious Service Medals to Dave Ashbrook, Gordon Bidner and Don Hyland

5. War Service Medals to Al Abbott and Dave Ashbrook

6. National Service Recognition—Dave Ashbrook

7. ILSSAR Cemetery Marking Program of Patriotic Graves—Dave Ashbrook and Don Hyland

8. Joel Willis Newsletter Award—GJB –also Fox Valley, Fort Dearborn, George Rogers Clark and Springfield Chapters—total of

five

9. Perfect Attendance—GJB also Fox Valley, Springfield, ABC, Lewis and Clark, GGRC, Long Knives and Salt Creek---total of

eight

10. Flag Award—GJB also Fox Valley, Springfield, Lewis and Clark, GGRC, Long Knives, Salt Creek, Captain Zeally Moss and Kis-

waukee—total of nine

11. Hero Awards—Bill Hammitt Committee Nominations==Normal Police Dept.(EMS), Bloomington and Normal Fire Depts.—

total of five individuals!

12. Schweizer History Teacher award to Thomas Davis of Dwight

Congratulations to these individuals and the GJB SAR Chapter for another Outstanding Year!! We will plan on making these

award presentations on July 16th at the Lakeside CC meeting.

Other Awards---Chapter of the Year—GGRC—Jim DeGroff—I have to believe that we were in the running—received in 2013! And Man of the Year—Franz Herder.

After the meeting we gathered for a wonderful meal and additional awards.

Page 3 The General’s News July 2014

Above: L-R NSSAR President General Joe Dooley, Bruce Talbot and

his wife Peggy, Jenny and Skip Talbot

Above: Some of the item for the silent auction

Below: Dave Ashbrook (second from right) receiving one of

the several awards our chapter received.

This John Jay original oil painting is a gift from ILSSAR, sponsored by

Kent Worley, to the Illinois Supreme Court to recognize their im-

portant role in preserving the principals of the American Revolution,

that being the "rule of law" rather than the rule of a king.

Above: Abigail Adams wife of second President John Adams by

Woody Holton

Below: Bruce awarding a check for donation to the tornado relief

fund to Compatriot Adrian Tubbs to replace his ILSSAR Color

Guard Uniform lost in the Washington, Illinois tornado outbreak

in November 2013.

Page 4 July 2014 The General’s News

Above: Bill White and Eagle Scout Andrew Nason, to whom Bill presented

the SAR Eagle Scout Certificate Saturday, May 24, 2014 . Above: Bruce Talbot receiving his gift from Tom Ashby

Above: L-R Bruce Talbot, Jim DeGroff (receiving Chapter of the

Year award) PG Joe Dooley .

Above: L-R Jim DeGroff, Thomas Davis and Dave Ashbrook.

Thomas was ILSSAR History Teacher of the year.

Right: Bruce Talbot, Franz Herder

and PG Dooley presenting Franz with

ILSSAR man of the year award.

Above L_R: Toby Chamberlin, Fire Fighter/Paramedic Rodney Williams NFD, Engineer Steve Petrovics BFD, Capt Steve Zimmerman

BFD, Engineer Lance Benedict BFD, Detective Nicole Bruno.

Page 5 July 2014 The General’s News

Service providers are important people in every community and we feel that we in Bloomington-Normal are blessed with the best.

Here are the three state award winners.

Three Bloomington fire safety officers were recognized: Acting Capt. Steve Zimmerman, Engineer Lance Benedict, and Engineer Steven Petrovics. In brief, they saved an elderly woman from a house fully engulfed in flame. The fire was so hot that it melted their helmets. They risked their lives to save another.

Our Web address is: www.GJBSAR.org

To submit articles or pictures to the newsletter send to : donsgen50@gmail.com

2012 GJB Officers:

Committees

Citizenship: J. Gordon Bid-

ner, CH., Bill Hammitt, Wil-

liam White, Don Hyland, Virgil

Short

Education/Public Rela-

tions: Donald Lush, CH.,

AlanWashburn

Public Relations: Dave Ash-

brook, CH., Al Abbott, Jay Cum-

mins, Don Hyland,Lee Wilder

Flag, Law Enforcement,

Fire Safety, EMS: Bill

Hammitt, CH., Ed Proctor,

Virgil Short, David Dougall

Eagle Scout: Bill W hite,

CH., Dave Ashbrook, Clark Kill-

ingsworth, Ron Reynolds, Don

Hyland

Veterans/ROTC Affairs: Bill

White, CH., Al Abbott, Bill Mil-

ler, Virgil Short, Bud Lewis, Jay

Cummins, Ron Reynolds

Finance Committee: K elly

Gray, CH., Don Hyland, Dave

Ashbrook, Phares O’Daffer, Lee

Wilder, Bill Miller

Nominating: Dave Ash-

brook, CH., Bill Hammitt, Jay

Cummins, Bill Miller

Program/Membership:

Chapter Officers & Board of

Managers

Color Guard/ Parade: Don

Hyland, CH., Don Lush, Dave

Ashbrook,

Page 6 July 2014 The General’s News

To Join the SAR please contact William Hammitt www.billhammitt@comcast.net

2012 GJB Officers:

President: J . Gordon Bid-

ner

V. President: David Ash-

brook

Secretary: Jay L. Cum-

mins

Secretary Emeritus: Harry

Hoit

Registrar: William M

Hammitt

Treasurer: Donald E Hy-

land

Chaplin: Dr. Virgil Shor t

Director Emeritus: John

L. McNeil

Sergeant of Arms: Al Ab-

bott

GJB Chapter Newsletter

Editor: Donald Hyland

BOM Members: Alan C

Washburn, David Dougall,

William White

Upcoming Honor Flights

Springfield June 10, 2014

Peoria Sept. 23, 2014

For the summer Don Hyland is holding a Genealogy Class for be-

ginners at College Park Christian Church on Cottage in Normal,

the first Tuesday of the month 10:30 am to noon

Don Lush Don Hyland and

Dave Ashbrook waiting for

the Honor Flight in Peoria

June 3, 2014

In Memory of Howard Ronald Lush

As I was putting this newsletter together Howard Died

suddenly more info in next newsletter.