The Friday, 14 May 2004, meeting of the General George S. Patton, Jr., Chapter of the CASSAR was held in the library of the Berylwood Officers Club, being called to order by Chapter President J. Stephen Hurst. Following the pledge and the invocation, members adjourned to the buffet. In attendance were seven compatriots: President J. Stephen Hurst, Ron Risley, Joe Coffman, Don Wooldridge, Frank Budroe, Alan Buckley and Robert Taylor; and three honored guests, Rev. and Mrs. Leonard DeWitt, and Rosemarie Risley. President Hurst reconvened the meeting at 12:40 p.m.
Following an introduction by compatriot Joe Coffman and a short biography by President Hurst, Rev. Leonard “Larry” DeWitt was presented the silver Good Citizenship award by President Hurst. Rev. DeWitt introduced his wife, Joyce, and gave a short description of his life, family and plans for the future.
The minutes for 9 April 2004 were distributed and approved as written. The Chapter history project will commence next month.
The Treasurer’s report was distributed and accepted with no changes.
The Registrar’s report was presented and approved as written. Jim Shepherd’s application with supplemental (for Patriot John Bosley) was logged into National Headquarters on 23 March.
The Chaplain had nothing significant to report, and announced he will be in Oregon for the coming month.
Old Business:
The Flag Award nominations were tabled until the next meeting due to the absence of compatriot Caldwell.
Compatriot Frank Budroe presented the SAR bronze ROTC medal to Cadet Antonio Zavala at the final Naval JROTC review ceremony at Hueneme High School 12 May.
New Business:
Boy Scout Chris Usher will receive his Eagle Rank, and will be presented with a Chapter certificate to commemorate the event during a ceremony at the LDS Church in Simi Valley at 7 p.m. Saturday, 5 June 2004.
Memorial Day observances will include a 10:45 a.m. graveside ceremony at Ivy Lawn Memorial Park. President Hurst will be in uniform and will lay a wreath at a mock graveside ceremony. There has been no word regarding Memorial Day ceremonies at Conejo Mountain Cemetery.
On Wednesday and Thursday, 9 and 10 June 2004, the chapter will present SAR Spirit of America awards to designated students at four middle schools in the Pleasant Valley School District during graduation ceremonies.
For the Sea Cadet Program, the chapter has been requested by LCDR Vahan Manoogian, Region director, to present a bronze SAR Good Citizenship medal to a selected sea cadet; time for the ceremonies to be provided.
The Knight essay contest for next year was discussed, and a chapter representative to chair the preparations was requested. President Hurst accepted his nomination by compatriot Ron Risley.
The Chapter program was a presentation by Mr. Steve Schleder of Ventura regarding his efforts to restore Cemetery Park to its previous status as a cemetery. Created after the Ventura Mission ran out of burial room, the grounds have approximately 3000 of the early town founders and their families buried there. Interments continued until around 1945, and the Cemetery was converted to a park by Ventura in 1965. In addition to the Catholic cemetery, the grounds also encompassed Protestant, Jewish, Chinese and native Indian cemeteries. To publicize the effort, a ceremonial funeral procession for Civil War Maj. Genl William Vandever, twice-elected Congressman, will be conducted on Memorial Day at 2 p.m., starting at his home on California Street and ending at Cemetery Park with a flag raising and gun salute. The casket will be borne on a caisson, in company with a riderless horse. Mr. Schleder also noted that Confederate war dead are buried there, along with a Medal of Honor award winner, James Summer, who charged Cochise during the Indian Wars. The Chapter was invited to participate.
The meeting was adjourned at 1:52 p.m. following the SAR recessional and Benediction.
Respectfully submitted, Robert Taylor, Chapter Secretary.
