Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: THURSDAY, October 7, 1993 TAG: 9310070502
SECTION: NEIGHBORS PAGE: S-8 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JONATHAN HUNLEY STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
The chapter, which covers the Roanoke Valley, received the national organization's President General's Cup for having "the most complete program of activities" in 1992.
The 127-member SAR chapter, the second-largest in Virginia, was recognized for projects and activities such as holding essay contests, awarding ROTC medals and law enforcement awards and marking graves.
In addition, the chapter holds a memorial service in Point Pleasant, W.Va., to honor the Virginia militiamen who served under Gen. Andrew Lewis in 1774 and are buried there. This year's observance is today and Sunday, and the chapter is sponsoring a bus.
The battle, between a frontier militia from Western Virginia and a group of Native Americans from the Ohio Valley, is considered one of the first significant battles of the American Revolution. Lewis and William Fleming, both well-known in the Roanoke Valley, fought there.
"This is a big event because SAR delegations from Kentucky, Ohio, West Virginia and Maryland will join the Virginia Society at the service," said Col. Paul M. Frantz, chairman of the Revolutionary War Graves Committee of the Virginia SAR.
The Sons of the American Revolution was started to celebrate the victory of the American colonies in the war against Great Britain. The Fincastle County Resolutions chapter's name honors a document that was similar to the Declaration of Independence and signed by 15 patriots at a meeting of Freeholders of Fincastle County on Jan. 20, 1775, near the present Wythe County.
Goals of the organization are to perpetuate the memory of the men who served in the Revolution, promote fellowship among their descendants and encourage study of the history of the Revolution.
"This group gives all of us who believe in the principles that this country was founded on a chance to get together and have good fellowship. We all share one thing in common - the love of country," C. Homer Bast said.
The Fincastle chapter's annual essay contests for students in grades 7 and 11 in Roanoke, Roanoke County and Salem schools deal with some aspect of the Battle of Point Pleasant.
In 1992, about 100 students participated in these contests. Savings bonds totaling $350 were given to the winners
The chapter also gives ROTC awards annually to Patrick Henry and William Fleming high school students and Virginia Tech and Radford University cadets who possess "leadership, scholarship, and good citizenship."
Other awards go to Roanoke-area law enforcement officers who demonstrate outstanding community service and "a high level of sustained police work" and to citizens whom the chapter feels have helped the community.
The Sons of the Revolution "is important to me, because all of the people involved are descendants of the founders of this nation, and we try to live by the standards that this nation was founded on," said E. Turpin Phillips, a charter member.
Members say they are constantly recruiting others because it is important to keep the memory of the Revolution alive.
"A lot of our members are older folks, like lawyers and doctors, but we always want to get new members. An organization can't survive if it keeps getting older and older," said Vernon C. Allen, the registrar of the chapter.
For more information on the Fincastle Resolutions Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution or its trip to Point Pleasant, W.Va., call Col. Don E. Dye at 989-0910.
by CNB