The Natchitoches Chapter hosted compatriots and guests to the LASSAR State Convention, April 5th – 6th at the The Landing Restaurant, Natchitoches, LA.

LASSAR was honored to have Vice President General John Taylor, ALSSAR President Marvin Vickers, and past TNSSAR President Charles Dammann in attendance.

At the morning meeting, the society heard two outstanding orations with judges narrowly deciding that Mary Frances Johnson winner of the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest (State Level).  Alexandre Harrison Buck was selected as the LASSAR Eagle Scout of the year.  Warren Presley won the LASSAR Americanisim  Elementary School Poster Contest.  Alexa Babin, State Level winner of the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest, was unable to attend.  All of these awardees will now compete at the NSSAR's 123rd  Annual Congress in Kansas City, MO in July.

At the banquet, Dr. James MacDonald told the assembled members of the events leading to the revolution.

After the morning meeting, members went to American Cemetery where they layed a wreath at the grave of Col William Houston Jack.  The graves of seven patriots were marked with Betsy Ross flags so that members could pause and reflect on the service and sacrifice of these brave men.

LASSAR Trustee and VPG elect James A. Morock Sr, M.D. and State President Tony L. Vets attended the Southern District Breakfast and Alabama Society Annual Convention held in Birmingham, AL.  

Pictured l-r: Charles Dammann (TNSSAR), Tony L. Vets (LASSAR), VPG John Taylor, Gerry Brent (MSSSAR), and C. W. Posey, Jr (ALSSAR)

Dr. James A. Morock Sr was elected by acclamation by the member of the LASSAR Board of Directors at their spring 2013 meeting held in Metairie, LA.  Dr. Morock has been a member of the Louisiana Society since June 1983 and is a charter member of the Enemund Meuillion Chapter.  He has served as Chapter President and Vice-President, and as LASSAR Assistant Secretary, Secretary, President, Alternate Trustee, and currently as Trustee.

At the same meeting, J. Henry Grace was presented his life membership certificate in the Louisiana Society.  Grace has been a member of the General Philemon Thomas Chapter since March 1994 and became a both a national and state life member in December 2012.

Pictured L-R: J. Henry Grace and State President Tony L. Vets

Past State President James A. Morock Sr, MD, State President Tony L. Vets, and 1st Vice President Tom Williams attended the Fall Leadership Meeting in Louisville.  The leadership conferences are open to all members and the place where standing national committees meet to discuss issues of importance to the Sons of the American Revolution.  Morock is Trustee for the Louisiana Society and is a member of the Council of State Presidents.  Vets serves on the DAR Liaison Committee, Patriot Index and Graves Committee, Veterans Committee, and is Alternate Trustee.  He is also a member of the Council of State Presidents and is an alternate on that committee’s Nominating Committee.  Williams serves on the Merchandise Committee.  All three members attended numerous committee meetings to ensure that LASSAR will be current on those issues that may be of importance to our members. 

Pictured are Tom Williams, President General Stephen A. Leishman, Jim Morock, and Tony L. Vets.

The fall meeting of the LASSAR Board of Directors was held in the auditorium of the Louisiana State Archives building in Baton Rouge.  19 board members were present as well as 10 LASSAR members not currently serving on the board, including former Vice President Generals George Reech and Ed Cailleteau.  The board was also honored to have LCDR Michael Henderson, USN (Ret), President of the Button Gwinnett Chapter, GASSAR who was in Louisiana doing further research on his family.  LCDR Henderson spoke to the board on his research into the Galvez soldiers, including the free people of color who both served with or gave material aide to the cause.  At this meeting, Ted Grant was elected LASSAR Treasurer to fill the remaining term of Don Deville who passed away in August.  Stephen Ray was presented the Liberty Medal and Bill Allerton was presented the Silver Good Citizenship Medal for his outstanding service to the National Society Sons of the American Revolution. 

Pictured are Bill Allerton, Michael Henderson, and Tony L. Vets. 

Seven members of the Louisiana Society joined members of various other Historical and Patriotic societies in honoring the memory of Benjamin Franklin and all the Signer of the Constitution in a Wreath-laying Ceremony in Lafayette Square, New Orleans.  The event kicked off with a procession of State Leaders carrying their Society flags to the base of the Franklin Statue.  Greetings was given by the Honorable Jacquelyn Clarkson, Vice President of the New Orleans City Council, with the Honorable James Dennis, Judge on the US Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals telling of the writing of the Constitution and its practical implications today.  Wreaths were then presented by each society.  This event was organized and hosted by the Louisiana Society of the Order of Founders and Patriots of America.
Pictured are Tom Jacks, Colin Jacks, Tony Vets, John Grout, Rennie Culver, Bill Allerton, and Ed Cailleteau
(photo by John Ballance)

Three delegates traveled to Phoenix to attend the 122nd National Congress.  While there, they had the opportunity to to hear Chassidy Menard give her outstanding oration again against 13 other contestants.  The Americanism poster contest entry by Kourtney Emanus was on display along with 17 posters from other elementary school children from around the US.  Knight Essay (Alliciyia George), Eagle Scout (Kevin Ross Kurten) and History Teacher (Ms. Betty Jo Harris) were all judged prior to the Congress and did not reach the finals.  Although none of our youth award contestants won, Louisiana is right to be proud of each and every entry. 

LASSAR did receive the C.A.R. Activity Award for documenting their work with the CAR over the past year, as well as the Officer's Attendance Award, given to State Societies whose President and National Trustee have attended both preceding Leadership Meetings as well as the last Annual Congress.  Donald Park received the Robert E. Burt Boy Scout Volunteer Award, and Stephen Ray and Tony Vets both received the Liberty Medal.

State President Tony L. Vets, Color Guardsmen Ted Brode and Jim Miller joined LSDAR Regent Bonnie Cook at the State Capitol to accept the Joint Resolution commemorating the 225th anniversary of the U.S. Constitution.  Following the presentation of the resolution, Vets presented both Rep. Nick Lorusso and Sen. Conrad Appel with plaques as a token of appreciation for shepherding this important measure though the legislative process.

Pictured:  Tony L. Vets, Sen Appel, Ted Brode, Rep Lorusso, Jim Miller, and Bonnie Cook.

State President Tony L. Vets and his wife Karen joined eight other organizations in laying a wreath on the grounds of the Alexandria National Cemetery.  Over 7,000 veterans and family members are interred on the grounds.  This cemetery was established in 1867 as a national cemetery for deceased Union soldiers who died in the region. Bodies were removed from the surrounding towns such as Mount Pleasant, Cheneyville and Yellow Bayou and reinterred in Alexandria. Later, remains from Fort Brown, Texas, were reinterred at the national cemetery when the fort was no longer deemed necessary. Alexandria (LA) National Cemetery was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1997.

Natchitoches Chapter President Sandy McNeely and State President Tony L. Vets joined St. Denis Chapter Regent and Bicentennial Coordinator Dr. Colleen Lancaster at the riverfront for a short program commemorating the 200th anniversary of Louisiana's statehood.  The event opened with an invocation by Fr. Ryan Humphreys, followed by greetings from City Council member Jack McCain.  Dr. Christopher Gillian served as Master of Ceremonies. 

The Northwestern State University ROTC lowered the French flag, and then raised the US Flag of 1812.  After the ceremony, they again lowered the flag and raised the United States flag and the Louisiana state flag.

The Enemund Meuillion Chapter hosted compatriots and guests to the LASSAR State Convention, April 20th – 21st at the Parc England Hotel and Bistro on the Bayou on the former England Air Force Base in Alexandria, LA.

LASSAR was honored to have Vice President General James Maples, VPG Elect John Taylor, past VPG John Wallace, MSSSAR President Gerry Brent and Secretary Charles Garrison, TNSSAR President Charles Dammann, Color Guard Commander James Stone, and Trustee Rick Hollis attend.

At the morning meeting, the society heard a stirring oration from Chassidy Michelle Menard, winner of the Joseph S. Rumbaugh Historical Oration Contest (State Level), as well as a reading of the winning essay from Alliciyia George, State Level winner of the George S. & Stella M. Knight Essay Contest.  Kevin Ross Kurten was selected as the LASSAR Eagle Scout of the year.  Ms. Betty Jo Harris won the state competition for the Tom and Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award.  Kourtney Noelle Emanus won the LASSAR Americanisim Elementary School Poster Contest.  This years topic was "The Battle of Guilford's Courthouse".  All of these awardees will now compete at the NSSAR's 122nd Annual Congress in Phoenix, AZ in July.

Members were also recognized for their work in the society.  Fred Huenefeld was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal and his wife Elizabeth was awarded the Martha Washington Medal.   At the banquet, Clifford Normand was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal for his extraordinary service as State Registrar as well as his continuing efforts to inform the public of Galvez and his Spanish troops.  John Trigg Wood Jr was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal for his past years of service as State Registrar, and Leonard Rohrbough was awarded the Patriot Medal.  Past State President Donald T. Rigler was presented a crystal plaque in honor of his decades of service to LASSAR.

The Attakapas Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution and the Galvez Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, held this year's annual ball March 10 in the Petroleum Club of Lafayette.

Fifteen young men and women comprised the list of those honored at the gala, titled "The Bicentennial of Louisiana." The March 10 extravaganza included oratory on "Bicentennial Louisiana Statehood" via Dr. Benton de la Houssaye; an introduction of Pat Snyder, Galvez Chapter Regent; The Rev. Kenneth Domingue, SAR President; Bobbie de la Houssaye, Marshall; Archibald Hill IV, ball chairman; Catherine Mestayer, choreographer; Dudly Lastrapes, emcee; Tyson Cromwell, ball captain; Alvin Bethard, invocation; and John Francois, head of the escort committee.

Patriots and debutante participants were:

Benjamin Laurence Cole, son of Mr. and Mrs. Dean Anderson Cole.  His patriotic ancestor is Benjamin Barton.
 
Andre' Darbonne, son of Stephen Wayne Darbonne and Barbara Conner.  His ancestor is Patriot John Wheat of Wilkes County, Ga.

Logan Blasé Dupre', son of Ann Watson and Anthony Dupre',  His revolutionary ancestor is Patriot Matthew Harvey I of New Hampshire.

Anna Adair Fleming, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Patrick Henry Fleming,   Her patriotic ancestor is Charles Comeaux of the Opelousas Militia.

Eleanor (Inez) Hill is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Archibald Hill IV.  Her revolutionary ancestors are Col. William Purviance of Wilmington, N.C., and Col. James Walker of Virginia.

Darby Bennett Kelley is the son of Jessica Louise Nolan Kelley and Mike Kelley.  His revolutionary ancestor is Patrick Firmin Breaux of Louisiana.

Catherine Janice Klara is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Jacob Klara Jr.  Her revolutionary ancestor is Joseph Rainbolt of Cape Fear, N.C.

Megan Michelle LeMaire is the daughter of Jeremy Blake LeMaire of Lafayette and Angelique Viator.  Her revolutionary ancestor is Evan Harvey, soldier of the 96th district militia in South Carolina and Georgia.

William Griffin Matis, son of Dr. and Mrs. Rick Matis.  His revolutionary ancestor is Pvt. Edward Mobly of Fairfield District in South Carolina.

Casady St. Julien McEvoy is the son of Kevin McEvoy, and Mr. and Mrs. Gregory Mangion.  His patriotic ancestor is Firmin Breaux of Louisiana.

Margaret Michael Moss, daughter of Dr. and Mrs. Samuel Moss.  Her revolutionary ancestor is William Steen of South Carolina.

Kaitlyn Claire O'Brien, daughter of Michael S. O'Brien and Jane O'Brien.  Her revolutionary ancestors are St. Denis DeBlanc and Louis Charles DeBlanc of Louisiana.

Annalise Lemoine Saucier is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Baxter A. Saucier. Her patriotic ancestor is Amand Broussard, Attakapas Militia.

Caroline Elizabeth Schoeffler is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Todd Paul Schoeffler of Lafayette. Her ancestor is Sgt. Edmund Newman of Virginia.

Sarah Katherine Wood, daughter of Michael Wood and Julie Ellison. Her Revolutionary ancestor is Amanda Broussard.

Past State President and current International Society President Bill Allerton, as well as State President James A. Morock Sr, MD and Secretary Tony L. Vets attended the Spring Leadership Meeting in Louisville.  The leadership conferences are open to all members and the place where standing national committees meet to discuss issues of importance to the Sons of the American Revolution.  Allerton is a member of the Eagle Scout Committee, Government Relations Committee, Strategic Planning Committee, and SAR Foundation Planning Board.  Morock serves on the Nominating Committee and is Trustee for the Louisiana Society.  Vets serves on the DAR Liaison Committee, Patriot Index and Graves Committee, Veterans Committee, and is Alternate Trustee.

State President James A. Morock Sr, M.D. and Secretary Tony L. Vets attended the Southern District Breakfast and Alabama Society Annual Convention held in Huntsville, AL.  John Taylor of Mississippi was elected as the Southern District Vice President General for 2012-2013 and will be installed at the National Convention in Phoenix, AZ in July. 

Shown at left are Morock, VPG Jim Maples (2011-2012), Vets, and VPG Elect John Taylor.

The Sons of the American Revolution, The Daughters of the American Revolution, and The Children of the American Revolution invite you to a George Washington Day Wreath Laying Ceremony at the George Washington Bust on the Louisiana State Capitol Arsenal Grounds, Baton Rouge, Louisiana at 11:00 a.m., Wednesday, February 22, 2012.

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