November 2017 newsletter [...]

As a sword enthusiast, I could not resist… Watch this short, informative video about George Washington’s Battle Sword: Associate Curator at the Smithsonian National Museum of American History, David Miller, gives us an in depth look at George Washington’s Battle Sword that he carried with him during the American Revolution. For more information on George Washington’s Swords, visit: http://www.mountvernon.org/ ~Patrick [...]

John and Joshua Townsend Atop a wooded hill above the village of Putney Vermont, on land that he once owned lay the grave of 1/Lt. John Townsend, late of the 4th Company, 2nd Worcester County Regiment of Militia; and, Col. Asa Whitcomb’s 5th Regiment of the Massachusetts Line. John was a veteran of Concord, Bunker Hill, Saratoga, Ticonderoga, and my 4th Great-grandfather on my maternal side. Two of his sons, their wives, and several infant children lay nearby in this overgrown and seemingly overlooked half acre within the Vermont woods. The stone walls that surround the old burying ground are tumbling, and small trees and shrubs have invaded the cemetery grounds now owned by a family that bears no ancestral connection to the land.   In nearby Bolton, Massachusetts, are the graves of his father Joshua Townsend, two of John’s biological brothers (Richard and Robert) and three of his nephews who also marched to Concord and Cambridge with him in the early morning hours of April 19th, 1775. Joshua was in his seventy-fifth year on the night of, “The Lexington Alarm”, but he shouldered his musket and gamely marched beside his sons and grandsons to face the King’s Grenadiers. Three [...]

Gentlemen, Congratulations and THANK YOU ALL. Mike Rowley From the Fall 2017 Iowa SAR Meeting 1st attachment-Left to Right-  Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution Past Presidents Harold Goodrich and Lance Ehmke, newest IASSAR member Jason Corder, Urbandale Police Sgt. Chad Underwood who was presented the S.A.R. Law Enforcement Commendation Medal in recognition of outstanding Achievement and dedication to the maintenance of law and order and current IASSAR President Alan Wenger 2nd attachment- Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution President Alan Wenger, IASSAR Veterans Committee Chairman David Lamb and Service to Veterans Medal awardee Ron Rittel 3rd attachment-Left to right, Iowa Sons of the American Revolution past Presidents Harold Goodrich and Lance Ehmke, Current IASSAR President Alan Wenger, Color Guard Badge Awardee Jon Verner and Service to Veterans awardee George DeMoss photos by Mike [...]

“United States Federal Law provides that, The Flag, when it is in such a condition that it is no longer a fitting emblem for display, should be destroyed in a dignified way, preferably by burning.” (36 U.S.C. 176(k)) On a week ending with heavy rains and constant clouds the sky opened up with seemingly Divine intervention long enough for the Color Guard of the General Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Iowa to join with citizens, guests, and active members of the Des Moines Park and Recreation Department to perform the sacred duties of retiring nearly 2700 un-serviceable American flags. Utilizing the materials built by GSW 1812 Iowa Past President Louie Zenti and a special forged tool, hand made by a veteran in Michigan and supplied by Ganesh Ganpat;   GSW 1812 Iowa President Mike Rowley open the ceremony with borrowed passages from the Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War when he stated,  “We have presented here these flags of our country which have been inspected and condemned as un-serviceable. They have reached their present state in a proper service of tribute, memory and love. A flag may be a flimsy bit of printed gauze, [...]

October 2017 [...]

September 2017 [...]

In SE Iowa’s Lee county, through a small forest, a narrow dirt path winds to a clearing at the top of a hill.  It is here in Lost Creek Cemetery that the remains of Revolutionary War Veteran, Timothy Brees, lie among his peers of centuries past.   On an absolutely beautiful autumn afternoon, members of the Old Fort Madison (Iowa) Color Guard, local members of the American Legion, the State Association for the Preservation of Iowa Cemeteries, the President of the Central Iowa Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution, and local towns people met for the 14th annual Pioneer Patriots Day ceremony on Saturday, September 30, 2017.   Lee County, Iowa, has the most known burials (8) of the 41 documented veterans of the American Revolution known to be buried in the State of Iowa.   Photos- by Bill and Lois [...]

August 2017 Newsletter [...]

State President Alan Wenger(left) and ISSAR Color Guard member Jon Verner of Des Moines participated in the 2017 Iowa State Fair Parade held on August 9.  As in years past, we joined in with the local and state DAR chapters, at their invitation.  It started at about 6:30 PM with a temperature of about 80 degrees.  But it was overcast for most of the walk so we didn’t suffer too much in our wool uniforms.  The crowds along the parade route were very enthusiastic and receptive…waving, applauding, and cheering as we passed.  We all had a good [...]