Mike Rowley, the ROTC/JROTC Awards Chairman of the Iowa Society of the Sons of the American Revolution reports that The Iowa Society has completed another year of 100% participation from all the ROTC/JROTC programs in the entire State of Iowa.   Attached photos are from the Iowa State University Navy ROTC awards banquet held April 14, 2017.  The recipient is MIDN 3/C Quinton G. Schnier and the presenter is CAPT Scott Curtis, the commanding officer of the NROTC unit at Iowa State University.   photo by Capt Suzanne [...]

As the latest member of IASSAR, I thought I would introduce myself. I’m Don Christy, presently of Marengo Iowa, was born in Ottumwa and raised in Cedar Rapids. I enlisted in the Marines for three years out of high school, then worked as an assemble welder for P&H Crain, then I worked as a small engine repairman and then spent over 30 years in the environmental industry (water and wastewater). I’m 65 and have been retired for a few years now. I’ve been married to my wife Lorie for 42 years, Lorie is the head of Repertory Therapy at the Marengo Hospital. Our son Brad just started his 22nd year in the Army and is a writer on the side. Our daughter Megan is a preschool teacher for the North English Iowa school system and teaches dance classes at the school. We have three grandchildren, Byron is Brad’s son and he will be graduating from high school this year and Megan’s girls are Christy Rose, 10 years old, and Mariah is 3 years old. My hobbies are motorcycling which we’ve been doing for over forty years, and fishing and hunting. I guess my biggest hobby now that I am retired [...]

In most fraternal organizations there are members, men, brothers and Compatriots. If an organization is fortunate there are those who epitomize the very meaning of each of those labels. They are the special individuals that make and keep the organization alive by their actions and contributions of ideas and time.  They are the people that give each organization not only a sense of pride but also a sense of meaning to their mission and to the history of the group itself. For not only the Iowa Society but also the National organization Bill Lees is that type.  Bill last served as the Iowa Society President from 1981-1985.  He has held nearly every state or chapter office as well as serving as a Trustee. Compatriot Lees is one of only 2 Iowa members to have ever been awarded (Class of 1992) the National SAR Minuteman Award. Bill is a veteran of WWII and at age 96 years of age continues to inspire those of us who try to follow in his footsteps. On March 12, 2017  “A celebration of Life and Love” was held in honor of Bill and Inez Lees who were in their 75th year of marriage.  On this day [...]

Washington declared the day a holiday in an attempt to raise morale and acknowledge the army’s many soldiers of Irish descent These reproduction huts in Jockey Hollow are similar to what Washington’s army would have used during the brutal winter of 1779-1780. (Rob Shenk/Flickr CC) By Kat Eschner SMITHSONIAN.COM MARCH 17, 2017 9:00AM The winter of 1779-1780 was a lousy one for the Continental Army, led by General George Washington. It was extremely cold, according to the Mount Vernon estate, while provisions were scarce and the colonial economy was a mess. Two years after wintering at Valley Forge, at the beginning of December 1779 the army found itself encamped in an area known as Jockey Hollow. “Here, they would winter as conditions continued to deteriorate,” the estate writes. Twenty-eight separate snowstorms struck the encampment, writes History.com, burying it in snow and making it difficult to get food and firewood. By March, the men must have been exhausted and worn out. So on March 16, 1780, Washington declared a holiday for the next day, St. Patrick’s Day.  “The General directs that all fatigue and working parties cease for tomorrow,” the orders read, noting that March 17 was “a day held in particular regard” by the people of Ireland. [...]

Veteran Transitional Shelter help by making a donation and spreading the word. As a Veteran Service Officer in Bremer County, Iowa, we often come into contact with homeless veterans. In August of 2010, we came in contact with a unique veteran named George and his dog Pluto. He had spent his last few dollars on a hotel room in Waverly, Iowa and had made contact with our local United Way who then made contact with us. We found the veteran and discovered that he had walked over 300 miles with his dog and intended to walk to Alaska to “work the oil fields.” After some discussion, we also discovered that George had attempted suicide the very morning we came into contact with him. We immediately brought him to the hospital where he was admitted for suicidal ideations and dehydration. After his discharge, we worked with this veteran, everyday, until he was permanently housed, nearly four months after arriving in Waverly. George and the many George’s that followed planted a seed. What we discovered over the next few years was that when we referred our veterans to permanent housing organizations, 63% of them would return to us within a year and [...]

–Born from humble beginnings, the National Guard celebrates its 380th birthday. The military organization we know today as the National Guard came into existence with a direct declaration on December 13, 1636 The Iowa Military Heritage Society was represented December 13, 2016 at the dedication of National Guard memorial bench in Chariton, Iowa with WWII veteran Ernest Faber of Minburn, Iowa. Also Attended the Wreaths Across America in the uniform of the Civil War era at the event in December at the Iowa Veterans Cemetery in Van Meter, Iowa with several members of the DAR. Over 2000 wreaths were laid on veteran’s [...]

The History of the IASSAR 1893-1971 History of Iowa S. A. R. [...]

Compatriots of Iowa SAR and General Society of the War of 1812 in the State of Iowa,   It is with great sadness that I must inform you of the death of fellow member Ron Sharp.  I got to know Ron a bit through our organizations.  His application and the documentation of his line was complicated and took over 3 years from start to finish.  It was helped by several people throughout the entire country.   About 9 months after we hit what appeared to be a final end, a document appeared in the mail and made final approval possible.  Ron had a colorful life and shared a bit of it with me be for he sought membership. Ron also jumped in and became the Chaplain for the GSW 1812 in Iowa. He will be missed. His obituary from the Des Moines Register is here.   Respectfully, Mike Rowley President GSW 1812 Iowa & Central Iowa Chapter SAR [...]

Some of the many Patriot ancestors of the members of the IASSAR include: Asa Adams Ebenezer Avery Richard Churchill Cpt Ezekiel Colby Ezekiel Colby Jr Jonathan Curtiss Andrew Demoss John Demoss Peter Demoss Christian Dettera Matrom Elmore Richard Harris Huntley Francis Lang John McCain Jarrett Menefee Joseph Morse Daniel Mowen John Owsley Robert Parker William Pennock Edmund Pettingil Daniel Robertson George Robinson Sr David Rowley Valentine Rummel Capt Job Shattuck Benjamin Smith Philip Stech Thomas Stephenson Nicholas Stuff 1LT John Townsend Joshua Townsend Peter Trough [...]

The city of Des Moines requested volunteers to participate in stone raising in the veterans’ section of Laurel Hill Cemetery November 5, 2016. This was the initial work session of a project that will resume next spring. Laurel Hill cemetery borders the Iowa State fairgrounds on the southeast corner. The weather was good and about thirty of us got the project started. Those SAR members that have volunteered for other Des Moines cemetery projects will probably get an invite by email to help next spring. An announcement will be in the Register also. Submitted by George [...]