2014 April Newsletter Part 2 - Daughters of the Republic of Texas

The San Jacinto Dispatch
Daughters of the Republic of Texas
April 2014 (Part II)
From the President…
San Jacinto Chapter DRT President
April’s second edition of The San Jacinto Dispatch is
issued to cover the San Jacinto Day Official Ceremony.
Congratulations to Nancy Burch, co-chair for the ceremony,
on a wonderful program and for inviting the featured
speaker, Dr. Bill O’Neal, whose eighteen minute description
of “San Jacinto” was the finest I have been privileged to
hear.
This Part II edition for April also brings us up-to-date on
reporting our January, February & March activities.
Celebrating San Jacinto
Our May issue will include news from the Memorial
Service at the May chapter meeting, the reservation form for
the June 5th Luncheon, and the required dues notice.
Updates on the important work on the grounds will be
covered, as well as information about needed support for the
Log House grounds.
The Official San Jacinto Day Ceremony was held at
the San Jacinto Monument on Monday, April 21st. .
Participating in the San Jacinto Ceremony was thrilling.
Nothing compares to standing on the steps of the
Monument, singing Texas Our Texas, and witnessing The
Texas Army fire their salute under beautiful Texas skies.
God bless Texas!
Sharolyn
___________________________________________
The principal speaker was Bill O’Neal, PhD, Texas
State Historian. In keeping with tradition, Mr. O’Neal’s
presentation was 18 minutes in length—the same length of
time as the Battle of San Jacinto. Sam Houston VI, KSJ,
great grandson of General Sam Houston, represented the
Houston family by reading an account of the battle from
the Houston Post Dispatch on April 21, 1931.
Ron Stone, Jr., Master of Ceremonies, introduced
Trey Strake, Chairman of the San Jacinto Historical
Advisory Board, who spoke briefly. The Colors were
presented by the Deer Park High School Army JROTC
Color Guard. Music was provided by the Deer Park High
School Orchestra.
The Ceremony concluded with the Laying of the
Memorial Wreath by the DRT President General, Ellen
McCaffrey, SRT President General Robert Kendall, and
Descendants of San Jacinto President General Robert
“Scott” Patrick, and the Salute to Texas Patriots by The
Texas Army.
Inside This Issue
P. 2, 3
2013-2014 Officers
Front Row: Carolyn Lightfoot, Sally Whittington, Marje Harris
Middle Row: Margaret Standard, Deborah Liss-Frank,
Esther Simon, Ann Tanner, Gwen Koch
Back Row: Sharolyn Wood, Luanne Zacek, Margie Forster
San Jacinto Day Ceremony 2014
Texas Pioneer Day, March Field Trip, &
P. 4
April Chapter Meeting
P. 5
January & February Chapter Meetings
Newsletter 1
San Jacinto Day Ceremony 2014
San Jacinto Day 2014 was celebrated on the steps of the San Jacinto Monument at 11:00 am on Monday, April 21st.
Texans gathered to honor the memory of the Army of General Sam Houston and the great victory of April 21, 1836.
San Jacinto Chapter Members attending San Jacinto Ceremony 2014
Chaplin of the San Jacinto Chapter, Sons of the Republic of Texas, Chaplin Joe R. Davidson, gave the Invocation, followed
by the pledges to the U. S. and Texas flags and the singing of the anthems.
Charlie Pesek, age 6, and Stella Frank, age 8, members of San Jacinto Chapter, Children of the Republic of Texas, led the
pledges of allegiance to the U.S. flag and the Texas flag. Accompanied by the Deer Park High School Orchestra, SJC
members Martha and Leah Jorgensen led the singing of the National Anthem and “Texas, Our Texas.” Ann Tanner, San
Jacinto Chapter Chaplain, delivered the Benediction.
Charlie Pecek leads the pledge to
the U.S. Flag with Stella Frank, Bill
O’Neal, and Luanne Zacek,
Charlie’s grandmother.
Martha & Leah lead the singing of the anthems
with Ron Stone Jr. & The Texas Army
Newsletter 2
San Jacinto Ceremony 2014, continued
During the ceremony, the 2014 Thelma Maresh
Scholarship winners were introduced by Sharolyn
Wood, San Jacinto Chapter President, as Ellen
McCaffrey, DRT President General, presented each
with a commemorative certificate. The San Jacinto
Chapter scholarship recipients are Sydney
Boyenga, Valerie Dietz, Lauren Liss, Caroline
Wick, Jonathon Wigley, and Erika Wilcox. Proud
family members of the scholarship winners attended
the ceremony.
2014 Thelma Maresh Scholarship Winners with
Ellen McCaffrey, President General
Sons of the Republic of Texas also announced its 2014 scholarships awarded to the three winners of the Texas History
Essay Contest. Robert Kendall, KSJ, President General, SRT and Denton Bryant, KSJ, SRT Education Committee
Chairman, made the announcements. Sons of the Republic of Texas, San Jacinto Chapter President, Curt Osborne
recognized the 2014 Sailors of the Year, two sailors currently serving on the USS Texas (SSN 775).
The San Jacinto Chapter of the Daughters of the Republic of Texas is honored to have participated in the Official State of
Texas Ceremony Commemorating the 178th Anniversary of the Battle of San Jacinto. Chapter member and former 2nd Vice
President, Nancy Burch, was Event Co-Chair. Chapter members Luanne Zacek and Sharolyn Wood served on the
planning committee.
DRT President General Ellen McCaffrey with
Robert “Scott” Patrick, President General,
Descendants of San Jacinto
Sam Houston IV, KSJ
Photos by Martha Haydel
The Texas Army Salute to Texas Patriots
Newsletter 3
March 6th Field Trip
Julia Ideson Library
Texas Pioneer Day
Thank you to all of those who participated in Texas Pioneer
Days on March 17th. Luanne Zacek organized the event.
Those participating included Phyllis Moody, Marje Harris,
Margaret Standard, Sharolyn Wood, Jamie Moran,
Deborah Liss-Frank, Angela Mahmarian, and Anita
Cooper.
San Jacinto Chapter members toured the restored Julia
Ideson Building, Houston Public Library System, located in
downtown Houston. The building, with Spanish……..
Renaissance architecture, is part of the Central Library and
houses the archives, manuscripts, and the Texas and Local
History Department.
Photos by Angela Mahmarian.
April 3rd Meeting
“Houston’s Art Deco Architecture”
Our speakers at the April meeting were Jim Parsons and
David Bush, with Preservation Houston. Using original and
historic photographs, Jim and David presented Houston’s
modernistic designs as Houston entered an era of dramatic
growth, local business and civic leaders worked to create a
new image for the city.
Photos by Martha Haydel.
Julia Ideson Building
Jim Parsons and David Bush with
Second VP Jamie Moran and President Sharolyn Wood
Chapter members visit the Adult Reading Room
Jim and David sign copies of Houston Deco
for chapter members.
Luanne Zacek, Jamie Moran, Deborah Liss-Frank,
& Margie Harris enjoy lunch after the field trip.
Margaret Standard, Brenda Stover, Nancy Burch,
& Phyllis Moody at April chapter meeting
Beautifully restored rotunda
Newsletter 4
January 9th Meeting
February 6th
“The Grand Opening of the
Shamrock Hotel”
“Victorian Houston and River Oaks”
Jeff Lindemann presented a slide show presentation on "The
Grand Opening of the Shamrock Hotel" at our January
meeting. His picture collection including photos of the hotel
interior, the famous swimming pool, and the stars who came
to Houston for the grand opening. Currently a teacher at
Houston Community College, Jeff has extensively researched
the opening of the Shamrock Hotel. Photos by Martha & Angela.
Local historian, Ann Dunphy Becker guided us through "Old
Houston" using photographs published in her two Arcadia
books, "Houston 1860 - 1900" and "Houston's River Oaks".
Ann showed us our city as it was before air conditioning.
Photos by Martha Haydel.
Ann Becker with President Wood
& Program Chair/2nd VP Jamie Moran
Jeff Lindemann with
Deborah & Sharolyn
Dr. Doris Anderson, Etienne Michel, & Dollie Korenek
Martha Haydel, Martha Jorgensen,
& Sally Whittington
Margaret Standard and Susan Stormer
A guest chats with Margie before chapter meeting
Esther Simon and Phyllis Moody
Ann Tanner, Angela Mahmarian, & guest Stu Adamlundy
Newsletter 5