Category: Chapter meetings

Camp Charlotte was please to present the first two in the State Pomeroy memorials into two cemeteries in Pickaway Country. The first cemetery was the Hitler-Ludwig cemetery honoring Daniel Ludwig and the 2nd was at the Morris Chapel Cemetery honoring Samuel Seals. Many came out to honoring these 2 patriot and Camp Charlotte Color Guard with Color Guard Commander Bob Hill providing the honor salutes to these patriots. The Pickaway Plains chapter of the DAR and many SAR chapter including Centennial, Hocking Valley and Benjamin Franklin were also in attendance . Photos courtesy of Various DAR and SAR member’s

The 29th of June our State Color Guard Commander held a black powder training seminar at the Abruzzi Club in Westerville for all the SAR chapters who wish to be recognized for taking the Black Powder safety training. Color Guard Commander Bob Hill gave some instruction of the typical manual of arms that are done during various SAR events and Benjamin Franklin member Larry Potter Black Powder Firearms instructor did the 4 hour instructions of musket identification and handling around 19 SAR compatriots from various chapters were in attendance. Camp Charlotte members Kevin Driesbach, Rich Minshall, Max Demp and Kevin T. Donahue were there where it was hot and muggy.

The first chapter meeting of the year was well attended and had a lot of topics to cover and review. This year Youth Education Chairman Rick Hartinger along with the assistance of Circleville High School teacher Jason Wells rounded up nearly 60 essays’ written by high school students. The winners presented their essay topics for the attending chapters members, The winners Kasey Borders placed 1st with her essay “The Aspirational Writer of Dreams” she also place 2nd in the state level , Rylee Starner placed 2nd and her essay was titled “The unsung heroines of the American Revolution” and Xavier Hartley placed 3rd his topic was “The Anti-Federalists and the Constitution”.
President Driesbach introduced Hocking Valley Chapter President, OHSSAR Color guard
Commander, and OHSSAR Youth Education Chairman Bob Hill. Bob organizes the changing of the guard at Fort Laurens, Ohio’s only Revolutionary Fort, in July of every year. This past year Kevin Driesbach and Rich Minshall participated,and Bob presented them each with a certificate of Appreciation. Rich Minshall received the Gold 250th medal for participating in the many 250th event that have happen over the years .

This past Tuesday for the final meeting for this year, Camp Charlotte handed out a couple of awards for some very special people. And added another new member to the Camp Charlotte chapter roster. First both Becky and Jenny Mathes who handle Search and Rescue operations here in Pickaway county took their own personal time and their fury team mates to travel down to the flood stricken Carolina’s to search and rescue missing victims and help those who hit the hardest. For this effort they were given the Emergency Medical Services Award by the Camp Charlotte Chapter SAR. Next was Kenny Fisher was sworn in Monday October 28th as the official Police Chief of the Circleville Police department after more than a year of upheaval at the department . He is a U.S. Marine Corps and Army Reserve veteran and previously worked as a sergeant at the Circleville Police Department for this effort he was given the Law Enforcement Award by the chapter. Following next was Deputy Joey Collins was awarded the Metal for Heroism this was for his effort in trying to save a family in a house fire that he had come up on before fire services could arrive. His effort caused him a lengthy stay in the local hospital through injuries received, unfortunately all lives were lost in the blaze do to the intense heat of the fire none the less he was instrumental in telling the Firefighters were the people were located in the house. The last action was the addition of Camp Charlotte’s newest member Kevin T. Donahue who was sworn in by our Camp President Kevin Driesbach. For this past Circleville Pumpkin Show assistance with the display booth and parade float, the liaison to Camp Charlotte SAR was DAR representative Christine Lallier presenting members of Camp Charlotte with a Certificate of Appreciation for their hard work in making the overall event a success.

The September 2024 chapter meeting of Camp Charlotte on Tuesday the 25th at 7:00 pm. We had a number of members in attendance as this meeting had a couple special events.
President Kevin Driesbach was presented with the Bronze Hanna White Arnette Award from the Local chapter of the Pickaway Plain DAR. The medal is one of DAR’s newest recognition’s and It may be awarded to a member in good standing of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) or Sons of the Revolution (S.R.) for unselfish devotion, tireless efforts, and assistance to the DAR; and who has dedicated his time, energy, talents, and/or resources to the organization in support and furtherance of the DAR mission of historic preservation, education and patriotism. Another event was the induction of Camp Charlotte’s newest member Robert Sellars.