We inducted nine (9) new members at our May meeting! This is the largest group of new inductee’s in years for our Chapter.
From the left , Joseph Geiser, Jim McAdory with his back to the camera is blocking Matthew Griesbach, Justin Shelton, Chris Shelton, Ryan Ekler, Howard Bartholomew, Chester Gorman, Dave Geiser, Darryl Stanley.
Our keynote speaker, Dr. Edward Blum of SDSU’s Early American History department. He opened a new perspective to our members on the importance of preserving official records in early America and throughout the Revolution.
Our Chapter’s Poster Contest winner, Samuel Weeding, was presented checks from our Chapter and the California Society. Michael Hirman (center) coordinated the contest. Alan Winters (left) presents the checks to the winner as Jim McAdory holds the poster along with Samuel.
Ben Hobbins was presented the Meritorious Service Medal on behalf of the Redlands Chapter (Ben transferred to San Diego from Redlands). We also presented him with his 5 year certificate.
James Helt was presented the 5 year certificate and he and his wife, Sandra, were presented the Bronze Henry Knox medal for their years of attendance to our meetings.
Gary Ely was presented with the 5 year Certificate and he and his wife, Barbara, were also presented with the Bronze America250 medal.
Gary Newton was presented with the Distinguished Service Medal. He received the Certificate for this Award but not the medal. This is a well deserved award as Gary built and manages our successful JROTC program.
We held our May meeting at the American Legion Post #460 in Linda Vista which is located at 7815 Armour St, San Diego. This an excellent central location and the venue was very accommodating to our needs and those of our members. The focus of this meeting will be on Revolutionary War era history with our speaker being Dr. Edward Blum of SDSU’s History Dept. We inducted nine new members into our Chapter and made a number of awards to our members and guests.
Richard Rosvok from the Spirit of Liberty foundation gave a presentations on a new “traveling” display of the Declaration of Independence that he wants SAR to help present around the country.
This was a light lunch meeting that was well received.
Edward J. Blum is a professor of nineteenth-century United States History in the History Department at San Diego State University. He received his B.A. from the University of Michigan and his M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of Kentucky. His research, writing, and teaching involve politics, constitutionalism, war, society, and culture in the United States from the founding of the nation through the era of the Civil War. He has particular interests in how demography, statistics, and the Census play roles in shaping the course of United States history.
Blum is also the author and co-author of several books on religion and race in United States history, including War is All Hell: The Nature of Evil and the Civil War (2021), Reforging the White Republic: Race, Religion, and American Nationalism, 1865-1898 (2005; reissued 2015), W. E. B. Du Bois, American Prophet (2007), and The Color of Christ: The Son of God and the Saga of Race in America (2012). He is the winner of numerous awards including the Peter Seaborg Award for Civil War Scholarship, the Gustave O. Arlt Award in the Humanities, and the John T. Hubbell Prize for best article published in Civil War History in 2015.