Sons of the American Revolution Chapter Organized

The American Revolution officially began April 19, 1775 in Massachusetts in the small hamlets of Lexington and Concord. Some of the descendants of the valiant men who fought this revolution have formed a local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) in Oceana.

The new chapter, officially titled, The Captain Ralph Stewart Chapter, received their charter and celebrated with a dinner January 20 at Oceana Middle School.

(From left, Bob Cook, Paul Ray Blankenship, David Bailey, Ira Cook Jr., Danford Bragg Jr., Dale Cook, Fairley Jewell, Danford Bragg Sr, and John Sauer)

Ira Cook Jr., president, who presided over the dinner meeting, welcomed those in attendance, explained the purpose of the SAR and introduced dignitaries. Visiting dignitaries included John H. Sauer, president, West Virginia Society, SAR; Bob Fish, first vice president, West Virginia SAR; Lance Carter, secretary-treasurer, West Virginia SAR; Larry Perkins, vice president general, Central District, National SAR; Cora Teel, state corresponding secretary, DAR; Shirley Gilkeson, state regent, West Virginia DAR; and James Goode, chaplain.

"The mission of the SAR is about perpetuating the memory of our veterans of the Revolutionary War who made our liberty and our freedom what it is today," Cook stated. "The SAR's purpose is to keep the memory alive of what these people did in order that we have the liberty and freedom, the Constitution, the Declaration of Independence, the Bill of Rights. . .The things we have today we have to give those people credit."

Cook gave credit for the local chapter's formation to the John Cooke Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

"They kept encouraging different ones to join," he said. "They were instrumental in pushing the idea."

Cook said several SAR members have wives who are DAR members and they got them involved. Cook originally contacted President Sauer concerning organizing a local chapter and the group officially met for the first organizational meeting on September 9, 2006 at the Oceana Methodist Church. "That's how it came about," Cook added.

The Pledge of Allegiance was led by Danford Bragg Sr., vice president, and the SAR Opening Pledge was recited by compatriots.

James Goode then offered the invocation.

Vice President General Central District Larry Perkins conducted the installation of the officers, which included Cook, president; Danford Bragg Sr., vice president; Paul Ray Blankenship, secretary-treasurer; Bob Cook, chaplain; Fairley Jewell, registrar; and Emerson Stewart, public relations. Other members of the twelve-member group are Dale Cook, Danford Bragg Jr., Brad Lusk, Kevin Lusk, William Darrell Miller and David Ray Bailey.

Speakers for the evening included Delegate Richard Browning, and local historian Paul Ray Blankenship. Browning also presented two flags to the SAR.

Following their presentations, President John H. Sauer presented the official Sons of the American Revolution Charter to the Captain Ralph Stewart Chapter. The group then recited the SAR closing pledge and local chaplain James R. Cook offered the benediction.

The group will meet ten times per year, the first Tuesday of each month excluding July and August. The meetings will tentatively be held at Oceana Middle School, at 6:30 p.m. Cook said plans are to eventually meet in the new addition to the Oceana Library where they can put their flag, memorabilia, and other items.

"Our goal right now is to continue our membership drive to increase our membership," Cook explained. "That's number one."

Cook said it's really simple to become a member. "You just have to be 18 years old, and have a direct lineage to a Revolutionary War veteran. To go through the process you must document every generation, beginning with yourself, and go back to the veteran to whom you are related. You must also be able to document that person as being a veteran. When you document, that means birth certificates, marriage licenses, census reports, property tax documents, church records, school records, and family Bible records. These all serve as good documentation."

Several of the many future projects planned include participating in Memorial Day events, laying a wreath at Captain Ralph Stewart's grave, and cleaning the cemetery.

The Ralph Stewart Chapter of the SAR is open to any descendant of a Revolutionary War veteran in the entire region and is not exclusively an Oceana organization.

John Cooke is recognized as the first settler of the Oceana area, and Captain Ralph Stewart is known as the second.