Ancestry/Genealogy

I had found 14 "patriot" ancestors and mostly wanted a place to hold the various documentation (other than myself).

The local meetings didn't impress me very much, and I soon learned that I was much more liberal than the other attendees. It might vary depending on the location?

I ended my membership after getting a second "supplemental" ancestor in the records at Louisville (for a total of three), and I was once again given a tit-for-tat situation by a local member in order for him to approve my paperwork and records to send them forward to the verifying genealogists at Louisville. (I don't think the DAR includes that ridiculous initial screening step.)

He said that it looked good, but he'd need me to do the local chapter a favor before he'd send the information. (Despite me already paying for it. It's not like it cost me nothing money-wise.)

So I asked what it entailed, and he said I needed to pass out medals to some JROTC students at a high school for their various achievements. I initially declined, saying that I didn't want to stand in front of a crowd of students and give a speech or whatever. He replied, "No, no, no... it's nothing like that. Their commander will give a speech at the ceremony while you await off-stage, and then you'll just pass out the medals when he announces it's time for that part of it." So I agreed.

Showed up on schedule. While behind the curtain and listening to their commander at the podium, he suddenly announced to the crowd of students and their families that I'd give a speech to them about the SAR for about 15 minutes and then I'd pass out awards! Then he turned towards me while clapping, as I stayed behind the curtain while waving my arms from side to side and mouthing "No! No! No!"

After he ignored that, I slowly stepped onto the stage and behind the podium. I wasn't prepared for a speech at all! I started by pulling an SAR pamphlet out of my pocket and just reading it to the crowd, while my mind was scrambling about what else to tell them. During that time, I decided to recount the history (probably not entirely accurate) of my ancestor from Maryland who was an officer during the Southern Campaign of the war.

I explained their repeated losses to the Brits, and how Nathaniel Greene had adopted guerrilla tactics instead. And how the Brits destroyed their supplies in a push to catch them and destroy Greene's forces once and for all. And how that decision, which was unsuccessful, resulted in their troops seeking new supplies at Yorktown VA, where Washington and Greene trapped them by land while French ships trapped them by sea. And how it ultimately lead to the British surrender and the end of the war. Then I added some "Rah, rah America!" commentary at the end of some kind, and announced that's all I wanted to share.

Then I stood there at the podium while thinking, "They hated it! Nobody is making a sound out there!" But then as I started to step away from the podium, the place erupted into loud applause and whistles! So I took a couple steps back to the podium, nodded my head at them, and then walked behind the curtain again.

The commander-guy returned to the podium while clapping, where he praised my "rousing" speech about this country's wonderful history, and the crowd loudly applauded again. Yadda, yadda, yadda.

Then I handed out the medals while the JROTC students (who were really quite nice) acted like I was a hero or something.

So it turned out far better than I could have imagined, but I was still bitter about yet another lie (or misunderstanding) by the local SAR guy when he asked for the favor, and that ended the SAR membership for me.