February 2024

Greeting Compatriots and Friends,

The year has kick started in to gear and we are moving forward fast.

The January dinner meeting was a wonderful event where we were able to recognize several of our fellow members for their volunteer service throughout the past year, 2023.

We also elected and swore in our 2024-chapter officers. I’d like to personally say thank you for the honor and trust you’ve place in me to lead the chapter this year.

We also had the wonderful experience of inducting and welcoming four new members into our chapter. Our new compatriots are Thomas Carpenter, Timotheos Mihalakos, William Skiles, and Kevin Thompson.

February offers us the opportunity to come together to plan out what we want to accomplish during 2024. I hope everyone will bring their ideas and passions to the morning business meeting on February 17th at Cattleman’s.

Thank you for all that you have done, and all that you will do. Let’s make 2024 a great year for the Sacramento Chapter of the SAR. We can only do this with YOU.

In Fellowship,

 Jon Wroten, President

2024 Chapter officers were installed by Vice President General Derek Brown (Left)

(L - R) President Jon Wroten, Treasurer Don Littlefield, and Secretary Jim Faulkinbury. (VP Meetings, Larry Brasher, and VP Programs, Craig Anderson not present)

Students at Rocklin Academy

Teacher: Janey Moffitt

"Thank you for the books! We love them!"

The SAR Mission 

“Patriotism - History – Education”

Sacramento Chapter's 1776 Book Challenge is Underway.

The 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence is just around the corner - July 4th, 2026. Our goal is to provide at least 1776 books to classrooms written for 5th grade students that inspire patriotism and a love of our American Heritage. Each teacher will receive a classroom set of books that can be used for years to come.

Teachers participating in the program will make these books available to their students and encourage them to read and report out on what they have read. Where possible, teachers can select the books that they want for their classrooms.

Please Consider Donating

You Make a Difference in our Community

Join the 1776 Book Challenge by donating funds that will enable us to purchase books for this program. For each $10 donated, we will place a book plate with your name or your business name in each book.

Donors may elect to sponsor 1 or more 5th grade classrooms with a donation of $350 each by specifying the teacher's name and school.

If you would like to volunteer to help with this project, contact:

• Carl Ahlberg (916)624-3917 - icahlberg@sbcglobal.net
• Craig Anderson (916)257-7892 - craigandersonsar@gmail.com.

You may donate by sending your check to Sacramento SAR, P.O. Box 6664, Folsom, CA. 95763-6664. Open and print the donation form at the link below:

OR

You may donate by credit card at the following link.

(Transaction Fees Apply)

January 19, 2024 three classroom sets of books were donated to teachers at Stonegate K-8 School in West Sacramento. The books were donated by Dollar General. Pictured L-R is Amanda Angel, Angela Williams, and Luba Blair.

Two classroom sets of books were donated to teachers at Orangevale Open K-8 School. They received 68 copies of "The Fighting Ground" Pictured is Kimm Battistessa on left and Rachel LePage on right

BOOK DONATIONS

THANK YOU FOR YOUR GENEROUS DONATION

TO OUR 1776 BOOK CHALLENGE

Jim Faulkinbury has been awarded the Hannah White Arnett Silver Medal of Distinction for extraordinary cooperation and outstanding service to NSDAR by a member of the SAR or SR from the California  State Society DAR and presented by the Gold Trail Chapter. 

Several years ago, the past presidents of the Sacramento Chapter created an award to recognize and honor long and outstanding service to the Sons of the American Revolution. They created the Sacramento Chapter’s Presidents award to be awarded to members nominated and approved by past presidents of the chapter. This is a highly prestigious award and since inception, chapter presidents have only given this award to 8 compatriots for dedicated and faithful service to our organization. During our January meeting, Roy Adkins and Carl Ahlberg were presented this award from the past presidents of the Sacramento Chapter. 

Roy Adkins has served as the chairman of the Sacramento Chapter’s ROTC/JROTC program for 10 years. The program awards the ROTC Medal to outstanding cadets to foster the principle of the “citizen-soldier,” exemplified by the Minutemen of the Revolutionary War. Roy had taken this program to a high level working closely with high schools and universities to identify and reward excellence in these programs.

(L to R) Past President Don Littlefield, President Jon Wroten, Roy Adkins, Past Presidents Jim Faulkinbury, Del Hanson, and Jeff Goodwin.

Carl Ahlberg has served in many roles in the Sacramento Chapter: Brochure Contest Chairman, VP Meetings, Chapter Secretary, School Guard Coordinator, and Chairman of our 1776 Book Challenge. His extensive educational background had been a real asset to our educational outreach programs; under his guidance the chapter was awarded the President General’s Educational Outreach Steamer in 2018. (L to R) President Jon Wroten Past President Don Littlefield, Carl Ahlberg, Past Presidents Jim Faulkinbury, Del Hanson, and Jeff Goodwin,

Both compatriots serve as great role models for our chapter, and their work not only has a positive impact for the SAR, but most importantly, their dedication has made a positive impact on the students and educators in our communities.

Jon Wroten presented Don Littlefield with a Minuteman for his service as Treasurer to Sacramento Chapter and a book “The American Revolution” for his support and mentorship to Jon during the past year.

Speech to the DAR Chief Solano Chapter - Jan 20, 2024 - Fairfield, CA

Don Littlefield with the DAR Chief Solano Chapter Regent Dawn Witherspoon.

Ron D. Proffer

June 10, 1942 - January 21, 2024

Ronald Duane Proffer passed away with Parkinson’s January 21, 2024. He was born June 10, 1942, in San Diego, CA.



Starting in WWII, Ron’s father was in Navy Air and the family was stationed at Air Bases in Maryland, Hawaii, Newfoundland and Washington. From a boy, Ron loved Airplanes, Jets, Helicopters, Tanks and especially all things WWII. He loved hunting, fishing and long range target shooting so he always found local jobs to support his hobbies.

Ron enlisted in the USAF after high school and was stationed at Castle AFB near Merced, CA. There he earned a Silver Star for recovering a weapon that was involved in an accident. They told him he could be transferred wherever he wanted and he chose Southeast Asia.

When his enlistment was up he returned to California and worked for AT&T as a Communications Technician. This career of 30 years in San Francisco and Sacramento allowed him to support his hobbies too. He spent many hours at shooting ranges: Coyote Point, Lake Chabot and Sacramento Valley Shooting Center in Ione. In Sacramento he found two fellowships: Sons of the American Revolution and Alcoholics Anonymous. He made many wonderful friends in both.

Ron is survived by his wife, Patty. They were married for 46 happy years. They had one son, Michael, who died in 1997.

He will be missed by many for his sense of humor and his straightforward opinions and comments. Services will be held at a later date.

Thomas Elden Carpenter

Tom was born in 1941 in San Diego County and grew up there. He attended San Diego State College and graduated in 1963 earning a degree in Biology and was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the Air Force. He served 21 years with assignments in Puerto Rico, Viet Nam, Scotland, Holland, and Germany:interspersed with short assignments to stateside bases. He had 1500 flying hours split equally between B-52 bombers and F-4 fighter jets. He subsequently earned a California teaching credential and taught for the next 20 years, initially teaching for the juvenile court schools, and then Cordova High School. His primary teaching subject was general science.

In 1980 he married Ingeborg, whom he met in Germany. They have two married

daughters and four grandchildren: 2 boys and 2 girls. All are doing well. Since

retiring from teaching in 2008, he formed a 4-piece band of professional

musicians. They stay very busy. In September and Oktober they are a German

band. The remainder of the year they do St. Patrick's Day, Veterans Day,

Christmas, etc.

His Patriot Ancestor is Auke Wyckoff who served as a Col. in General Forman’s 3 rd

Reg. of the Monmouth Co. New Jersey Militia and also as a Lt Col. under Col.

Daniel Henrickson and as a Major under Col. Asher Holmes. He was a POW in

1777 and 1779.

William Donald Skiles 

Bill and his wife Dorothy relocated to Sacramento in September 2022, from the Sunland-Tujunga suburb of Los Angeles where I was raised and we raised our sons.  They have been married since 1972. They have twin boys, George who is a partner in the firm Sjoberg-Evashenk Consulting located here in Sacramento, and William who is an associate professor of history at Regent University in Virginia Beach, Virginia. George has one daughter and William has two sons and one daughter.

Bill earned a bachelor’s degree from Humboldt State and a master’s degree from San Diego State, both in English. He enlisted in the US Army in 1967 and was on active duty until 1969.

He was employed by the City of Los Angeles from 1972 until his retirement in 2005, having worked in their Bureau of Engineering, Police Department, Controller’s Office, Building and Safety and Department of Water and Power. He retired as a Senior Management Analyst. 

Since retirement Bill became actively involved with the Sunland Tujunga Neighborhood Council, serving on their Land Use, Budget, and Arts and Recreation committees until we moved to Sacramento in 2022. He continues to be active in Sunland-Tujunga’s local historical society, Little Landers historical Society at Bolton Hall, and he is currently a board member of that organization. He is also currently a Board member of the Tuna Camp Detention Station Coalition. 

Bill’s hobbies and interests have included writing, photography, genealogy, astronomy, gardening, ham radio and travel, not all at the same time. He is a member of the American Legion, and Vietnam Veterans of America although he is not active in either organization.

His Patriot Ancestor was Jacob Cromer

Timotheos Nicholas Mihalakos

Tim Mihalakos was born in 1984 and is a native to Sacramento. He is of Scottish and Greek descent.

At Seventeen he joined the US Navy, where the majority of his time he worked asma Plane Captain and Ejection Seat mechanic on F/A-18C aircraft. After multiple

deployments during Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom. Tim returned to Sacramento to begin his current 17-year career working at the California Governor’s Officer of Emergency Services, and the Emergency Medical Services Authority working in disaster and emergency response and recovery for the State of California.

Tim enjoys time with his girlfriend Heather, who is a member of the Daughters of

the American Revolution, his daughter Zoey who’s currently a high school

freshman, and their dog Hunter who’s currently a pain in their backside. Tim has a passion for disaster preparedness, off-grid living, wilderness and ocean survival skills, and his family’s cultural and military history.

His Patriot Ancestor is Berry Chase was a Sergeant in New York serving under Capt. David Hecock and Cols. John Field and James Vanderburgh.

Kevin David Thompson 

Kevin Thompson was born on 18 April 1966 in San Rafael, California and is married to Dayna Palmer in 2017. They have a 20-year-old son, Ben, who is

currently a student living with them in Folsom.

Kevin retired in July 2017 as a Fire Suppression Captain with the Sacramento Metropolitan Fire district. He worked as a firefighter for 30 years. 

He enjoys travel, paddle boarding, SCUBA, cycling and gym time 3 days a week. He is a proud patriot and cherishes the freedoms that are provided in this country

thanks to the sacrifices of so many fellow patriots. His stepfather and grandfather both served in WWII. He is excited to become a new member of SAR!

His Patriot Ancestor is Malachi Hinton who provided patriotic service by signing the Oath of Allegiance in Johnson County North Carolina in August 1779.

February 2024 Sacramento Chapter Business Meeting

COMPATRIOTS:

Mark your calendars! The first 2024 business meeting of the membership on February 17th at Cattlemens Restaurant in Rancho Cordova. Meeting begins at 9AM and light refreshments will be provided.

Minutes of the Meeting of the Sacramento Chapter, SAR

Wednesday, January 17, 2024, at the Old Spaghetti Factory, Sacramento, CA

President Jon Wroten called the Meeting to Order at 7:00 pm

Chaplain Larry Niekamp gave the Invocation, followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Roy Adkins and the Pledge to the SAR led by Del Hanson.

Welcome remarks and introductions were given by President Jon Wroten. Special guests recognized were Derek Brown, Vice President General, International District NSSAR and Janet Brown, President of the LACASSAR (or Ladies Auxiliary California Society of Sons of the American Revolution).

 There being 9 SAR chapter members in attendance, a quorum was duly established.

1.   President Wroten made a special announcement that Jim Faulkinbury was awarded the Hannah White Arnett Silver Medal of Distinction for extraordinary cooperation and outstanding service by a member of the SAR or SR to NSDAR from the California State Society DAR and presented by the Gold Trail Chapter at their January Meeting."



 2.   Roy Adkins was awarded and presented with the President’s Award by Don Littlefield on behalf of all past and current presidents. Also participating in the presentation of the award were Del Hanson, Jeff Goodwin, Jim Faulkinbury and Jon Wroten.

3.   Don Littlefield read an email from Cynthia Gibbs, Chair of Wreaths Across America from the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter of the NSDAR thanking the Sacramento Chapter SAR and its members for their support, assistance, and participation in the Wreaths Across America ceremony and wreath laying this past December 16^th, 2023.

4.   Officer Elections - President Wroten announced the list of 2024 candidates for election as Chapter Officers. They are:

¨     President –                                Jon Wroten

¨     Exec. Vice President –            Vacant

¨     Secretary –                                Jim Faulkinbury

¨     Treasurer –                                Don Littlefield

¨     Vice President Programs –     Craig Anderson

¨     Vice President Meetings –       Larry Brasher

¨     Registrar –                                Vacant

5.   A call for final nominations from the floor was made three times with no additional nominations. The nominations were closed, and a vote of the members was held. All members voted unanimously in favor of the slate of candidates. There were no Nay votes and no abstentions.

6.   Derek Brown, Vice President General NSSAR administered the oath of office and swore in the elected officers that were present. These were, Jon Wroten - President, Jim Faulkinbury - Secretary, and Don Littlefield - Treasurer. (Note: Craig Anderson and Larry Brasher were not present at the meeting and will be sworn in at the next regular business meeting of the Chapter.)

7.   President Wroten and Secretary Faulkinbury inducted four new members to the Chapter. The inductees were.

• Thomas Carpenter
• William Skiles
• Kevin Thompson
• Timotheos Mihalakos.

8.   The new member oath was administered by President Wroten and the new member’s rosettes were presented by Secretary Faulkinbury. All members of the Chapter came forward and welcomed them.

9.   Compatriot Tom Carpenter gave the 250 minutes. The Battle of Cowpens on January 17, 1781, and the Cowpens flag were presented, and the story was told.

10. Dinner - A break in the program was taken to allow attendees time to socialize and enjoy their dinners.

11. Jim Faulkinbury was presented with the Henry Knox Medal by President Wroten for his dedication and endless contributions to the Sacramento Chapter, including serving currently as the Secretary, Genealogist, and assisting the Registrar.

12. Larry Niekamp was presented with the Roger Sherman Award by President Wroten for his dedicated service to the Chapter, and specifically for currently serving as Program Chairman for Veteran’s Recognition and as Chapter Chaplain.

13. Don Littlefield was recognized by President Wroten for his contributions as Treasurer, and for significant support and mentorship to Wroten.

14. Carl Alhberg was awarded and presented with the President’s Award by Don Littlefield on behalf of all past and current presidents. Also participating in the presentation of the award were Del Hanson, Jeff Goodwin, Jim Faulkinbury and Jon Wroten.

There being no further business, the SAR Recessional was recited, followed by Chaplain Larry Niekamp offering the Benediction. Those in attendance sang God Bless America.

President Wroten adjourned the meeting at 8:35pm.

Respectfully submitted,

Jon Wroten, President

2024 Annual Meeting of the California Society

Sons of the American Revolution

On April 26 and 27, 2024, Northern California will host the California Society SAR Annual Meeting at the gorgeous Hyatt Regency SFO, in Burlingame. The Hyatt sits immediately adjacent to San Francisco Bay on Old Bayshore Highway.

During this meeting, Don Littlefield will be installed as President of the CA Society. This is a great opportunity for regular members who have never attended a California Society meeting to come and learn firsthand the great work the SAR is doing in our communities every day at both the national level and by our 24 chapters spread throughout  California. 

Hotel reservations are now open. Take advantage of the great room rates and heavily discounted parking and reserve your room as soon as possible. Just click the link below:

Coming Color Guard Events

March 2nd, 2024: Freedoms Foundation Youth Awards Banquet, Timber Creek Ballroom, 7050 Del Webb Blvd, Roseville, CA.



COMMUNITY EVENTS

2024 Awards Banquet Program

Mar. 2, 2024, 6:00 p.m., Timber Creek Ballroom, 7050 Del Webb Blvd. Roseville

Keynote Speaker – Brad Wilkes, Global Humanitarian

“Firewood, a Christmas Tree, and a sack of flour”

2024 SAR Meeting Calendar