Michigan Society News Archive

Fall Bulletin 2010

On Friday July 30th, Governor David Miller and Treasurer (and past Governor) Tom Smart traveled to Camp Grayling to once again participate in the annual Michigan NationalGuard Remembrance Ceremony.

It was another gorgeous northern Michigan morning, which was especially refreshing due to the fact that the heat and humidity were both quite high earlier that week. Governor Granholm was unable to attend this year's ceremony.

Major General Tom Cutler reviewed the troops and gave a very stirring speech. This was quite possibly the last of the joint ceremonies due to the fact that the training schedules will now be split up during the year, eliminating the ability to put on this ceremony.

This year's winner of the Outstanding Unit of the Year Award was: Delta Company 1st Battalion 125th Infantry, commanded by CPT Brian Vanderbie; the unit is from Big Rapids, MI.

Fall Bulletin 2008

On April 1, 2008, Governor Tom Smart presented the OFPA ROTC awards to outstanding cadets at the University of Michigan. Recipients of the 2008 awards were: Air Force Cadet Brandon Dobbs Army Cadet Steven Lewis; and Navy Officer Candidate Cody Hastings Governor Smart, accompanied by his wife Valerie, was also honored to represent the Michigan Society at the 112th General Court held May 23 - 25 in Boston.

On July 25, Michigan Society associates attended the Michigan National Guard Memorial Service and Troop Review at Camp Grayling.

Governor Smart presented the OFPA Outstanding National Guard Unit award to Company E, 1st Battalion, 125th Infantry, commanded by Captain Ravindra V. Wagh.

OFPA Michigan Governor Dave Miller with Governor General, John Bourne.	Governor Tom Smart with Michigan Governor Jennifer Granholm and MI-NG Adjutant General Thomas G. Cutler.

The OFPA award to the top Michigan National Guard unit for 2007 was presented on August 10, 2007 by Counselor General Robert Lessa to the 46th Military Police Company, commanded by Captain Kenneth H. Middaugh II. The award was presented during the Annual Troop Review and Remembrance ceremony at Camp Grayling, MI. Pictured are (from left): Secretary Warren Merchant, Deputy Governor E. David Ladd, Governor Thomas Smart, Major Samuel J. Stitt IV, Treasurer David Miller, and Councilor General and Past Governor Robert Lessa. Additionally, The Michigan Society OFPA held its Annual Fall Meeting in October 2007. The distinguished speaker was Major Samuel J. Stitt IV of the Michigan National Guard. He gave an excellent
presentation on his deployment experiences in Iraq and answered questions.

Fall Bulletin 2007

On April 28, 2007 the Western Michigan University AFROTC presented the OFPA Cadet Command’s ROTC 2007 Award.

On April 28, 2007, the Michigan Society presented the Western Michigan AFROTC with the OFPA Cadet Command’s ROTC 2007 award.

Fall Bulletin 2005

[L-R] Seated: Bob Lessa, Past Gov; Ed Lewis; “Dixie” Deane, Speaker; Dick Steele; Chuck Field, Past Gov; Standing: Bill Millman; Paul Hodges; Mike Babion; Charlie Hopkins, Past Gov; Jerry Stocking, Tom Smart, Gov.

The Michigan Society held its annual meeting at the Heritage House in Chesaning on September 24th, 2005. After a welcome message from Governor Tom Smart to the members, guests and prospective members, there was a brief business meeting and an election of three new Councilors. We were pleased to have eight ladies present.

Following toasts to the Queen and President Bush, luncheon was served. Councilor General Charles Field introduced a friend he and his wife, Barbara, met in Barbados in January 1970, Warrant Officer,

Albert “Dixie” Deane, MB.E., R.V.M., who had arrived from the United Kingdom a few days before. “Dixie” gave a great talk, full of anecdotes and humor, covering his life in the Royal Navy, thirty years of which was on board Her Majesty’s Royal Yacht Britannia as Warrant Officer in charge of communications. Dixie Deane is a holder of the Royal Victorian medal for personal service to the Queen. Deane relates, “after three decades of service sailing the seas in what is arguably the world’s most famous yacht and circumnavigating the globe eight times in the process, where he was recognized on an Isle of Man postage stamp first day cover December 11th, 1997, now chairman of the Association of Royal Yachtsmen, and at this present time, well-known around the Royal Courts of Justice where he has been installed as Clerk to Lord Justice Balcombe.” All in all, a most illustrious speaker. The Michigan Society was honored to have Albert “Dixie” Deane as a guest.

Spring Bulletin 2005

Five Past Michigan Governors each representing ten years in recognition of the Michigan Society’s 50th anniversary pictured L to R: Chris Dean, Frank Rockwell, Chuck Field, Charlie Hopkins and Bob Lessa

The society held our 50th Anniversary party last September at the Heritage House, Chesaning, Michigan. The Michigan Society received its charter fromthe General Society on 1 May 1954.

We had a very good turnout of almost 30 members and guests for the event which was also the occasion for our annual meeting. We had among our guests, President and Past Presidents of the Michigan Chapter, National Society, Daughters of Founders and Patriots of America. We had nominations and elections of a new slate of offi cers, presentations of certificates honoring the occasion of our founding in the little town of Chesaning and a talk given on West Point before the ceremonial cake cutting by fi ve MI Associates took place. The ceremony offered a proper toast of remembrance to our Michigan Society Charter Members and signed a special registration certifi cate in recognition of the anniversary.

Spring Bulletin 2004

Pictured L. to R. are Past Governor Gordon Barnett, Jr., Governor Robert Lessa and Governor Alden Atwood following the installation of Governor Lessa. The ceremony took place at the historic Heritage House in Chensaning, Michigan, where the Michigan Society received its Charter on May 1, 1954, fifty years ago.

Fall Bulletin 2002

Members of the Michigan Society of Founders and Patriots presented the Outstanding National Guard Unit Award to Captain Paul Cardenas (center), Company C, 2nd Battalion, 147th Aviation, Michigan Army National Guard at Camp Grayling at the review of troops and memorial service on 16 August 2002. Those Society members participating included Deputy Governor Robert Lessa, Councilor General Charles Field and Governor Gordon Barnett, Jr. Also present (on left), were Color Bearer Peggy Christie, Michigan Chapter, National Society, Daughters of Founders and Patriots and Lieutenant General and Michigan Army National Guard Adjutant General E. Gordon Stump.

Later in the program, The Honorable Michigan Governor John Engler in his closing remarks cited our Order's certificate which brought to his mind the patriotism of our forefathers and how this same patriotism is exhibited by our National Guard today throughout the world.