Honoring Veterans

     The Paul Carrington Chapter’s Veterans program focuses on three areas:

1. Veteran Recognition – The Chapter recognizes Compatriots for their service to our country through the presentation of SAR medals. A brochure on such recognitions is available.
    
2. Service to Veterans – The Chapter engages in activities and programs that provide service to active-duty service members and/or veterans.
    
3. Remembrance – The Chapter strives to recognize and honor veterans who have since passed on.
   
    

Military and War Service Medals

     In 1899, the Society authorized the first War Service Medal for Compatriots who served in the Spanish-American War. It was subsequently authorized for members who served in World War I and World War II. Following World War II, the NSSAR authorized a generic War Service Medal with specific service periods indicated by bronze bars.

     In 2006, the Society authorized the Military Service Medal for Compatriots to recognize military service, which does not otherwise qualify for the War Service Medal.

     A priority for the Veterans Committee Chairman is to identify those Compatriots who qualify for either Medal and to ensure that they are presented to them. The Compatriot’s Military Service Reporting Form is available for download. Simply complete the form, attach the required documentation, and give it to the Chapter’s Veterans Committee Chairman. If you have any questions or need assistance, please contact the Chapter’s Veterans Committee Chairman.

     The Society can also now recognize the military service of now deceased SAR members. The candidate must be either a deceased SAR member or a deceased serviceman who became a SAR member through the Memorial Application process. As with NSSAR Memorial Membership, the deceased member must be no more than one generation from the current generation.

War Service Medal

     The War Service Medal requires proof of service before presentation, in the form of a copy of the member’s discharge (or other U.S. or Allied Government proof in the case of a member in active service), must be presented to the Chapter secretary before the Medal can be purchased and/or worn. Such proof must show that the Compatriot:

1. served, or is serving, honorably in:
    
• the armed forces of the United States;
• the military forces of a country allied with the United States; or,
• a United Nations Peace Keeping Force.
   
2. served against a common enemy in a war or action recognized by a branch of the Armed Forces of the United States; and,
    
3. received a campaign medal, combat ribbon or badge as shown on the DD-214 form (or equivalent). Note: The National Defense Service Medal is not considered a campaign medal for purposes of qualifying for the War Service Medal.

The following attachments are authorized for wear with the full-sized War Service Medal:

• Bronze Service Bars indicate that a Compatriot received an authorized campaign medal during a specific qualifying period. Available bronze bars include: WWII, Korea, Vietnam, Southwest Asia, Kosovo, Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Global War on Terrorism (for service associated with the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal).
   
• Oak Leaf Clusters may be worn (1) to recognize participation in a war or action for which a specific Bronze Service Bar is not available, or (2) in lieu of a Bronze Service Bar or multiple Bronze Service Bars (at the Compatriot’s discretion).
   
• A Purple Heart Pin may be worn by a Compatriot who received the Purple Heart from one of the United States’ Armed Forces.

     A ribbon bar in the colors of the medal drape with a “W” device may be worn by a Compatriot whose uniformed organization permits the wearing of such ribbons.

     A Compatriot may receive additional Bronze Service Bars or Oak Leaf Clusters for subsequent qualifying war service. In addition, the Medal and any authorized appurtenances may be presented posthumously.

     The War Service Medal and Military Service Medal have equivalent precedence. However, Compatriots who qualify for the War Service Medal should wear the War Service Medal. A Compatriot may not wear both the Military Service Medal and the War Service Medal.

Military Service Medal

     The Military Service Medal requires proof of service before presentation Proof of service, in the form of a copy of the member’s discharge (or other U.S. or Allied Government proof in the case of a member in active service), must be provided to the Chapter secretary before the Medal can be purchased and/or worn. Such proof must show that the Compatriot served, or is serving, honorably in:

1. the armed forces of the United States;
2. the military forces of a country allied with the United States; or,
3. a United Nations Peace Keeping Force.

A Purple Heart Pin may be worn on the full-sized Military Service Medal by a Compatriot who received the Purple Heart from one of the United States Armed Forces.

A ribbon bar in the colors of the medal drape with an “M” device may be worn by a Compatriot whose uniformed organization permits the wearing of such ribbons.

A Compatriot may receive this Medal only once. Oak leaf clusters or other ribbon attachments are not authorized.

The Medal and any authorized appurtenances may be presented posthumously.

NSSAR Veterans Corps

     There are seven NSSAR Military Veterans Corps to which active duty and veteran Compatriots are eligible to join. Compatriots who served in the U.S. armed forces, received a discharge under conditions other than dishonorable, and are a member in good standing, are eligible to apply for membership in one of the seven Corps.

     Compatriots interested in joining may download and complete the Multi-Corps Survey Form. Once completed, the form should be e-mailed to the SAR Veterans Recognition Committee at VetCorps@sar.org . Once approved, a Certificate of Patriotism for their service to country will be signed by the President General and sent to the Chapter, through the Secretary of the State Society. The Chapter’s Veterans Committee Chairman shall arrange to have the Certificate of Patriotism presented at an appropriate Chapter event.

The Seven Veteran Corps are:

1. World War I Veterans Corps
    
2. World War II Veterans Corps
    
3. Korean Service Veterans Corps
    
4. Vietnam War Veterans Corps
    
5. Southwest Asia Veterans Corps
    
6. Special Op Veterans Corps
    
7. Military Service Veterans Corps

Service to Veterans

 

     Members are encouraged to report to the chapter all of their service to veterans. A list of the activities that should be reported to the chapter are listed here.

      Since the beginning of the pandemic, the facilities operated by the Veterans Administration have been closed to volunteers. Hopefully, chapter members will be able to provide direct service to veterans again at the VA facilities. In the meantime, the following are activities in which that members can participate:

Operation Ancestor Search

Operation Ancestor Search is a free genealogy program offered to injured service members in military hospitals. Veterans hospitals and armed forces retirement homes across the country. A program of the NSSAR, supported by Ancestry.com, it is operated by local affiliate chapters and our program partners. Operation Ancestor Search helps veterans, their families, and their caregivers discover their roots and better understand themselves through family history. Learn more at http://www.operationancestorsearch.org/. If interested, please contact the Chapter’s Veterans Committee Chairman.

The City of Houston hosts an annual Veterans Day Parade on November 11th. The Chapter intends to participate in conjunction with the five other Houston-area SAR Chapters in 2022.

Veterans History Project

     The United States Congress created the Veterans History Project (VHP) in 2000 as part of the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress, one of the world’s most respected research and cultural institutions.

     VHP’s purpose is to collect, preserve and make accessible the personal accounts of America’s wartime veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand their selfless service.

     Compatriots who are interested in participating in this project can download a kit at: https://www.loc.gov/vets/pdf/vhp-2018-fieldkit-accessible.pdf. This is a project that can also be coordinated with Scouts and JROTC cadets or midshipmen.

Wreaths Across America

     The Paul Carrington Chapter participates in the annual Wreaths Across America (WAA) project. This event occurs every December at the Houston National Cemetery. The Chapter raises funds throughout the year to purchase wreaths to honor the American heroes buried in the national cemetery. If you wish to donate, please click here. :

The Honor Flight Network

     The Honor Flight Network is a nationwide organization dedicated to honoring veterans by escorting them to their memorial in Washington D.C. to remember their fallen comrades and receive the emotional closure they are due. Our Chapter works with the local branch of Honor Flights and encourages all our members to volunteer and help whenever they are able. Learn more about Honor Flights at: https://www.honorflighthouston.org/.

Flags for Fallen Vets

     Flags for Fallen Vets was created for the purpose of ensuring an American Flag is placed upon the graves of every veteran at each National Cemetery for Memorial Day. There are close to 800,000 Interred American veterans across the country that are not given this Hallowed Honor. Volunteers place American Flags the weekend before Memorial Day and remove them the following weekend at the Houston National Cemetery. If you wish to donate or volunteer, please go to: https://www.flagsforfallenvets.com/home.php.

Compatriot Recognition

Service to Veterans Medal

     The Service to Veterans Medal is presented to Compatriots who have embraced the essence of serving veterans by accumulating 5,000 Stark Award points through their service. Each Compatriot seeking to qualify for this award is responsible for recording his personal point accumulation and providing that documentation to the Chapter Veterans Committee Chairman for verification. The cost of this award will be paid by the Chapter.

     A Certificate of Accomplishment accompanies the Medal and each oak leaf cluster. A Compatriot may receive this Medal multiple times. A bronze oak leaf cluster will be awarded for each multiple of 3,000 Stark Award points earned after the first award. The presentation and wearing of oak leaf clusters shall follow SAR policy. After five bronze oak leaf clusters have been presented, a silver oak leaf cluster will be presented to replace the five previous clusters.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Paul Carrington Chapter No. 5, Texas Society, Sons of the American Revolution
1415 South Voss Ste 110-425 — Houston, TX 77057-1086

President.HoustonSAR@Gmail.com

www.SARHouston.org

The Paul Carrington Chapter is a non-profit, non-partisan organization dedicated to promoting patriotism,
preserving American history, and supporting education for our future generations.

Copyright © 2023 Paul Carrington Chapter  —  Last Modified: Thursday, April 25, 2024

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