Beech Tree News Network

Lynda O'Driscoll, Chapter Regent for the Butler County Daughters of the American Revolution, welcomed everyone to the Veterans Breakfast.  This breakfast was held at the Butler County High School Saturday, November 6 to honor the four Veterans of the Year for 2021.

Darlene Scott presented two Quilts of Honor to the Kitchen twins, Boyce and Royce, who joined the Army together in 1950.  They are natives of Butler County, born in 1928 to Ustes and Gusta Kitchens.

Boyce married Atla Mae Bean in 1951.  They later had two children, Marsha and Gerald. Boyce retired from American Standard in 1983.

The brothers were stationed together in Germany.  In 1952, they were honorably discharged. Royce married Annie Ruth Ray.  They had two sons Stephen and Jeffrey.  Royce’s wife passes in 2008.  Royce retired from Ford in Nashville after forty-four years.

Darlene is a member of the Butler County Piecemakers who make the quilts.  Along with Sue Abbott, the long arm quilter, they are proud to make and present the Quilts of Honor each year to our deserving Veterans.

Specialists Joshua O'Driscoll enlisted in the Army in 2004, his senior year at Butler County High School.  He was deployed to Operation Iraqi Freedom.  August 6, 2006, the semi he was riding in drove over an IED, improvised explosive device, that exploded.  He jumped out telling everyone he was alright, but his fellow soldiers told him he had shrapnel embedded in his hip.

After six years of service, he returned home to Rochester.  Joshua is the son of Patrick and Linda O'Driscoll.  His wife is Destney. In 2013 he was awarded the Purple Heart, one of the most recognized and respected medals earned by members of the U S Armed Forces.

Dean Bartholomew was presented a Quilt of Honor at the 2019 Veterans Day celebration.  His wife, Ann, sewed the quilt top which made the gift even more memorable. Dean and his twin brother Don were born to Glen and Marjorie in 1949.  Dean enlisted in the Army and after basic training was deployed to Germany for eighteen months with the 283rd Engineer Battalion. June 1st, 1969, he reported for duty in Vietnam.  He was sent into areas where there would be no rescue if they were captured.  Dean and his wife Ann were married in 1970 and had a daughter, Karrie and a son, Glennon. They built a home and moved to Butler County in 2008.

The school kitchen staff prepared a delicious hot breakfast for everyone.

In her closing remarks, Lynda gave a very emotional message to everyone there of how sadly our Veterans were treated when returning to America from the Vietnam War.

We love and appreciate all our Veterans, past and present, who have in many cases sacrificed everything to provide us with the Freedoms we enjoy today.

God Bless America!