Butler County NSDAR Veterans' Breakfast
The Butler County Chapter NSDAR held their 2017 Veterans Breakfast on Saturday, November 11th.
This year’s program began with a welcome by Chapter Regent Georgia Lavern Romans followed by the pledge to the flag led by Lois Russ. After the invocation by Chapter Chaplain, Peggy Drake, a delicious breakfast was enjoyed.
Gladys Brooks presented the Veteran of the Year, J. Horace Chapman. She shared a brief description of his service, then presented him with a certificate of appreciation for that service.
Horace Chapman was drafted into the United States Army June 21, 1945. He reported to Atterberry, IN and five days later he was in Camp Clairburn, LA. After a leave, he went to Ft Dix, NJ and shipped to Italy and stayed 11 months. He operated a gasoline-powered high-speed Caterpillar tractor, towed artillery weapons, and other military equipment. Horace made an inspection of tractors by checking the condition of brakes, steering mechanisms, motor tracks, and other parts, repairing as needed. Horace was discharged in January of 1947.
After his discharge, Horace went to Indianapolis and worked. He then came back home in 1948 and began farming and continued for 18 years.
Horace is married to Sidney Hatcher, and they had one son, Bryon Lee. He and his wife live in the Sugar Grove area in Sidney’s father's place.
Lois Russ then read a list of all the veterans in attendance and thanked them for their service. This year’s crowd included veterans from the US Army (21), Navy (2), Marines (3), Airforce (3) and the Coast Guard (1).
A list of those recognized in the past as Veteran of the Year by the chapter included:
1985 Lewis Orange
1986 Walter Dunn
1987 Onva White
1988 Sharone Nash
1989 Austin H. Vance
1990 John T. Abbott
1991 Harold Moore
1992 Don Jenkins
1993 Walter Chyle, Jr.
1994 Omar Bratton
1995 Jesse Martin
1996 Carlton Drake
1997 Verner Cook
1998 Boyd Fuller
1999 Glendel R. Coleman
1999 W. David Coleman
2000 Exel Clark
2001 Troy G. Abbott
2002 Randy Dale McKinney
2003 Howard W. Vaughn
2004 Joe Bunch
2005 Mary F. Eberman Gall
2005 Henry Threlkel
2006 Dewey Lee Smith
2007 Charles B. Gary
2007 Fred Schaser
2007 Ray Schultz
2007 Mirko Radovich
2008 Kendall Hatcher
2008 Wilbur Drake
2008 Hugh Hunt
2009 Bill Lewis Green
2010 All Veterans
2009 Gary Phelps
2011 Edward Lee Odle
2012 Bubby Porter
2013 Presley McCoy
2013 Bill Cook
2014 Denver Beliles
2015 Don McKenney
2016 James B. Cartwright
2017 J. Horace Chapman
Butler County Chapter NSDAR Ladies and Horace Chapman, Veteran of the Year.
Leesa Russ was presented a gift from the DAR for her work on a sign for the Festival of Trees.
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