Good Citizen Awards presented by Samuel Doak Chapter NSDAR

The Good Citizen Awards were presented on October 26, 2019, to Lane Ripley, daughter of Tammy Ripley, who attends West High School, and Neely Yates, daughter of Jim and Ronna Yates, who attends Grainger High School.  Samuel Doak Chapter Registrar Barbara Baker presented the awards in the absence of the Samuel Doak Chapter Chairman of the Good Citizen Awards Committee, Kay Senter.   Emily Rowland, daughter of Russell and Tammy Rowland, who attends East High School, and who was also a winner, was not able to attend.  

The Essay Title was “Our American Heritage and Our Responsibility for Preserving it.”  The focus question was, “You and your peers are our nation’s leaders of tomorrow.  How would you energize America’s youth as effective citizens?  Why is that important?” The essay had to be written in the presence of a faculty or DAR member within a two-hour time limit and could be no longer than 550 words (title included).  The word count had to be located at the end of the essay.  No reference material other than a dictionary could be used.

Both Lane and Neely read their outstanding essays to the Samuel Doak Chapter members at the chapter DAR meeting and they were awarded framed certificates, pins, and $50.00 checks.  Neely Yates’ essay has been chosen to be sent to the Tennessee State DAR and if a winner at that level, her essay will go on to the National DAR level for completing.

26 October, 2019

Vietnam Veteran PV1, Kenneth P. Shemanski, died March 3, 2018, and was buried August 26, 2019, in the Mountain Home National Cemetery, in Johnson City, Tennessee.  No family members of Mr. Shemanski came forward to claim the body and that was the reason for the burial delay.  

The service was attended by the American Legion, Vietnam Veterans, Rolling Thunder and Cemetery Volunteers.  The Tennessee State Daughters of the American Revolution Chairman of the Flag of the United States Committee Nannette Feeback, who is also the TSDAR State Co-Chairman of the Transportation Committee and the Avery Trace Chapter NSDAR Vice Regent; and Laurel Reeves, who is a member of the State of Franklin Chapter NSDAR, attended the funeral.  The flag that was laid over his coffin was given to Ms. Feeback.

Ms. Feeback contacted Samuel Doak Chapter Regent Joyce Damon since the chapter was closest to his hometown, Rutledge, Tennessee.  Regent Damon  asked if it was possible to do a bit of research on PV Shemanski to know him as a man, not just as a name.  She learned that PV Shemanski lived in Bean Station in 1995 - 1997.  It was discovered that Mr. Shemanski’s mother was a native of Bean Station from her death notice, that his brother had attended Oak Ridge High School in Anderson County, TN, and that both parents were buried in the Oak Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.  Regent Damon contacted Grainger County, TN Archivist Mary Lynn Gilmore for more information on Kenneth Patrick Shemanski, but there was nothing else to learn about him in Rutledge, TN,  although it was listed as his hometown.

Teri Oaks, Regent of the Clinch Bend Chapter NSDAR, was contacted to see if there was additional information and it was discovered that Evelyn Elam Shemanski, PV Shemanski’s mother, was a public school teacher, and  had taught at various Oak Ridge Schools.  She died in 1990 in Newport News, Virginia, and was buried in Oak Ridge, TN.  His father, Michael F. Shemanski died in 1977, in Hillsborough, Florida, and was also buried in Oak Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery.  His brother, Thomas Michael Shemanski, was listed as deceased.

Without any further information available, it was decided to present PV Shemanski’s flag to the Oak Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery to be flown in the area where his parents were buried.  On October 10, 2019, at 11:00 AM, PV Kenneth P. Shemanski’s flag was presented to David Sansom, a representative from the Oak Ridge Memorial Park Cemetery, by Regent Joyce Damon, First Vice Regent Tracy Wood, Registrar Barbara Baker, and Julia Jordan, members of the Samuel Doak Chapter NSDAR, and Regent Teri Oaks, and Registrar Kathy Chippendale of the Clinch Bend Chapter NSDAR.  The flag will be flown close to Michael and Evelyn Shemanski’s grave site.  PV Shemanski’s flag is finally home.