As descendants of America’s very first veterans, members of the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) have long supported veterans and veterans’ causes. The mission of the SAR Veterans Committee is to direct the SAR’s efforts to serve those who have served us by overseeing a number of programs to encourage and recognize individuals, chapters, and state-level societies in their support of veterans.
USS STARK MEMORIAL AWARD
The USS Stark Memorial Award recognizes outstanding chapters and state societies within the SAR for their support of Veterans by having exceptional overall Veterans programs. The Veterans Committee establishes the criteria for the Stark Report that are used in determining the winners of the award presented at the annual SAR Congress.
In 1988, the SAR authorized the USS Stark Memorial Award to memorialize those brave men and women who continue to stand at the forefront to preserve the freedoms our patriotic ancestors fought so long and hard to achieve. Its purpose is to recognize outstanding SAR chapters and societies for their exceptional support of the activities of the SAR Veterans Committee and in serving the Veteran community.
The USS Stark was a United States Navy guided-missile frigate launched on May 30, 1980. In 1987, the ship was deployed to the Middle East, and on May 17, 1987, was struck by two Exocet missiles fired from an Iraqi warplane. There were thirty-seven U.S. sailors killed and twenty-one injured. The USS Stark was repaired and returned to service. She was decommissioned in 1999.
The reporting period for the USS Stark Award competition is January 1 through December 31 of the previous year. Chapter activities are to be recorded by each Chapter Veterans Committee Chairman on the USS Stark Award Scoring Sheet (available on this website) and submitted according to the instructions on the Scoring Sheet, with a copy sent to the State Society Veterans Committee Chairman by January 15. The State Society Chairman will consolidate all chapter reports to compile a society report, using the same Scoring Sheet and submit a report to the SAR Veterans Committee Chairman and Executive Director not later than February 1 of each year. Each submitter (chapter or society) must document some categories. Those needing assistance with the USS Stark Memorial Award Scoring Sheet should consult with the State Society Chair or the National Veterans Committee.
Awards will recognize the most active chapters and state societies. An award certificate will go to winning chapters based on membership size: 10 to 49, 50 to 99, 100 to 199, and 200 or more, using a weighted equation on a per member basis. First-place awards for state societies will be based on membership size: 10 to 199, 200 to 499, 500 to 999, and 1,000 or more members, using a weighted equation on a per member basis. A first-place award may not be won for two consecutive years, though an honorable mention certificate may be awarded at the discretion of the Veterans Committee.
The State Veterans Service Award will be awarded for the first time at the 2022 National Congress in Savannah, Ga. To qualify for the award, a state society must:
1) Submit a USS Stark Memorial score sheet, and
2) Submit USS Stark Memorial Award score sheets meeting the applicable criteria in the following:
a. For societies with no chapters, submit the society score sheet only, with a minimum of 50 points on the state society score sheet submitted, or
b. For societies with one or more chapters, at least 50 percent of its chapters must submit a USS Stark Memorial Award score sheet, with a minimum of 50 points on each score sheet submitted.
Only those score sheets for the state society and its chapters sent by the reporting deadline (Feb. 1) will be considered.
No extra paperwork or reporting is required. Any society meeting the criteria will automatically have its name sent to the President General, who will award a certificate.
The mission of the Veterans Committee is to direct the SAR’s efforts to serve those who have served us by overseeing several programs to encourage and recognize individuals, chapters and state-level societies in their support of veterans. The USS Stark Memorial report is the primary tool for monitoring SAR member activities in serving veterans. The Veterans Committee has determined that one method to encourage submission of the USS Stark Memorial report is to recognize the state societies based on the percentage of their chapters submitting reports. Historically, 30-50 reports are submitted each year, representing approximately 5-9 percent of SAR chapters. Due to the Veterans Committee promotion efforts, the USS Stark Memorial reports submitted have increased to 106 (approximately 20 percent of SAR chapters).
Although an individual chapter may not win an award by itself, it can contribute to the state society qualifying for the award. The committee believes that this award will motivate individual chapters to support their society and inspire state societies to encourage its chapters to submit their reports.
The USS Stark Memorial Award is more than just an award. When societies and chapters submit the report, they are providing information on their service to veterans. The Veterans Committee uses this information to determine the strengths and gaps in the SAR’s veterans programs.
GENERAL WILLIAM C. WESTMORELAND AWARD
The General William C. Westmoreland Award is presented at the annual SAR Congress to an SAR member who has distinguished himself by his service to Veterans. The SAR General William C. Westmoreland Award was authorized in 1996, and only one award is presented annually. The deadline for nominations from a chapter or state society for this award is January 15. Nominations are to be made using the special nomination form available online. The SAR Veterans Committee determines a winner at the Spring Leadership Conference in Louisville, Kentucky, and the award is presented at the annual SAR Congress.
The criteria considered for making a selection include the number of hours volunteered serving Veterans; service on Veterans committees at the chapter, state society and national levels; miles driven to in service to Veterans; the number and cumulative value of donated items and cash contributions made to Veterans Services; work with other organizations in support of Veterans; and sponsorship of Veterans activities at SAR events.
The Westmoreland Award is a special gold version of the SAR’s Service to Veterans Medal. An SAR member may receive the medal and award certificate only once. Oak leaf clusters or other ribbon attachments are not authorized.
SERVICE TO VETERANS MEDAL
The Service to Veterans Medal is presented to SAR members who have embraced the essence of serving veterans by accumulating 5,000 Stark Award points. The Veterans Committee also oversees SAR Representatives and Deputy Representatives who represent the SAR’s volunteer activities at VA Medical Centers (VAMC) throughout the country. The Chairman of the Veterans Committee is the SAR National Certifying Officer for the appointed Representatives and Deputy Representatives. This position fulfills a federal requirement that national organizations having Representatives and Deputy Representatives at VA Medical Centers must be appointed by a National Certifying Officer of that organization. The SAR Service to Veterans Medal may be awarded by an SAR chapter or a state-level society only to SAR members who have given long and exemplary service to veterans while serving as a representative of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution (SAR). The medal is awarded when a member has accrued 5,000 Stark Award points (these points can be a combination of time volunteered, clothing and/or money donated, or achievements in other areas based on the USS Stark Award Score Sheet). The Service to Veterans Medal will be awarded at the chapter (or society) level following the Chapter Veterans Committee Chairman’s (or State-level Society Veterans Committee Chairman, as necessary) approval of the member’s documentation. Each individual seeking to qualify for this award is responsible for recording his personal point accumulation and providing that documentation to the Chapter Veterans Committee Chairman (or State-level Society Veterans Committee Chairman) for verification. The cost of this award will be paid by the awarding entity. A Certificate of Accomplishment shall accompany the medal and each oak leaf cluster. A SAR member may receive this Service to Veterans 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. The Service to Veterans Medal is bronze, with a design on the obverse side of the medal showing one hand reaching down offering assistance to the second hand. Across the top of the medal are the words “Service to Veterans” and across the bottom are the words “National Society Sons of the American Revolution.” The reverse of the medal is the inscription “Awarded for Voluntary Service” with the awardee’s name and presentation date. The medal is suspended from a blue, white, and red (from left to right) vertically draped ribbon. The medal has an SAR precedence of “32.”
