The Sons of the Plains Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution honored late SAR Compatriot Albert Lowell Sayler with a grave marking ceremony at 3 p.m., Saturday, Oct. 7, at the Great Bend Cemetery, 4500 Broadway, Great Bend. State President Dennis Nelson, State Vice President Bobbie Hulse and State Color Guard Commander Dewey Fry were on hand to provide honors. Justin Engleman, Great Bend, president of the Sons of the Plains Chapter, was master of ceremonies and delivered the memorial address.
Sayler, who died May 29, 1991, was a lifelong resident of Clarence Township, west of Great Bend, residing on the farmstead that his grandparents purchased in 1876. Born Dec. 16, 1915, Sayler was the son of Arthur M. and Sarah (Patterson) Sayler. He married the former Mildred Anna Serpan on Aug. 27, 1938, in Dighton. She died March 30, 2011.
According to Sayler’s son, John, his father never traveled far from the farm because he had many chores to finish before dark. The elder Sayler had many hobbies, including tending to the vast species of wildlife who frequented his farm due to his having obtained a federal permit for a private wildlife refuge.
The Sayler family has deep roots in the SAR, Sayler’s son, John, grandson, John Mark, and great-grandsons, Jacob and Daniel are all members of the SAR. Sayler’s daughter, the late Margaret Dumler, was past regent of the Great Bend Jeremiah Howard Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. Jacob Sayler was the patriot ancestor who provided Albert’s membership into the lineage society. Jacob served as a private in Capt. Samuel Davidson’s Company of Col. Smith’s Battalion of Bedford County (Pa.) Associators.
Membership in the SAR is open to men who can demonstrate that their ancestor provided active service in the cause of American independence either by serving in the military or in some other significant role.
Goals of the 128 year-old patriotic organization include promoting patriotism, and building respect for American history and the founding fathers. The SAR also supports veterans in VA hospitals, the Boy Scouts and ROTC cadets. Awards and scholarships are also given to students who win orations and poster contests on patriotic topics. One of the SAR’s newest programs is to select an American History Teacher and send the winner to the Freedoms Foundation Teacher Workshop in Valley Forge, Pa.
The Sons of the Plains chapter meets at 9 a.m. the second Saturday of the month from September to May in the Walnut Room of the Hutchinson Community College Student Union. Further information about the SAR, or its other activities is available by calling Engleman at 620-792-2429.