President Scott Freeman, wife Kathy, Past President George Stewart, and Compatriot Zachary Haines attended an “An Evening with Ashbrook” at the Manor House in Mason on March 27, 2025.
George Stewart is Ohio Society and Cincinnati Chapter Chairman of the Dr. Tom & Betty Lawrence American History Teacher Award Contest.
CCSAR George Stewart, Zachary Haines and Scott Freeman
The Ashbrook Center, an independent academic center located at Ashland University, was established and named in honor of the late Congressman John M. Ashbrook, who represented Ohio’s 17th Congressional district for 21 years.
President Ronald Reagan personally dedicated the Ashbrook Center on May 9, 1983. While based in north central Ohio, Ashbrook offers educational programs across the country for students, teachers, and citizens.
CCSAR Scott Freeman (l) and George Stewart (r) with Author and Speaker Jeffery Sikkenga
The mission of the Ashbrook Center is to strengthen constitutional self-government by educating Americans—students, teachers, and citizens—in the history and founding principles of our country and the habits of reflection and choice necessary to perpetuate our republic. Ashbury trains teachers to use primary sources to educate their students about the founding of the country and what it means to be an American citizen.
A link to the Ashbrook.org site is below:
Cincinnati Chapter member Zac Haines was a sponsor, host, and speaker at the event. He spoke to the audience of about 60 educators, politicians, community leaders, and citizens about the importance of history and civic education in producing informed citizens.
Zac recognized the Cincinnati SAR members in attendance and had his George Washington uniform and newly purchased George Washington replica sword on display.
Zachary Haines who portrays General George Washington
Zac, who portrays George Washington, had a second sword produced for himself, identical to the one being raffled off by the Ohio Society to support the 2028 SAR National Congress in Columbus, OH.
Jeffrey Sikkenga, Executive Director of Ashbrook, also spoke about the organization’s mission and the book he recently coauthored titled A Republic If We Can Teach It: Fixing America’s Civic Educational Crisis.
Jeffrey Sikkenga speaks to audience at Ashbrook event
Complementary copies of the book were available to attendees.
It was a good evening of networking and “soft fundraising” for Ashbrook, with local people and organizations who share the SAR’s mission and objectives regarding youth and adult education.
Scott and Kathy Freeman were delighted to reacquaint with the kindergarten teacher and middle school science teachers who taught all three of their sons.
