CASSADAGA — Doug Arters, Sons of the American Revolution member, presented a program about some marksmen, snipers and American riflemen leaders during its October meeting of the Chautauqua County Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution held at the Cassadaga Country Club.

A certain mystique exists about the skill of the American rifleman, Arters said, tracing back to Rogers Rangers, who were especially active during the French and Indian War. The rangers sided with the British during the Revolutionary War. In more recent years, youngsters started out with a .22 rifle, then graduated to a .30-30 Winchester lever-action rifle and then, if they enlisted in the U.S. Army, went on to the M-14 rifle. Arters said that probably applied to Carlos “White Feather” Hathcock, who grew up in Arkansas. Raised by his grandmother, Hathcock became one of America’s greatest snipers during the Vietnam era.

At the outset of the Revolutionary War, back in Great Britain, English editors warned the British Army deploying to the colonies that, ‘This province has raised 1,000 riflemen, the worse of whom will put a ball into a man’s head at the distance of 150-200 yards; therefore, advise your officers who shall hereafter come out to America to settle their affairs before their departure,” (page 82, The Frontier Rifleman, Richard LaCrosse). In other words, it was thought there were Pennsylvania snipers lurking behind every maple, oak, ash and hickory tree.

Lt. Col. Daniel Boone was known as a skillful marksman. Col. Dan Morgan was a fine shot and a great leader during the Battle of Saratoga and the Battle of Cowpens. Col. John Sevier was known as a loud, brash, hard-drinking Huguenot at the Battle of King’s Mountain and was the first governor of Tennessee. Col. Francis “Swamp Fox” Marion was of Huguenot parents and his life may have formed the basis for Mel Gibson’s movie, “The Patriot.”

Timothy Murphy was an excellent marksman and was given credit for taking out British General Simon Fraser at the Battle of Saratoga in 1777, north of Albany. Murphy was a member of Morgan’s rifle unit. During the Civil War, Col. Hiram C. Berdan, a native of New York state, commanded the First United States Sharpshooters, Union Army, a regiment comprised of 10 companies of excellent marksmen.

During World War I, Sgt. Alvin Cullum York, a native of Tennessee, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his skillful marksmanship and for capturing some 132 German soldiers.

Col. Lewis Millett, a leader of riflemen Arters knew in the 1960s, was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the Korean War. Later, he was a commander of the U.S. Army Security Agency at Ft. Devens, Mass. He died in California in November 2009.

Clint Eastwood, U.S. Army veteran, actor and film director, directed the film “American Sniper” depicting the life of U.S. Navy Seal and sniper Chris Kyle, who Arters said was undoubtedly one of the greatest American rifleman who ever lived. Born in Texas in April 1974, Kyle joined the U.S. Navy after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, as did his brother. Kyle was 6-foot, 2-inches tall and served four tours of duty in Iraq. After returning to the states, Kyle helped other veterans. One of them, Eddie Ray Routh, suffering from PTSD and schizophrenia, killed Kyle and Kyle’s veteran partner. Kyle’s funeral was held at the Dallas Cowboys stadium in February 2013.

The mystique of the American rifleman continues, but has been in decline for a number of years. Nevertheles, Arters said, excellent marksmen can still be found throughout the world. During World War II, two Soviet women and a Finnish man were excellent marksmen. In more recent times, a British soldier saved the lives of some of his soldiers with his rifle skills in the Middle East. A British publication released his name to the public, so the soldier was forced to retire from the military.

In other business, Harry Lent, treasurer, noted membership dues should be paid in December. He also noted, as chapter registrar, that membership applications for Paul Fardink and Larry Barmore are being processed. The annual election of officers was accomplished. Steve Boothe remains as president, Jeff Crossley as vice president, Harry Lent as treasurer and registrar, and Doug Arters as secretary.

Arters gave a brief recap of parade activity, noting the color guard received $20 from the Ellington town parade and $75 from the Cherry Creek parade for its summer parade activity. The group participated in the Sherman, Cherry Creek, Mayville, Ellington and Sinclairville parades.

Member Frank Stow shared information about his late brother, John Stow, who joined the U.S. Marines at the age of 17. He lost his life in Vietnam, after which a bridge near Stow was named in his memory.