Vol. XXII No. 2 Spring 2010 - Clan Henderson Society

Boots on the Ground in Afghanistanby Ed HendricksCousins! I have had three months to think about the timeI spent in Afghanistan, and in view of the incidents oflate in that theater, I think I need to put my thoughts intowords. The experience was much like my father in law’s tourin Europe in World War II. “I wouldn’t take anything for theexperience, but I wouldn’t wish it on anyone.” Though his shipwas hit by a mine in crossing the English Channel, he neversaw active combat in theater, and neither did I. I spent my timein a Forward Operations Base (FOB) not far from the Pakistanborder where I expected tosee wounded Americans on aregular basis. Such was not thecase.There were, in fact, threeFOBs in one where we were: anAmerican/British/Polish base(though largely American),an Afghan National Armybase (the largest of the three),and a Special Forces base (thesmallest and most active). Ourassignment was to control threeprovinces along the Afghan-Pakistan border. The UnitedNations forces were to providesupport as training, tactical, andlogistical to the Afghan forces inour area. Medical assets werealmost entirely U.S., and as the only American physician in thethree provinces, I was kept out of harm’s way. I was allowedout of the FOB on short missions when other medics in ourFOB were committed to other missions, or when I was aboutto go stir crazy. We call it “cabin fever” in the North Georgiamountains.We were blessed to be assigned to an Afghan National Armyunit that had a great urge to free their country from what theyconsidered a foreign Taliban (“They’re Pakistan, not Afghan”).If this confuses you, try reading The Sewing Circles of Herat byChristina Lamb. Our job was to support and train them tocombat the Taliban which they did with enthusiasm. The onlywounded and killed troops I saw were the Afghans. We didhave wounded American troops in the nearby outlying bases,but they were transported by helicopter to more advancedtreatment areas than ours. The Afghan troops were treated atour local Afghan Hospital on base, although usually stabilizedand transported to Kabul. Therefore, I was never called uponto treat combat wounds.I was most often treating multiple athletic problems, usuallydue to a basketball court at Charlie Company. Sometimes Ithink the Taliban’s greatest success in the area was that massof concrete. These injuries were the most damaging to us.Other than the occasional medical problem like blood clotsin the lungs in a contractor, acute gastroenteritis, a flurry ofmalaria in a nearby FOB, and varioussystemic diseases, sports injuries weremy greatest challenge.The Afghan forces near us were very active against theTaliban insurgents and were in marked contrast to the reports Ihear on the U.S. media. During the Election Day attacks (over200 in our area), they faced these attacks and counterattackedoften with great success. We were requested not to be visibleduring this day and Afghan forces did all the work. Onlyone polling place closed earlydue to safety concerns.4 An Canach Spring 2010Thepeople of our area turned outin droves to vote revealing adesire to self govern. I daresay they turned out in higherpercentages than we canmuster in the U.S. in spite of therisk they took. Some of thosevoters paid the ultimate pricefor their freedom, and theirfriends and relatives wouldline up again after attacks werebeaten off and continue voting.Our media that seemed benton denigrating the election asflawed poorly reported suchcourage.We did have reporters whocame to our FOB, spent a couple of days, and then caught theearliest flight out to go to sites that fit their concept of the war.Apparently successful units of the Afghan National Army arenot newsworthy. Corruption, misuse of funds, and Talibansuccesses seem to appeal to the American reporter more thanoperations leading to Taliban defeats.The Taliban in our area moved like the Mafia in Chicago inthe prohibition era. Controlling through fear and intimidationonly worked when they had control of the night. They werenever able to win in a face to face fight with the ANA forcesin our area and when the troops were present in numbers, thenight was not safe for them and people often turned them into the Afghan National Police. Although they crawled outof hiding once or twice a month to lob rockets at us, the onlyhits were to some of the ANA vehicles and this cost themconsiderable grief at the hands of the ANA General who tookit as a personal affront.I was honored to be allowed to serve my country inAfghanistan in spite of my age, and to be able to plant theHenderson tartan flag on the troop medical center where Iserved. I pray we will finish our job of allowing the Afghanpeople to rule themselves after almost fifty years of dominationby non-Afghan forces, and that our troops can come home soonwith a sense of accomplishment and pride.The Hendersons Are Here!

Another Henderson Studying in Edinburghby Kelly HendersonA letter written to an organization that had given Kelly a scholarship.Greetings from Edinburgh! My second semester is in fullgear and it is time for an update from my side of thepond. My classes have been truly interdisciplinary overthe course of the year. Between last semester and this currentsemester, I will have taken classes in engineering, physics,economics, social science, and energy policy. My favoriteclass last semester was a course called “Energy Systems,” inwhich we learned the thermodynamics and other operationprinciples behind power plants, nuclear plants, fuel cells andrenewable sources. In two of my other classes, we were writinggroup policy papers advising the Scottish/UK Governmenthow to proceed in tackling technology development and theimplementation of energy efficiency measures.This semester, I am enjoying learning about how anelectricity generation and transmission grid functions and canbe modeled in “Power Systems Engineering and Economics.” Ihave already had the opportunity to give a presentation on analternative business model for the energy sector in my policyclass and I am looking forward to seeing what the rest of thesemester holds. I just got my grades for last semester – myaverage was 73 (which is the equivalent of a first class degreein the UK). Also this semester, our program is planning a tripto a wind farm and a nuclear power plant.In other academic news, I also have my dissertation topic.Its title is, “Selection, preparation and testing of sponge alloysfor storing hydrogen energy.” In short, it is a chemistry andmaterial science based project that involves figuring out whichalloys can best allow for the storage of the energy content inhydrogen. Hydrogen is useful in that we can produce it using awind turbine and use it as a more reliable energy source. Witha smart method of storing hydrogen, we will be able to createhydrogen using wind turbines (or solar cells, or wave devices)when the wind is blowing and store the hydrogen to be usedas an energy source in a period of low or no wind. And voila!Renewable AND reliable energy. I am in the process of doingthe background reading (in other words, brushing up on mychemistry). The lab-based experimental work and theory workwill begin in May.Outside of academics, my main involvement has beenbagpiping with Edinburgh-based Stockbridge Pipe Band.Practices are twice a week for about two hours each night. I amin the grade 4 band, but I was happy to have the pipe majortell me I had “grade 3 fingers” last week. I have been goingto practices since October and have been able to march on afew occasions so far. On St. Andrew’s Day we marched as alone band down the Royal Mile, from the castle to Parliamentand then participated in a massed bands in the freezing coldand rain in front of the castle (that’s good Scottish weather foryou). Last week, I solo piped in the haggis at a Robbie BurnsNight dinner for postgraduate students and then stayed tohear all the poetry recited and partake in the meal. Tomorrowthe band is having a blowing workshop as part of practice andon February 20th we are having a ceilidh as a fundraiser topotentially help the band travel to Italyfor some performances over the summer.As part of the ceilidh, we are also going toshowcase our competition sets for the first time this season, aswe prepare for the first competition at the end of April.After that, it’s pretty much competitions every weekendfor most of the summer--competitions that will take me allover the UK (Ireland, England and Scotland), to the ScottishChampionships, the British Championships and the Worldsin Glasgow! I love every minute of piping with Stockbridge.The band members are friendly and welcoming and my pipingis improving by leaps and bounds as well. We had a bandChristmas party and we went to the pub together after practicesmost weeks. In short…pipe bands are certainly the sameeverywhere! Nice people, fun music and hard competitions.I am living in university accommodation on the sciencecampus. I live in a flat with nine other postgraduate girls (twoAmerican, one each Turkish, Malaysian, Indian, Hong Kong,and three Chinese). The flat is quite far away from the center ofEdinburgh, but it is close to classes. I am also very close to theRoyal Observatory, so I have been involved in a program calledDark Sky Scotland run through the observatory. It’s a group ofpeople that travel around Scotland teaching astronomy. I’m alltrained and getting ready to start helping out with events. We’llbe setting up inflatable planetariums and giving sky shows,teaching kids how to build paper rockets and making “comets”out of dry ice. It’s kind of a combination of outdoor educationand physics club-esque activities, so it’s a nice channel for me.Besides scheduled activities and classes, I’ve also beenable to travel a bit. In the fall, I travelled to Loch Ness andgot to spend some time outside. During winter break, I wentto Glasgow to see the Scottish Ballet perform an interestingversion of The Nutcracker and I am going back to Glasgow inMarch to see a grade 1 pipe band competition and maybe go tothe science museum. I spent Christmas in a small town calledBlairgowrie outside of Perth. It was nice to get out of the cityfor a while. I also made it down to London for a short visit, butI am planning on going back sometime before the end of theyear (I tried to see platform 9 ¾ from Harry Potter and went tothe wrong train station). In Edinburgh, the holiday season wasbeautiful!We got absolutely dumped on by snow, which made theChristmas German and Highland Markets on Princes streetall the more festive. Outside of the Christmas season, one ofmy favorite things to do is see occasional shows at the FestivalTheater, where students can get tickets for ten pounds. I alsogo to a weekly pub quiz on campus, where our team routinelycomes in close to last place, but that doesn’t mean we won’tWhat’s Round at Both Ends butHigh in the Middle?keep trying!So much going on! And I can’t believe it’s February already.Best Regards,Kelly HendersonSpring 2010 An Canach 5

Henderson GenealogyA Journey through TimeThe Next Phase of Henderson GenealogyWe are about to enter a new phase of the Henderson Genealogy Programin which we will match Family Line origins in Scotland withDNA collected from the same historic areas.We have rolled up our sleeves and presently aredigging into the Henderson Genealogy database ofmore than 83,000 names looking for those familieswith connections to the five historical origins of Hendersonfamilies in Scotland. We have successfully identified familyrecords that take us back to the Shetlands, Glencoe andFordell but still need further research to locate Hendersonfamilies from the areas of Liddesdale and Caithness.We also have a considerable body of history on Hendersonfamilies who accepted the King’s invitation to work the landof Northern Ireland at the beginning of the 17 th century. If youhave a Family Line with traceable connection to any of thesefive locations in Scotland or Northern Ireland, please contactthe Henderson Genealogy Program by e-mail at firsthendersonadmin@clanhendersonsociety.org.Our objective is to obtain DNA records from at least twofamilies with traceable connections to each of these historicdots on the map. We are aided in this effort by our ownHenderson DNA program that continues to add new membersevery week. If you have Scottish cousins living in any regionof Scotland or Ireland, please ask them to participate in thisstudy for the benefit of Henderson families everywhere. I willbe pleased to contact them or you might ask them to contact meat jimhen45@gmail.com .by James E, HendersonClan GenealogistUpdate for the Ohio Games and Special Henderson Ceilidh on 26 June 2010Additional information to the information on page 5 of theWinter Issue, Vol. XXII No. 1, of An Canach,Turnout so far is looking very good! Please call the ClevelandAirport Marriott (CLEAP)promptly to make your reservations.They are holding 10 rooms for us at a very favorable $85 rate.Incidently, the hotel is not on the airport grounds, but at 4277W. 150 th Street right off the I71 exit.Four options for making reservations1. 1-800-228-9290 is the national number2. 1-216-252-5333 is the direct line to the hotel3. 1-216-706-8714 is the number for Sonja Scully, the directorof event planning4. www.marriott.com/CLEAP is the web site. Our group code= HENHENA & app is resvlink & from date = 6/25/10 & todate = 6/27/10If you have any problem making your reservation, call Sonja(option 3).I recommend that you take advantage of the room cost bymaking your reservation now.Driving time from the Marriott Hotel to the Lorain CountyFairgrounds in Wellington, Ohio is about 45 minutes.Drving from the Games to the West Shore U/U Church is45-60 minutes.From the hotel to the Church is about 15 minutes.Doug HendersonGreat Lakes Commissioner6 An Canach Spring 2010

Henderson DNA Project New Tools Help Locate Ancient Hendersonsby James E, HendersonNew management tools offered by our host DNA lab haveallowed me to completely revamp our presentation ofHenderson DNA markers to facilitate our search forancient Hendersons in Scotland. If you are a member of ourproject, I invite you to see the new presentation on our website. Look for your DNA signature on the “Results” page.(www.clanhendersonsociety.org/dna_resultsheets.htm) .At a glance you will see all DNA results are now posted intheir respective family groups with the mean, median, andmode values calculated for each group. (Quick flashback tohigh school statistics - The “Mean” is the average calculatedfrom all values listed which in our case means the average ofall values listed under a single marker.) The median and modevalues are similarly derived from the individual markers ineach Family Group.) Since we don’t identify DNA signaturesby name, for reasons of privacy, you will need to use yourbrowser’s search feature to find your kit number.Finding and verifying an individual family signature by itsmean value is the goal of family genealogists. Family Groupsignatures, on the other hand, are more important in thestudy of deep ancestry. These Family Group signatures willlead us to geographic locations in Scotland and Ireland whereHenderson and derivative surnames were concentrated inthose days when surnames were first adopted.Keep in mind that members in a DNA Family Group arenot necessarily closely related but were at one time back inour history. Our objective is to link these family groupings tospecific locations in Scotland and Northern Ireland where themajority of our ancestors lived in the 15 th century and begantheir migration to other parts of the world.I am pleased with the way our project is growing and theway family groups are emerging. We currently have 207 membersorganized into 27 DNA family groups. We also have 17 mtDNAresults. Our major Haplogroups are R1a, R1b and I1 originating innorthwestern Europe, eastern Europe and Scandinavia. By the way“originating” is a relative term meaning, in this case, sometime afterthe last ice age.While we are interested in deep ancestry, it’s important toremember that DNA testing is most useful as a tool supportingtraditional research within the past 500 years. If you wouldlike to join the Henderson DNA Project or know of someonewhose genealogy quest would benefit from DNA testing, ordera test kit at www.clanhendersonsociety.org/dna_ordering.htm.Spring 2010 An Canach 7

A New BookIwould like to introduce you to my company’s productionof “The Bruce Trilogy”, which is an historic three DVDboxed set which brings to life Scotland’s greatest warriorking, Robert the Bruce. Scotland is a beautiful country andduring the making of this production we revisited many ofthe wonderful places where our history unfolded. Duringthis time we gained a greater understanding of our countryand the men destiny chose to free Scotland from the yoke ofwhat some would call tyranny.Excerpt from the Highlander magazine.“The Bruce Trilogy is an historic three DVD set that bringsto life Scotland’s greatest hero, Robert the Bruce. The real andengaging story of a man born for greatness who became one of oneof Scotland’s greatest kings and one of the most famous warriors ofhis generation. See how history comes alive as ambition, love andtragedy molds Robert’s life. Watch as he murders his main rival, theRed Comyn, and takes the crown -- but suffers the consequences ofthe act as he is excommunicated, his friends executed, his brotherhung, drawn and quartered, and his wife and daughter imprisonedwhile the Bruce retreats into the hills and forests of Ayrshire towage a guerrilla war. Learn how “Good King Robert” founded theScottish Nation as the first democracy, how he set up parliamentin the capital city of Dunfermline and established Scotland as aneconomic and political force. From his birth at Turnberry Castle in1274 through the momentous Scottish victory at Bannockburn in1314 and beyond, this DVD captures all the power and emotion ofthese momentous times.”As someone with Scottish blood in your vanes, I’m sureyou will be stimulated by these DVDs. It will make allthe difference if and when you make the decision to visitScotland and look at the sites and locations for yourself!If you would like to purchase this set of DVDs or wantmore information then go to www.kingrobertbruce.On this website you will be able to view trailers of thisfantastic story.Yours from Scotland,Willie StewartA New DVD SetDeepwater Productions, a Scottish based video productioncompany specialising in documentary films aboutScottish history.www.deepwaterproductions.co.uk.Spring 2010 An Canach 9

Games, Festivals, andGatheringsSouth West RegionAZ, CO, NM,UT, WYBuzz McEldowneyCommissioner2009 Colorado Scottish Festival andHighland Games Highlands Ranch,Colorado46 Years “New”by Linda McEldowneyThe annual Colorado RockyMountain Scottish Festival andHighland Games, sponsored bythe St. Andrews Society of Colorado,was held on 8-9 August at Heritage Parkin Highlands Ranch, Colorado. Evenafter holding these games for forty-sixyears, they thought of new things, to thedelight of some.Much to our surprise, the entire layoutof the fields was newly arranged. Thisended up great for Clan Henderson! Wehave always been set up way over on thefar side of the field by the dogs. We lovedogs, but if you have ever seen, or heard,dogs doing “FLY BALL,” then you knowwhat we mean when we say “LOUD.”Even though fun to watch, after a while,it becomes very wearing. So, this wasnow wonderful for us. Lo and behold,we were right near the entrance and ourtwo spaces had open room all the wayaround! Wow!The weather was wonderful and thecrowd steady. Saturday was our busiestday, as usual. We acquired two newmembers and handed out quite a fewapplications to interested folks. Here’shoping they will join us in the future.The best part of Saturday waswhen we were getting ready for noonceremonies. As we were walking towardthe staging area, we noticed a youngman in a Henderson kilt. We did anabout face and realized he was headingtoward our space. I said, ‘That IS aHenderson tartan.” He turned and said,“Aye.” It was then we discovered KevinHenderson, all the way from Glasgow.He had been here visiting his girlfriend,Jess, for 2½ months. Sadly, he was goingback to Glasgow in a few days and wouldnot make it to the games in Estes Park inSeptember.Kevin immediately took a tartan flagand marched with us. We were able toascertain quite a bit about him. What awonderful surprise meeting. Hopefullywe will see him again when he is back inColorado visiting.We also had some visitors fromEdinburgh and England. While notHenderson’s, they never the less were sointeresting to talk to.Commiwssioner Buzz and Linda McEldowney behind their display.10 An Canach Spring 2010

Kevin Henderson of Glasgow visitedthe Henderson tent in HighlandsRanch33rd AnnualLong’s Peak Scottish/IrishHighland FestivalEstes Park, ColoradoMy How Times Changeby Linda McEldowneyIt wasn’t too long after the wonderfulGames at Highlands Ranch, that wefound ourselves packing up for a fiveday trip to the Colorado Rockies.It was for the 33rd Annual Long’s PeakScottish/Irish Highland Festival, held10-13 September in Estes Park, Colorado.In times of old, there would have beentwenty-five to thirty of our family andfriends staying with us at the WildernessLodge. We’d go from room to room,working up scrumptious breakfastsand dinners, laughing till we hurt.This was what it was all about, gettingtogether and spending time with familyand friends. This year, however, therewere only eight of us, including formerconvenor, Dennis Young. He used toconvene these games for the clan, alongwith his wife, Pam. Thankfully he wasback from Indiana and joined us for theweekend.These games used to feel almost likea family reunion, with Buzz’s mom anddad, brothers and sisters, spouses, kidsand friends, and Henderson cousins.Artwork by Kelsey Henderson-Parker mentioned in the article. Itdemonstrates the various Henderson tartansNow, as families have changed, andloved ones passed on, the numbers aredwindling, but the energy is still there.Clan Henderson has been luckyenough to have had a corner space since2004. This has worked out quite well forus. It is an open and welcoming spaceto guests and visitors. We also do theCOSCA table, where we meet and greeta lot of very interesting people, and helpthem make a connection with a clan orfamily society.This year’s weather was a mixed bag.sun on Thursday and Friday, clouds andmist for Saturday’s parade, then quite adownpour and cold temps for the restof Saturday. Sunday started out sunnyand warm until about an hour beforebreakdown, when the sky opened upagain. Luckily the rain stopped just intime for us to load out.This year, the premier bands werethe First Battilion Scots Guards, theWasatch and District Pipe Band, and theHendersons at Estes Park included Collene McNally, Sandy Hall, LindaMcEldowney, Dennis Young, and Buzz McEldowney.Spring 2010 An Canach 11

Lou Montia and her sister JudyHenderson, a new member.U.S. Marine Corps Air Ground CombatCenter Band, from Twenty-Nine Palms,California, the US Army Mounted ColorGuard, from Fort Carson, Colorado,and the U. S. Army Horse CalvaryDetatchment from Fort Hood, Texas,were present and performed at thetattoos.There were two gigantic tents for thesixty-five clans and associations gatheredthis year. The honored clans holdingtheir annual general meetings this yearwere Clan Lindsay, Clan Buchannan,and Clan Kennedy.We marched in the Saturday morningparade through town and managedto beat the rain. However, shortlyafterwards, at the field for the noonopening ceremonies, the rains camedown very hard and soaked everyone.The crowds were pretty steady, althoughthe rain made it difficult to get around.We had a special visitor fromTucson, Arizona again this year, KelseyHenderson Parker. Kelsey moved therea few years ago, but because of herColorado connections, she continuesto try and visit the games as often aspossible. She is an incredible artist andhas done a “Tartan Handprint” for uswhich we proudly display. She actuallyworked on a piece during the weekend,so we were able to see her at work.If interested in seeing her work, go towww.maceanruigdesigns@yahoo.com.Another visitor this year was Lou LaMontia’s sister, Judy Henderson fromIndiana. Lou and her husband have beenregulars at these games for years, and wehave always enjoyed their company. Thisyear was especially fun with Lou’s sistervisiting. Even more special, was Judybecoming a Clan Henderson member.Great fun and lots of laughter. What doesthat say about Clan Henderson?Dr. William Henderson again visitedus. He still lives in the Virgin Islands,but visits his family in Fort Collins eachyear, and always makes sure to includetime for his extended Henderson family.He always marches with us, does theCOSCA table, and helps with cleanup.After four days of rain, festivities,friends, and family, we were ready tohead for home. Wouldn’t you knowMonday was again warm and sunny. Welook forward to next year and hopefullybetter weather.Mid East RegionDC, DE, MD, NJ,PA, VA, WVLeon HicksCommissionerSouthern Games from aNortherner’s Prospectiveby Bruce HendersonSaturday, 3 October 2009 started outwarm, mid 70’s, at 9:00 a.m. whenmy wife Dawn and I left our motelin Williamsburg, Virginia to travel the 25miles to the Rockahock Campgroundsto attend the Williamsburg ScottishFestival, on Being from western NewYork, and leaving two days beforewith overcast low 40’s weather. Whenwe got home we found it rained everyday we were gone and it was cold. Itwas a pleasant relief to find sunshineand temperatures in the 70’s and 80’severyday we were in Virginia.The ride was not a problem until youget off the highway on a two lane roadleading to the campgrounds. We endedup sitting in bumper to bumper traffic ona winding hilly road, where you couldn’tsee around the next bend, wonderingwhat the problem was. Having spentthirty-two years as a truck driver inwestern New York, I am not a patientman when it comes to traffic, especiallywhen it is uncalled for. Finally a deputysheriff showed up to direct the traffic.You would have thought someonewould have thought of that beforehand.Oh well, parking wasn’t much betterwhen you got to the campgrounds.They had to stop every car and tell themwhere to go. I’m driving, I’m not blind, Ican actually see where the line is going.You don’t have to stop me and tell me.Then they had a line to get on a smallbus, it held 20 people to ride to the actualgames.I finally found someone who knewwhat they were doing and was told it’sa ten minute walk down a tree linedroad to the games. So Dawn and I tookoff with our cart loaded with chairs andsmall cooler and walked the short walkto the grounds. Now mind you we left at9:00 a.m. and it was now 11:30 a.m and weare just entering the games.We had missed the opening andDawn being concerned with my health,decided we had to get something toeat. This is where it starts to get better,although limited to what food they wereserving, no Scottish food. We are usedto meat pies and other Scottish fareup north. They had the most amazingchicken breast sandwich and Dawn hadthe BBQ pork. It started to put me in amuch better mood.Bruce Henderson at WilliamsburgGames.12 An Canach Spring 2010

Obviously it didn’t rain all day. We were happy.Fortunately I did have a smart pairof wellies on hand and I was able tosplash happily back and forth betweenthe tent, the vendors, the food, and theentertainment (and did so frequently).One thing I love about a good Celticfestival is the shopping. Shopping atthe Richmond games is always top shelf.Where else can you get a walking sticktopped by a boar’s head with a secretcompartment that can accommodatevials of whiskey and a blade? It’s whatevery lady needs. I defy you to walk intoWalmart and come out with that.To my very great surprise, I discovereda band I actually liked! Anyone cantell you that I am no great fan of thatthunderous racket called music (Bah!Humbug!), but in this case I am willingto make an exception. A very highenergyband (I think Christian used theword “raucous”)called Barleyjuicetook the stage andafter hearing themperform “A Songfor Sinners,” I waslost. They hadme at “My love’sbeen drinkin’” Theband is actuallyfrom Philadelphia,but they performa mixture of traditionalandoriginal Irish musicthat is smart,energetic, and utterlybeguiling. If youhaven’t seen themat a festival nearyou, keep an ear to the ground and try tocatch them.Many of you will remember Tom’striumph in the axe-throwing competitionlast year…the one where he beatout at least two other much youngercompetitors and walked away with theprize axe? Remember that? And then heand Christian used the axe to perform aWilliam Tell skit behind the tent? AndChristian hit himself in the head with anapple? Is it coming back to you now?Well, that didn’t happen again this year.Competition was stiff at the axe-throwingtent, and for an instant there I thoughtTom was going to get third place, but awily six-year-old knocked him out of therunning. Okay, that’s not true. I’d betterstop picking on Tom’s mad skills in axethrowingor there’s going to be troubleback at the ranch. There were about 20competitors in theadult male classand Tom reallywas in third placeuntil…someonedid a hatchet-jobon him. I thinkthe very intenserazzing he wasgetting from theHenderson cheeringsection in thestands put him offhis game (which isprobably why hesnuck off withouttelling anyone onthe second day totry again). NeverJeremy and Brittany Lussi with theirson Liam.mind, dear, there’s always next year.Well, Christian promised that if I wrotea few paragraphs, he’d tell you all aboutthe new members and the visitors to thetent (because he took the guestbook homewith him and I don’t have their names),so I’ll hold him to it. If you would liketo see photos and video of members newand old, or our high jinks from this andpast events, please visit my website athttp://thehendersonsarehere.shutterfly.com .We welcome the following newmembers to our family of Hendersoncousins: Jeremy and Brittany Lussifrom Lorton, Virginia, Scot and CherylHenderson from Virginia Beach,Virginiaand Marc Henry from Midlothian,Virginia We thank Terry Dale Cavet,from Henrico, Virginia for renewing hermembership.I (Christian) personally want tothank Laura Henderson-Franta, TomFranta, Tony Henderson, and Pat andRex Maddox for their help and supportthroughout the week end. We alsothank members John and Nellie Lowryfrom Chatsworth, California, andVirginians Jim and Phyllis Hendersonfrom Powhatan, Jeff and Carolyn Jarrellsfrom Mechanicsville, Mark and ShelleySledge from Sandston, Charlie Sue andBob Rappold from Richmond, Mikeand Margo Henry from Midlothian, andDavid and Robin Hufton from LangleyAir Force Base, for braving the weatherand visiting with us at the tent.14 An Canach Spring 2010

A Call to ConveneI am looking for a convenor forthe Virginia Scottish Games tobe held 4-5 September 2010 in ThePlains, Virginia.I will be in Europe during theLabor Day week end and willnot be able to convene for ClanHenderson.Interested parties can contact meat crgarin@aol.com.Thanks.Christian GarinNorth East RegionCT, MA, ME,NH, NY, RI, VTGary HendersonFSA ScotCommissionerAmherst Museum25th Annual Scottish FestivalAmherst, New York15 August 2009by Gary HendersonWe had another wonderful daythis year at the 25th AnnualAmherst Scottish Festival. Notonly was the weather perfect, but wealso had a great showing of Henderson’s.The Amherst Museum is very muchlike an old country village with a largecollection of artifacts on display as wellas many restored buildings from thesurrounding area (Very similar to theGenesee County Village at Mumford).Some of the highlights:Pipe Bands- “D” Company BuffaloCity Guard Gordon Highlanders,Mackenzie Highlanders, CaledonianPipes and Drums, 96th Highlanders, andCeltic Spirit.Events- Highland Athletes, WesternLake Dog agility, Skara Brae Dancers,Royal Scottish Country Dancers, andsilent auction.Music/ Entertainment- The fame“Rathkeltair”, Stone Row, Carol Farrar,Step in Time, Hobson’s Choice, andPenny Whiskey.Book Author- My good friend JeanneTreat- author of Dark Birthright, andauthors of the “Rebel King” series-Charles Randolph Bruce and CarolynHale Bruce (Rex: Charles said to say“hello again”).It is always a pleasure to see thePipes and Drums of “D” CompanyBuffalo City Guard Gordon Highlandersespecially due to the large number ofHenderson members (Bruce, Peter, andVirginia, Henderson). It was also greatto see Margaret Henderson Phillips, whoalways comes to spend time at the clantent and to relax and get out of the sun.Margaret is 90 years of age and she madeit once again this year. Keep in mindwhen we convene at these games, we arenot just here as an information resourceand/or to show our presence, but also togive “hospitality” to visitors and to lendan ear to hear stories of past times. Sodon’t be shy, come in, spend some time-- our tent is your tent!9th Annual Niagara Celtic HeritageFestival and Highland GamesOlcott, New York19-20 September 2009by Gary HendersonThe Niagara Celtic Heritage Festivalis located at Krull Park on theshores of Lake Ontario. This is atwo-day event that had truly come intoits own, catering to a Celtic theme thatincludes the Irish, Welsh, and always themain and strongest presence -- the Scots!These are the only games that I know ofthat pay the Clans to come each day tohelp offset the cost of fuel/lodging. Theweather was very pleasant with a slightchill to the air. Again, like Amherst, itis always great to meet old friends andfamily.Some Highlights:Pipe Bands- “D” Company Buffalo CityGuard Gordon Highlanders, MackenzieHighlanders, 96th Highlanders, andCeltic Spirit.Events- Highland Athletes, FalconDemo, Medieval Arms Demo, Britishcar Show, Schallion Scottish Dancers,O’Sullivan Irish Dancers, McCarthy IrishDancers.Gary, Moira, Ian, and Connor HendersonGary Henderson with Margaret Henderson Phillips.Spring 2010 An Canach 15

Pipes and Drums of “D” Company Buffalo City GuardGordon HighlandersGary Henderson with Marie Revere (Past CommissionerPaul Roy Henderson’s Sister) , , and Paul DurnionMusic/ Entertainment- BoughtonHill Band, Stone Row, Poor Old Goat,Dustmen, Clann Na Cara, PenneyWhiskey, Kindred, Merry Mischief,Lochside Celtic, Cairde, Reardon &Garvey, and The Town Pants.North East CommissionerCommentsUnfortunately another year hasgone by with only two Games inattendance for Clan Hendersonin The Northeast Region. Please acceptmy apologies. This was caused by avariety of unforeseen events mostlycaused by the effects of the economyand the much need for help/support;also, the cancellationof games/events. Twoindividuals that I wouldlike to give thanks tothat are always a greathelp: Bruce Hendersonand William (Bill)Henderson -- greatsupporters to have!I would also like tothank and welcomenew member, John D.Henderson Jr.Hopefully, 2010will change from theprevious year and makethis a wonderful yearthroughout the wholeNortheast, so pleaseshow your supportwhether it’s helping to convene a Gameor two or simply showing your presenceat the game. If any Clan member ispondering the possibility of helping,please do not hesitate to call me (716) 628-2237 or e-mail me bagpipes@roadrunner.com and I will be more than happy togive you the details of what is involved(which is not much at all).In a couple of previous issuesthere were pictures and a request forinformation on a HO Scale model versionof Fordell Castle. This castle was built forme by a good friend, Bruce Barclay. Bruceis the Northeast Commissioner for ClanBarclay. Bruce is a wealth of talent in thisarena in which he has been building suchthings as ships, aircrafts, diorama’s etc…New member John D. Henderson Jr.for most of his life. The detail and timecommitted is extensive. This took a lotof homework on my part to supply thenecessary info. /detail in order to makethis castle and I’m still in awe-!!! Thankyou, Bruce Barclay, this will be treasured-- hopefully for generations to come.For those who were asking for info:Bruce Barclay14 WestwayRochester, NY 14624-4617audrey-margaret @hotmail.comAgain, thank you to all who werethere to help and to all who came out.Gary Henderson, FSA ScotNorth East Region CommissionerGary Henderson (holding model of Fordell Castle),with Bruce Barclay (maker of the Castle).16 An Canach Spring 2010

Tom and I have been researching castles for a few yearsnow…and we have learned interesting bits and piecesabout them and how people lived in them – and also –sort of by chance, we’ve learned some things about tea alongthe way. I’m always fascinated by things that are interesting– and have a little of that for you tonight too.First: TeaTea is not grown on a plantation or a farm, but in a“garden.”The world’s finest tea gardens, from the far east to westAfrica, have in common the pure mountain breezes and sunnydays followed by rainy nights. Each of these is a fundamentalin the production of exquisite teas with the most subtlefragrance.The plants are most likely grown from cuttings from aparent plant, assuring noble lineage. After three years, theplants become productive themselves and can remain so for ahundred years or more.It is the practice in Asia for only women to harvest thejasmine-like scented plants. According to tradition, theiragility, patience and accuracy are uniquely “feminine traitsessential to nurturing tea to its full charm.Harvest of the tea leaves begins when the young shootsappear. In most places, bushes are plucked between three andtwelve times a year, always with the second plucking the mostdesirable.An infusion of fresh tea leaves would be harsh, raw andthin. The finished character of the dry leaf is determined bythe fermentation process….just as grapes are transformed intomature wine, careful steps and procedures oxidize the leavesand change their chemistry.First, the leaves are dried by withering, that is by spreadingthem out for up to one full day on racks made of thin clothstretched tightly over a wire-mesh frame…Next, the leaves arerolled by tossing them in baskets – a process that maceratesthem and releases their juices. While those leaves ferment theybegin to darken and the air fills with a fragrance similar to thatof apple blossoms.Finally, firing halts further fermentation. The firing issimilar to stir-frying and is usually carried out in large metalwoks over a roaring fire.The dried leaves are then sorted by grade into loose tea,broken leaves and the leaf dust called “fannings” which is usedin tea bags.In the early days of the National Trust for Scotland, visitorsto properties were sometimes offered a cup of tea and a bunat the kitchen door or in some suitable corner of the house orgarden.Today, many properties provide morning coffee, lunchesand afternoon tea and sometimes evening meals.By sitting down to enjoy a cup of tea and a sandwich or apiece of cake, National Trust visitors are perpetuating a ritualCastles with “Tea”and some more things too!by Beth Gay-FreemanClan Historianthat has its origins in Britain in the mid – seventeenth centurywhen tea started to arrive by way of Holland and Portugal –both of which had established trade routes to Japan and Chinaat least a century earlier. A small bit of tea was imported intoBritain in the 1650s, but it was Charles II’s marriage in 1662 to aPortuguese princess, Catharine of Braganza that established thedrinking of tea as an accepted practice. Catharine brought toLondon a large chest of tea as part of her dowry and introducedthis to her friends at court. Regular consignments were soonbeing ordered for the king and queen and tea drinking becamea fashionable activity.The high tax levied by Charles II meant that tea was veryexpensive and out of reach of the working classes. Ale andgin continued to be the standard drinks of the majority of thepopulation until 1784…when the tax was reduced from 119 %to only 12%...and tea overtook the ale and gin in the popularitystakes.The ritual of afternoon tea is said to have been “invented”in the early nineteeth century by Anna, wife of the 7th Dukeof Bedford. Breakfast was taken in those days at nine or tenin the morning and dinner was fashionable at eight or nine atnight. By four in the afternoon, the Duchess would feel a bitpuckish and she asked her maid to serve some tea and lightrefreshments in her rooms. She enjoyed this so much shebegan inviting her friends to join her – and soon all London’ssociety were sipping tea and gossiping. With their tea, theynibbled dainty sandwiches or sponge cake.Of course, as the custom of taking tea became more popular,the demand for tea ware grew. Potters, silversmiths andfurniture makers produced a wide range of tea services, cakeplates, teaspoons, knives, strainers, teapots and kettles, caddies,caddy spoons and tea tables….and much more.It was 1864 when the manageress of the London Bridgebranch of the Aerated Bread Company – known as ABC, broughtafternoon tea out of the elegant salons of the artistocracy andinto the realm of everyday middle and working class people.The manageress of ABC convinced her employers to create apublic tea-room right on the premises of the bakery. Soon, everyhigh street had its ABC, Express Dairy, Lyons’ or Kardomahtea-room. By the 1920s, going out to tea was a pastime enjoyedby people from all classes and walks of life.In the posher hotels and restaurants, tea dances became thecraze from about 1912 onwards. Books were written tellingsociety hostesses how to organize tea dances and restaurantsstarted clubs with dance teachers and featured, from BuenosAires, tango clubs.The fashion for tea gradually dwindled and the tea-shopswere replaced by fast food chains…but in the mid-1980s therewas a revival of interest….which continues until today.Tea nowadays is one of Scotland’s national drinks. By theend of the 19th century, Glasgow had become a great centerfor the sale of tea. One of the tea merchants was a young mannamed Stuart Cranston. He was interested in blended teas and18 An Canach Spring 2010

ecame known as the Wizard of the Leaf. He decided that hewould sell more tea if he offered tastings of different blends attwo pence per cup. His sister, Kate, took up the idea and ranwith it…Miss Cranston built up an empire of tea rooms in the city.While men had always had places to meet their friends – inpubs – now the ladies had a meeting place too. Tea at MissCranston’s became a Glasgow institution that is still enjoyedtoday at Miss Cranston’s Willow Tearooms.Glasgow was also the birthplace of Sir Thomas Lipton whoprospered and built up a fleet of 500 ships. His name is stillsynonymous with tea.I wonder if Sir Thomas Lipton ever lived in a castle?On to CastlesScotland’s first castles were built long before tea was broughtfrom the orient to Europe. It is thought that the first castles inScotland were built by the Normans, often at the invitation ofScottish kings – and then by Scots themselves, copying the idea.The classic Scottish castle is simply the tower – a design thatbecame widespread in the 14th century and was developed inthe centuries that followed.Strongly fortified residences were still being built in largenumbers in Scotland after the majority of English castle ownersfelt able to relax and introduce such things as windows on theoutside walls. Scotland was still a dangerous and insecureplace. Often the threats in Scotland were from other Scots –intransigent Highland clans were frequent culprits.Castles were symbols of strength and conquest – and thatsymbolism remained powerful, but as stability increased andsociety developed, castles began to express the aspirations oftheir owners in different way.Notions of living in a civilized way spread after the 13thcentury, and the castle courtyard often contained a gardenwhere herbs and flowers would be grown and where the ladiesof the castle might have a bower to retreat from the rough sideof castle life. Minstrels might entertain in the courtyard andknights might court the ladies.Many castles had moats around them. In the beginning, thesewere purely defensive, but they could also provide food in theform of fish and water fowl. Clean water was essential – andthis was usually taken from wells within the castle walls…fordaily use, most people drank either watered wine or “small”beer. Small beer was a weak beer that could be consumed inquantity without becoming drunk. When tea became popular,it was consumed in great quantities by ladies and gentlemenas well.As time passed, furnishings and fittings became richer andmore widespread. The lord and lady would have a large bedthat was essentially a small room when drapes and hangingswere closed around it.As well as the great bed, the lord and lady would have placesto store their clothes and other possessions – the wardrobe.The wardrobe could describe virtually everything the lordowned and the royal wardrobe of the monarch often traveledwherever he or she went – as did the royal bed.The monarch’s retinue on his extensive journeys includedpeople whose job it was to transform castles into warm andcomfortable places. All of these people were under the controlof the official called the marshall.Hangings were used to disguise bare and unattractive stonewalls and to provide protection from drafts. One of the mostwonderful luxuries came to be glass in the windows, wherepreviously only shutters or hangings had kept out the worst ofthe weather.In the hall, center of castle life for domestic as well as officialfunctions, communal eating was still the norm. Kitchens hadgradually replaced cooking over fires in the hall itself. Rushesand other plant material remained the best floor covering, sincethey could be easily and quickly replaced when soiled by foodremains or other debris.One of the favorite floor coverings was meadowsweet; asits name conveys it is gently scented and could disguise lesspleasant smells.Weapons and armor and coats of arms would be displayedon the hall walls…Life in early castles was not always grim. There was singingand laughter and there were games. Jousting and huntingmostly were for the nobility, but ordinary people could watchthe jousts and sometimes feasts were for all when they wereused to mark special occasions.The lord may have had a resident jester whose job was toentertain during the long evenings. Traveling troubadours andminstrels provided songs and music, often accompanied byharps, trumpets or fiddles. Storytelling was hugely importantand epic stories would be told around the fire.An early form of soccer, called camp-ball, was played.Using a pig’s bladder stuffed with dried peas, the idea was toscore goals – like today – but there were virtually no rules – thepitch could be any size and any number of players could joinin. It was dangerous and chaotic.Hunting was popular with nobles with deer being themost prized quary. Dogs were an essential part of the huntand nobles made a great fuss of their dogs. Falconry was verypopular and all manner of birds were caught by the falcons.The “code” in Europe went something like this: An eaglefor an Emperor, the white gyrfalcon for a king, the peregrinefor a Duke, the goshawk for a Yeoman, the merlin for a Lady,the sparrowhawk for a priest and the kestrel for an altar boy.Birds of prey were used as payment for rent on land,exchanged as diplomatic gifts and used as barter for negotiatingtreaties…Falconry was so popular that to this day, we haveexpressions whose origins were found in the sport. One wellknownexpression is considered an insult by most – but to me,it is a compliment: “An old hag” describes a stubborn andcantankerous old woman. It comes from the word “haggard”referring to the adult plumage of a hawk. A haggard hawkin falconry terms is one that has been taken from the wild fortraining after it has reached its adult or “haggard plumage,usually after a year of age. At this stage of development, araptor is considered to be stubborn and set in its ways, andthus are called “stubborn old haggards.”The male counterpart to the expression is the “old codger”or the younger man’s descriptive, “cad.” These terms comefrom the word “cadger” the man in the field who carried thehawks on a platform called a “cadge.” The cadge looked like atable without the top, in the middle of which the cadger stood,Continued on page 20Spring 2010 An Canach 19

22 An Canach Spring 2010

TanistIain M. Henderson, Younger of FordellBrisbaneAUSTRALIAAn Cirean CeannCinnidhOfficersPresidentRex A. Maddox7504 Range RoadAlexandria VA 22306-2422(703) 765- 8819HENDBDYGD1@aol.comCommissionersVirtueAloneEnnoblesNorth East Region(CT, MA, ME, NH, NY, RI, VT}Gary Henderson, FSA Scot2403 Lake Mead RoadWheatfield, NY 14304(716) 731-1832bagpipes@adelphia.netMid East Region(DC, DE, MD, NJ, PA, VA, WV)Leon Hicks4506 Penwood DriveAlexandria VA 22310-1463(703) 922-4647ALHLCH@cox.netAppointedOfficials- Oes Dana -Clan PiperPatrick A. Heston5913 SE 71st StreetOklahoma City OK 73135(405) 596-1473paheston@hotmail.comClan GenealogistJames E. Henderson88 ElthamRocky Mount, NC 27804(252) 452-2161jimhen45@gmail.comChief of the Name and Arms of HendersonSociety Web SiteAlistair D. Henderson of FordellPO Box 3070Stafford DCQLD 4053AUSTRALIAClan Henderson SocietyVice PresidentLarry James Henderson2054 Ronald CircleSeffner FL 33584(813) 654-7008larryseffner@aol.comVice President—General CounselEarl Ronald Hendry, jdPO Box 220Roan Mountain TN 37687-0220(423) 725-5152LawVeteranUSA@aol.comSouth East Region(FL, GA, NC, SC)Edwin P.Hendricks Jr720 Maine Street PO Box 669Demorest, GA 30535-0669(706) 499-4732ehendric@windstream.netGreat Lakes Region(IN, IL, MI, OH, WI)Douglas W. Henderson3410 Wooster Road, #119Rocky River OH 44116(440) 356-2825North Central Region(MN, ND, SD)Virginia M. Broussard4152 Campbell RoadSnellville GA 30278Head of the BodyguardChristian Garin14025 Sterling Point DriveGainesville VA 20155(703) 753-9041Crgarin1@aol.comClan ChaplainC. Frederick Sanford520 Dogwood RoadStatesville NC 28677-3417(704) 878-6094cfsnfrd@bellsouth.netEditor, An CanachRussell L. Henderson8500 Wendell DriveAlexandria VA 22308-2158(703) 780-1068edancan@aol.comwww.ClanHendersonUSA.orgRecording SecretaryDottie Henderson686 Thrush CourtMarco Island FL 34145-1932(239) 389-5515dottiehenderson@embarqmail.comMembership SecretaryGregory L. Schwartz19 Sunbury StreetMinersville PA 17954-1441(570) 544-3428greglutcf@verizon.netMid Central Region(IA, KS, MO, NE)Lori Henderson10251 130th St.Valley Falls KS 66088(785) 945-3952khenderson@grasshoppernet.comMid South Region(AL, KY, LA, MS. TN)Billy J. Henderson863 Hwy 469 NorthJackson MS 39208-8056(601) 939-8656kilted@bellsouth.netFar South Region(AR, OK, TX)Tom Hendricks2509 SW 45th StreetOklahoma City, OK 73119(405) 685-9734tomff2376@yahoo.comClan BardJohn Robert MallerneeAFRH-W # 158Washington DC 20011-8400(202) 355-8710writesong@yahoo.comHistorianBeth Gay-Freeman, GOTJ102 Lakeside DriveWalhalla, SC 29691(864) 903-1392bethscribble@aol.comQuartermasterRobert G. Shimp1836 Paris AveNorth Augusta SC 29841(803) 278-1564rshimp4@comcast.netHigh Commissioner forNorth America and ChieftainDavid S. Henderson213 Broad StreetNew Bern, NC 28560 USAdavidshenderson@embarqmail.comAnCanachTreasurerJaneane Renee Henderson105 Bess LaneAngier, NC 27501(919) 639-4327janeanehenderson@gmail.comPast PresidentBilly J. Henderson863 Hwy 469 NorthJackson MS 39208-8056(601) 939-8656kilted@bellsouth.netSouth West Region(AZ. CO, NM, UT, WY)Joseph H. McEldowney,Jr.14996 East Columbia DriveAurora CO 80014-3812(303) 690-2586buzzmceldowney@aol.comNorth Pacific Region(AK, ID, MT, OR, WA)Ellen M. Bentley935 Court StreetProsser,WA 99350(509) 786--8587ebentley57@clearwire.netSouth Pacific Region(CA, HI. NV)Joe Henderson4920 Atherton StreetLong Beach CA 90815(562) 498-2291joehendy526@aol.comYouth ActivitiesAnn Henderson Hicks4506 Penwood DriveAlexandria VA 22310-1463(718) 922-4647ALHLCH@cox.netClan WebmasterDavid C. Henderson232 Kinney Avenue NWWalker MI 49534(616) 453-6537dcthenderson@yahoo.comDNA Project AdministratorJames E. Henderson88 ElthamRocky Mount, NC 27809(252) 452-2161jimhen45@gmail.comSpring 2010 An Canach 27