CHANUTE — Iolans Gary McIntosh and Jim Gilpin were among the participants as the Sons of the American Revolution recently recognized a Revolutionary War soldier and his descendants with a grave-marking ceremony.
McIntosh and Gilpin are both members of the Fort Scott SAR chapter, and were at the service held at Chanute’s Memorial Park Cemetery.
There, the service recognized Pvt. John Benjamin Hedrick, who served in the 4th Company, 4th Battalion of the Pennsylvania Militia during the Revolutionary War. The battalion became part of the 5th Pennsylvania Regiment, which saw action in a number of invasions and battles from 1775 to 1783.
Also honored were two of Hedrick’s descendants, Edwin Hale Bideau Sr. and Edwin Hale Bideau III of Chanute.
Edwin Sr. was born in Chanute and enlisted in the Army following the attack on Pearl Harbor. His World War II service included being part of Patton’s 3rd Army during the Lorraine Campaign.
He later received the Bronze Star while taking part in the assault on the Koeking Forest, then known as the Woods of Hell” in the battle for Dieueze.
He was seriously wounded in the final stages of the battle, but later returned to active duty after recuperating in the hospital for 10 months.
After the war, Bideau expanded the family real estate and business partnership until he was recalled back to active duty during the Korean War.
After that service concluded, Bideau expanded the family business into a large commercial insurance agency.
He was also an agent and branch manager for Railroad Savings Association, later Commercial Federal Bank.
Edwin III was a Republican representative in the Kansas State Legislature on two separate occasions, as well as serving as Neosho County attorney.
Bideau, who also ran a law practice for more than 25 years, died in 2013.
The Kansas Society Color Guard, dressed in period uniforms, took part in the ceremony.
Also on hand were U.S. Rep. Derek Schmidt, State Rep. Ken Collins, Chanute Mayor Jacob LaRue, Vice Mayor Kevin Berthot and Chanute commissioners Tim Harding and Tim Fairchild.
THE CEREMONY was part of the Sons of the American Revolution’s annual state meeting, during which both Gilpin and McIntosh were honored for their lengthy membership and service to the organization.
Gilpin is the president of the Fort Scott chapter; McIntosh is the vice president.
