Scott Wallace

25th Annual Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival

Posted on by Scott Wallace

The Rural Hill Loch Norman Scottish Festival (NC) was held on April 21-22, 2018.  Sunny skies greeted the fifty eight clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them.  Other participants included the SAMS (Scottish American Military Society), Council of Scottish Clans and Societies, New World Celts, and St. Andrews Society of North Carolina.  Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

These games are held at Rural Hill Farms in Huntersville, North Carolina.  Rural Hill, the homestead of Revolutionary War patriots Major John and Violet Wilson Davidson is located in the Catawba River Valley in northwest Mecklenburg County, North Carolina. The Davidson family is representative of the thousands of Scots and Scots-Irish who contributed to the growth of the Carolinas and put a unique cultural stamp on the American South.

The parade of tartans was held at noon on Sunday. Clan Wallace waited patiently as fifty seven clans marched before us. Dr. Joseph Morrow, QC, Lord Lyon King of Arms greeted everyone as they came off the parade field for a job well done.

Special quests that stopped by our tent were, Dr. Joseph Morrow, QC, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Malcolm Sinclair the 20th Earl of Caithness, Chief of Clan Sinclair.

On Saturday for the opening ceremony 15 pipe bands took the field. What a glorious site and sound to be hold.

The Scottish American Military Society (SAMS) Post 1775 conducted a Flag Retirement ceremony on the main filed Saturday in accordance with the flag code.

Our thanks to all that came out and enjoy the weekend with us.

Pictured are: Dr. Joseph Morrow, QC, Lord Lyon King of Arms, Russ Harper, President Clan Wallace, and his wife Marcia Harper

Courtesy of Marcia Harper

Scott Wallace

William J. (Bill) Wallace 1942–2018

Posted on by Scott Wallace

William J. (Bill) Wallace

June 5, 1942 – April 15, 2018

The Clan Wallace Society (CWS) is sad to inform its members that we have lost another good friend.  William (Bill) John Wallace passed away on the 15th of April at the age of 75 after a year-long fight with pancreatic cancer, departing from “this life to more life.”

Bill was born in Waupaca, Wisconsin. At the age of 20, he enlisted in the Army as a private, attended OCS and graduated a 2LT. In 1962, Bill met Norma Hoefer of Freeport, Illinois. They were married on June 6, 1964. Norma was the bedrock of his life. In the Gaelic, Norma was known as Bill’s anam cara (soul friend). Many times at CWS annual meetings and gatherings, you could see Bill and Norma walking hand-in-hand like they had just started dating, and they did so for their 53+ years of marriage.

With Norma at his side (sometimes figuratively), Bill completed two combat tours in Vietnam; one as a 1LT Infantry Heavy Mortar Platoon Leader; and one as a helicopter pilot with the rank of CPT. He also completed a three-year assignment to Saudi Arabia. Bill retired as Chief of Concepts and Studies Division, Director of Combat Development after 24 years in the Army with the rank of LTC.

Bill then worked in the Aerospace industry with McDonnel Douglas/Boeing for 16 years in management. He and Norma settled in Bend, Oregon in 2006.

In Central Oregon, Bill developed skills as an amateur photographer thanks to patient coaching by local professional photographers.

Bill was a Council Member of the Clan Wallace Society and was elected to the Board of Directors. During his nine (9) year tenure on the Board, he was the Treasurer, Executive Vice President, and President from 2007 through 2009.

Norma and Bill at the 2012 Calgary Gathering

Bill is survived by Norma and their sons William Wayne Wallace and family Rafif Jouejati and grandsons Adam Wallace and Ramsey Wallace of Virginia; and CSM Douglas Dwight Wallace and Nicole Nikrandt Wallace and grandson Cayden Wallace of Wisconsin.

A celebration of Bill’s life took place at the First Presbyterian Church Sanctuary in Bend, OR on Saturday, April 21, 2018. Bill will be interred in the columbarium of Arlington National Cemetery in Virginia at a future date to be announced. Bill will be greatly missed by his loving wife Norma and their family and friends. He will also be missed by his CWS family. We bid farewell to a good man and a good friend.

Scott Wallace

2nd Annual Tartan Day North Carolina

Posted on by Scott Wallace

The 2nd annual Tartan Day North Carolina celebration was held on April 6, 2018 at the Raleigh Museum of History. North Carolina has a rich history of Scots relocating to the new world. During troubled times, many Highlanders relocated to the Cape Fear River Valley and from the Lowlands, Ulster Scots settled throughout the Piedmont and Southern Appalachians.

Clan Wallace, Clan McLean, Clan Donald and SCOT (Scottish Association of the Triangle) were invited to the Museum of History to help educated folks on how important Tartan Day is in North Carolina. Along with the three clans where Wake District Pipe and Drum, Our State Magizine, weapons and sword dancing.

Russ and Marcia Harper set up a display of things that related to Scots in North Carolina and Clan Wallace. We also handed out packets we created to teachers to help their students better understand what it is to be Scottish and how it relates to North Carolina. It was estimated that 300 home school children visited us for Tartan Day. While many of the folks that visited had no Scottish connection, they were interested in finding out about Tartan Day.

Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day.

Contributed by Marcia Harper

Scott Wallace

26th Annual Panama City Beach Highland Games

Posted on by Scott Wallace

The Panama City Beach Highland Games (FL) was held on March 3, 2018. These games are held at Frank Brown state park in Panama City Beach, Florida. Sunshine and wind was the weather of the day. There were forty clan tents participating and Clan Wallace was among them. Russ and Marcia Harper hosted the Clan Wallace tent.

The entertainment included the Santa Rosa Pipes and Drum, Emerald Coast Pipe and Drum, Tallahassee Pipe and Drum, and the Panama City Pipe and Drums, and the McGuire’s Pipe and Drums, The Blarney Girls and the Seven Nations. The Games included heavy athletics, Children’s Highland games competition, British Car show, Border Collie Demonstration and Highland dancing. The vendors at the games included, Celtic Store, Cameron British Food, The Wren’s Nest, Scots Corner, Scots den, and Near and Far Scottish.

At the end of the day Clan Wallace was awarded 1st place in Best clan tent. Clan Kennedy took 2nd place for Best Clan Tent, and Clan Johntson/e in American took 3rd place. Thanks to all that came out and enjoyed the day with us.

Contributed by Marcia Harper