The 125th anniversary of the founding of the National Society of Daughters of the American Revolution was celebrated last weekend across the country as chapters conducted special service projects within their local communities.
On Saturday, members of the Ligonier chapter chose to “Celebrate America” by participating in the Fort Ligonier Days parade.
“It is an honor to participate in the Fort Ligonier Days parade because we are paying tribute to the service and actions of our patriots, some of whom died and all of whom fought for American independence,” said Jo Ann Roney Kelsey, regent of the local group. “We all dress in colonial dress or costumes which we make ourselves. We try to make them as authentic as possible.”
Kelsey said the group participated in the parade as a way to make people aware and inform them about the history of the Ligonier chapter.
“We are proud to have a flag that announces our chapter,” Kelsey said. “It was created by our chaplain, Kathy Hayes, and her sister, Barbara Lynn, for last year's parade.”
NDAR history
The National DAR was founded on Oct. 11, 1890, when a group of pioneering women in the nation's capital formed their own organization and carried the torch of patriotism ever since.
The objectives established in the first meeting of the NSDAR have remained the same through the years. Historically they want to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence. Educationally, they plan to carry out George Washington's message in his farewell address to promote institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge and patriotically, to foster true patriotism and love of country.
The Ligonier NSDAR was organized Dec. 28, 1957, with 32 charter members. It was named The Fort Ligonier Chapter because its origins began in the 1957 planning of the bicentennial celebration of the battle at Fort Ligonier.
According to vice regent Marlene Murty, the Fort Ligonier chapter came by its name as a natural choice.
“At the site of the old fort, John Jacob Hughes bought a lot on Loyalhanna Street Oct. 29, 1927. This was deeded to the William Kenly Chapter in Latrobe in memory of his mother, Jane Zimmers Hughes, who was organizing regent there,” Murty said, referencing the chapter's history published in the annual yearbook. “That chapter obtained the adjoining lot in 1931 and erected an appropriate monument in October 1934.
Fort Ligonier Memorial Foundation was chartered Nov. 6, 1946 with the purpose of restoring Fort Ligonier and perpetuating its memory. The Latrobe chapter then deeded the two lots to the foundation in 1948.”
Currently, the Fort Ligonier Chapter has 46 members and is one of 95 the Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution. Nationwide more than 180,000 other daughters who make up the NSDAR.
Members continue to promote patriotism throughout the community.
“Last September our chapter members organized the “Flash Mob” on the Diamond to celebrate the 200th anniversary of our National Anthem,” Murty said. “Nearly 200 persons attended and participated in the Pledge of Allegiance and the singing of our National Anthem.”
The group presents a JROTC Award to an outstanding cadet at Ligonier Valley High School. They distribute bookmarks with the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution to local fifth grade students within the Ligonier Valley School District. They place more than 48 American flags on the graves of deceased DAR members who are buried in local cemeteries.
The chapter accepts and forwards donations to NSDAR's Project Patriot, providing hygiene products and telephone calling cards to wounded warriors in military hospitals.
“In 2013 we presented the National Society's Women in the Arts Award to Ligonier's own Jaime Cooper for her contributions to the field of historic art,” Murty said. “Last year we commemorated the writing of what became the national anthem with a “flash mob” on the Diamond. Ralph Kinney Bennett spoke, Boy and Girl Scouts group participated.”
Of the 46 members, nearly half live in the Ligonier area. Others live in Maryland, Utah, Maine and South Dakota.
“All of these chapter members volunteer in many different ways,” Kelsey said. “Some prepare Meals on Wheels for their communities, work at local Blood Drives, volunteer at local libraries and museums, participate in local church choirs and on church committees.”
Kelsey said other members ring the bell for the Salvation Army, preform in local bell choirs, work at the local food bank, make prayer flags for special intentions, visit aged and infirmed members at local nursing homes, work at church rummage sales, help at recycling drives and make blankets for children's hospitals.
“Several of our chapter members volunteer at the Ligonier Valley Library and the Pennsylvania Room. One member has already amassed over 300 volunteer hours there this year,” Kelsey said.
As they look to the future, the group plans to continue efforts to preserve the history of Ligonier.
Several members acquired a participating grant from NSDAR for funds to digitize local family histories and community history so that information will be available at the Ligonier Valley Library to local residents and patrons in the future.
Kelsey encourages membership in the local DAR and provides a list of what materials need to be gathered before submitting to the organization.
“Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join.” Kelsey said. “It is fairly easy if a woman had a mother, grandmother, aunt or relative who had been or is a member of NSDAR. Otherwise, she has to do a little research.”
Chapter members are willing to help someone establish the link necessary. Initially, a prospective member should round up birth certificates for herself and her parents as well as birth and death certificates of grandparents through which family branch leads to the patriot of the American Revolution.
The National Society's website provides the DAR Genealogical Research System which includes free online databases that contain information on Revolutionary patriot ancestors, descendants of those patriots, as well as the vast array of genealogical resources from the DAR Library.
The group meets monthly. The next meeting is Nov. 14. The group plans to tour Scenery Hill and the Madonna of the Trail monument.
For more information, call Kelsey at 724-539-7308.
Deborah A. Brehun is a staff editor for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-238-2111 or dbrehun@tribweb.com.
