Volunteer For Wreaths Across America Event

Dear Washingtonburg Chapter,

As the cool, fall air and colorful leaves arrive, we must prepare for our inaugural Wreaths Across America event. The goal of Wreaths Across America is to place holiday wreaths on all veterans’ graves across the country. We will do our part to honor America’s veterans by hosting a ceremony on Saturday December 14, 2024, at 10:00 am, at Middle Spring Presbyterian Church and Cemetery, one of the oldest in Shippensburg (135 Middle Spring Road, Shippensburg, PA).

There are 100 veterans, including over one dozen Revolutionary War soldiers, buried in the church’s cemetery. Our goal is to place wreaths on all 100 veterans’ graves, but we need to have that number of wreaths sponsored at our location. Currently, we have 44 wreaths sponsored with seven weeks remaining in our campaign. For every two wreaths sponsored at our location, we get a third wreath for free. They are only $17 each. So, we only need to sponsor 37 more wreaths. If you would like to sponsor wreaths, use the QR code below, or contact Ray Mowery (raymondmowery@hotmail.com).

We are also looking for volunteers to participate in our ceremony. We are looking to fill these roles:

A veteran from the navy to place a navy stick flag on a display at the front of the church.
A veteran from the air force to place an air force stick flag on a display at the front of the
church.
A veteran from the coast guard to place a coast guard stick flag on a display at the front of
the church.
A veteran from the space force to place a space force stick flag on a display at the front of
the church.
A veteran to place a POW/MIA stick flag on a display at the front of the church.
A member to read the History of Wreaths Across America (the paper to read will be
provided).
A member to introduce our first speaker, Representative Torren Ecker of the PA 193rd
legislative district (the paper to read will be provided).
A member to introduce our second speaker, retired Colonel Park Beirbower (the paper to
read will be provided).
Three members to serve in the Color Guard (in Colonial attire).

If you would like to participate in any of these roles, please notify Ray Mowery
(raymondmowery@hotmail.com). We hope for a big turnout from our members for this event.

Thank you,
Ray Mowery

Check-out the Wreaths Across America Page that I Support!

Washingtonburg Challenge Coins

Dear Washingtonburg Chapter,

I’m proud to be part of Washingtonburg Chapter because our chapter has completed many
fantastic projects this year, and we have many more planned for the coming months. Like many
organizations, we would like to remember the great work we do. Here is a token that can help you
do that.

We are creating our chapter’s first-ever challenge coin. We are working with an American
company from Texas, Lone Star Challenge Coins, to create our coin. The design is shown below.
The front has our newly created Washingtonburg logo; the back has the national SAR 250th
Anniversary logo. This design is beautiful and practical. Because it has the 250th anniversary logo,
it can be used for several years if we would like to give them as gifts to those who help with our
projects and events. Our challenge coin will be 1 ½ inches in diameter (for reference, a quarter is 1
inch in diameter).

We are accepting pre-orders for our challenge coin, selling them for $15/each, the same price as the SAR national challenge coins on the national web site.

We need 30 preordered coins to meet the minimum to order our first run. If you would like to purchase our first ever challenge coin, please respond to Ray Mowery (raymondmowery@hotmail.com) with the
total number of coins that you would like to purchase. Then, you can send payment to Steve Burd,
our treasurer at the address below. Please add “Challenge Coins” in the message line on your
check. As soon as we get 30 pre-ordered coins, we can place our order.

Thanks for supporting our chapter,
Ray Mowery

Steve Burd, Washingtonburg Treasurer
101 Tee Bird Lane
Newville, PA 17241

Washingtonburg Chapter Displays at the Army Expo ‘24

Stop by our booth! The Washingtonburg Chapter, SAR is present this weekend at this year’s Army Expo ‘24 at the United States Army Heritage and Education Center. Come visit us today or tomorrow (September 14th and 15th) between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. each day. Past President Dale Leppard and President Jeff La Marca are present. Several Chapter members have already stopped by.

Washingtonburg Chapter Ceremonies at Mount Vernon

Washingtonburg Chapter PASSAR conducted a flag raising ceremony at the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon, followed by wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of George Washington and the Slave Cemetery to honor General Washington’s valet Will Lee and his fellow slaves. President Jeffry La Marca also represented Jockey Hollow Chapter NJSSAR, raising a flag for that chapter as well. Members of Washingtonburg also participated in tours of the grounds and concluded the visit with a group dinner at the restaurant at Mount Vernon.

(L-R) Compatriot Raymond Mowery IV, President Jeffry Peter La Marca, Past President Dale Leppard

Washingtonburg Chapter Delegation at Mount Vernon
(L-R) Dawn Guinan, Jack Guinan, Ray Mowery IV, Alex Mowery, Kristin Mowery, Theron Winn, Jeremy Winn, Jeff La Marca, Bill Etsweiler, Lisa Etsweiler, Dale Leppard, Greg O’Brien, Susan Leppard, Meryl O’Brien, Chuck Brackbill

Raising the Washingtonburg Chapter Flag at Mount Vernon
(L-R) President La Marca, Past President Leppard, Compatriot Mowery

Washingtonburg Flag flying over Mount Vernon

The Tomb of His Excellency General George Washington

President La Marca and Past President Leppard placing the wreath *inside* the tomb of George Washington

(L-R) Theron Winn, Jeremy Winn, Raymond Mowery IV, Jeffry La Marca, Gregory O’Brien, Dale Leppard, William Etsweiler in front of the tomb of George Washington

Monument at the Slave Cemetery at Mount Vernon

(L-R) Raymond Mowery IV, Jeremy Winn placing wreath in honor of Washington’s valet, Will Lee, and the slaves of Mount Vernon

President La Marca giving a reading about Will Lee, followed by brief biographies about the lives of Frank Lee, Nancy Carter Quarles, and other slaves of Mount Vernon as read by Past President Leppard, Gregory O’Brien, Charles Brackbill, and Jeremy Winn

Mikey the Haflinger cross pulling a carriage at Mount Vernon

North Carolina Paper Money at Mount Vernon Gift Shop
Note individuals signed the back like a check

Washingtonburg & Jockey Hollow Chapters Arrive in Virginia

Washingtonburg & Jockey Hollow Chapters arrived in Virginia this afternoon for tomorrow’s Flag Raising Ceremony at Mount Vernon. Earlier today, we visited George Washington’s Grist Mill and Distillery. It was a fascinating place!

Site Map for George Washington’s Distillery and Gristmill in 1799

Grist Mill and Distillery Informational Sign

Dinner at the River Bend Bistro
(L-R) Jack Guinan, Jeff La Marca, Dale Leppard, Chuck Brackbill, Meryl O’Brien, Greg O’Brien, Alex Mowery, Ray Mowery IV, Kristin Mowery, Bill Etsweiler, Lisa Etsweiler, Susan Leppard, Dawn Guinan

Highlights from Washingtonburg Chapter Meeting on 8/17/24

As previously reported, the Washingtonburg Chapter held elections at our recent meeting; our new board consists of:

President	Jeffry Peter La Marca, Ph.D.
1st Vice President	Most Rev. William Martin Sloane, Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D.
2nd Vice President	TSgt. Eric Nolan “Dutch” DeVries, USAF (Ret.)
3rd Vice President	Steven Pearson Messner, Ed.D.
Secretary/Treasurer	Steven Scott Burd
Registrar/Genealogist	Dale John Joseph Leppard
Chancellor	Maj. James Bryan Oerding, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.
Chaplain	Most Rev. William Martin Sloane, Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D.
Sergeant at Arms	Douglas Reginald Cubbison
Historian	Douglas Reginald Cubbison
Past President	Dale John Joseph Leppard

Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR Board of Directors elected on August 17, 2024.

During the meeting, several members received awards, accolades, or kudos for their contributions to our organization; including the following:

President Dale Leppard presents the Bronze Henry Knox Achievement Medal to the Most Rev. William Martin Sloane.

President Dale Leppard presents the Bronze Henry Knox Achievement Medal to Historian and Sergeant at Arms Douglas Reginald Cubbison.

President Dale Leppard presents the Bronze Henry Knox Achievement Medal to Maj. James Bryan Oerding, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.

President Dale Leppard presents the 134th Congress Medal to SCPO Todd Allen Hockensmith, USN (Ret.).

President Dale Leppard presents the 134th Congress Medal to Dr. Steven Messner.

President Dale Leppard presents the 134th Congress Medal to Maj. James Bryan Oerding, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.

Outgoing President Dale Leppard presents the Bronze Meritorious Service Medal to incoming President, Dr. Jeff La Marca.

Outgoing President Dale Leppard instituted a new Washingtonburg Chapter tradition by passing on a ceremonial sword to the incoming President, Dr. Jeff La Marca.

Replica Coins of the American Revolution

American, British, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Danish replica coins

During the American Revolution and the early years of our Republic, many foreign coins circulated in the colonies and states. In addition to locally produced coins and tokens, trade with other neighboring countries, Islands, and territories brought in specimens from many lands. The British, French, Spanish, Dutch, and Danish, all had colonies or Islands which were trading partners and coins from all of these places and more continued to circulate widely. In addition to the coins, as minted, it was common practice to cut Spanish 8 Reales coins into halves and quarters and eighths in pie-shaped form for use as smaller change. The Spanish 8 Reales coin was the forerunner of the United States Dollar. A 1/4 piece of the coin was the equal to our Quarter Dollar and the 1/8 piece would be worth 12 1/2 cents in the United States.

Washingtonburg Chapter Meeting and Elections

Past Chapter President Dale J. J. Leppard with SAR Flag

Washingtonburg Chapter conducted its Quarterly Meeting and Annual Elections August 17th, 2024 at the USAHEC in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Officers elected were President Dr. Jeffry Peter La Marca, 1st Vice President and Chaplain The Most Rev. William Martin Sloane, 2nd Vice President TSgt Eric Nolan “Dutch” DeVries, USAF (Ret.), 3rd Vice President Dr. Steven Pearson Messner, Secretary/Treasurer Steven Scott Burd, Chancellor MAJ James Bryan Oerding, USA (Ret.), Registrar/Genealogist Dale John Joseph Leppard, Sergeant at Arms and Historian Douglas Reginald Cubbison.

Attending were Dale J. J. Leppard, William M. Sloane, William S. Sloane, Charles L. Brackbill, Steven P. Messner, Douglas R. Cubbison, Samuel L. Russell, James B. Oerding, Sandra Oerding, Gregory T. O’Brien, Raymond A. Mowery IV, Todd A. Hockensmith, Jeffry P. La Marca, Douglas H. Reagan, Alexander Rushton. “Dutch” DeVries provided technical support and Steven S. Burd provided reports by proxy.

In addition to the Washington handshake tradition, which is an unbroken line of transmission of a handshake beginning with George Washington through Chapter founder and first Chapter President, John Cecil Fralish, Jr., outgoing Chapter President Dale J. J. Leppard instituted a new tradition of a Chapter sword which will be passed from Chapter President to Chapter President for use as a symbol of office during their incumbency.

Washingtonburg Chapter Earns Gold Level America 250th Anniversary Streamer for 2023

Chapter Gold Level America 250th Anniversary Streamer

Washingtonburg Chapter earned the prestigious Gold Level Chapter Streamer for the America 250th Anniversary Program. As originally presented, the program provided for Chapters to receive Bronze, Silver, or Gold Level Streamers for each year of the America 250th Anniversary Cycle. The original criteria were based on the average percentage of the membership who attended America 250th Anniversary themed events during the course of the year. The criteria were changed in 2024 to allow any chapter hosting or sponsoring such an event to receive a generic Streamer Award, presumably as a one-time honor.

Lafayette Fairwell Tour Cruise

(L-R) Reenactor portraying the Marquis de Lafayette,
1st Vice President of Washingtonburg Chapter Dr. Jeffry Peter La Marca

1st Vice President of Washingtonburg Chapter, Dr. Jeffry Peter La Marca, represented the Chapter at the opening segment of the Lafayette Farewell Tour at Sandy Hook, New Jersey, which reenacted the view that the Marquis had of America as he landed upon his return. The view was afforded through a dinner cruise attended by Dr. La Marca wearing the attire of a Continental Soldier of the Pennsylvania Line. The Bicentennial of the travels of the Marquis de Lafayette during his return visit to the United States is being commemorated and celebrated at various points corresponding to his original journey in 1824 and 1825. For more information see:

Lafayette 200 – Bicentennial of Lafayette’s Farewell Tour 2024–2025 the Nation’s Guest