Dr. Steven Messner
When I joined the Pennsylvania Washingtonburg Chapter of SAR, President Dale Leppard suggested that I consider helping young people gain a better understanding of Americanism. I had been a school superintendent for quite a few years and I realized that there would be many challenges that one would face just trying to connect with the local public schools. I knew that you just didn’t simply tell a group school superintendents that you wanted to add another educational component to their responsibilities as the chief administrative officers of their school districts. I also realized that you didn’t just simply approach such a task without the help of others. I quickly learned that any local chapter of SAR has the potential to carry out such an Americanism effort and partnerships with such great organizations as DAR enhances the potential of success. You just have to focus on doing it.
It just so happened that Perry County had adopted a resolution to join the 250th Celebration of American independence. With that resolution came a need to establish an executive steering committee with an administrative component that called for two chairs. Glenn Holliman was quickly selected as one of the co-chairs and I was recruited to hold the other co-chair position. For the first time, SAR and DAR local Pennsylvania chapters were on the same county level committee that was asked to drive an Americanism component to our youth. With common histories and interests in the future of America, it soon became evident that these local chapters could work together to begin the process of increasing student exposure to Americanism and the rich history of this country. In a short time, the four school district superintendents in Perry County were approached with a list of possible ways that the Perry County 250 committee members might help to enhance Americanism in their schools. From that early offer, an ongoing partnership was established. Essay contests and having older elementary students read about the various stages of American development were among the topics that were considered. SAR Washingtonburg Chapter started to deliver Americanism elementary level reading books to a pilot program at Carroll Elementary School and DAR started an essay contest at Carroll as well as a project to bring many more Americanism books to that same school.
Working with SAR, DAR Regent Edna Feaster led a DAR sponsored program to bring even more reading books to Carroll to include personal Americanism books for sixty fifth graders. DAR Chair Kimberly Grundon led elementary and secondary essay contests with SAR assisting with the judging. Liberty trees have been planted at all three West Perry elementary school sites and also in each of the other school districts including Susquenita, Greenwood, and Newport. These SAR sanctioned Princeton American Elms will all have a granite plaque to mark their planting and dedication sites. An additional planting is being scheduled for Little Buffalo State Park and a major dedication event is being planned of April of 2026 where a plaque recognizing all those key players on this Perry County Americanism effort will be recognized by having their names included on the outdoor metal marker that will be attached to a large rock near the park swimming pool. In all, DAR and SAR delivered over one hundred elementary level reading books. On February 6, two Carroll fifth graders were recognized for their essays and more than sixty fifth grade students received their own Americanism reading books when Edna feaster, Steve Messner, Kyle and Julia Majury were present for the program presentations. I wish you could see the expressions on the faces of those fifth graders as Regent Edna told the story of her patriot family. In addition, three thousand Americanism coloring books were delivered to the four school districts by this writer in addition to Dale Beaver and Glenn Holliman who are in the process of joining Washingtonburg PSAR. Dale Beaver will direct the celebration achieving Americanism activities with our youth on April 19, 2026 at the Newport Assembly of God Family of Life Center outside of Newport, Pennsylvania. Come and see what one group of patriots can do with one person’s suggestion to bring Americanism to our youth.
