Patriot Cause Evoked

The following article was provided in Representative Perry Stambaugh’s Capitol Report issued on May 28, 2025. Rep. Stambaugh can be contact through his website at https://www.repperrystambaugh.com/

During the May 23 ceremony honoring the service of Revolutionary War patriot Jacob Stambaugh, I learned about Jacob’s Continental Army uniform from Dale Leppard, genealogist and registrar and past president of the Washingtonburg Chapter (Perry and Cumberland counties) of Sons of the American Revolution. A descendant of Jacob’s, Leppard sported a regimental coat worn by the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line in 1779 and further commissioned a leather cap, regimental flag, and knapsack unique to the unit.

Dr. Steven Messner, chairman of the Perry County America250PA Committee, right, and committee member Dale Beaver, left, posed with me and Nancy Bratton, who owns the property where Jacob Stambaugh is buried.

Last Friday, I spoke at a ceremony on the Spring/Centre township line east of Elliottsburg where a Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) grave marker was unveiled recognizing a Revolutionary War patriot — in this case, my great-great-great-great-grandfather Jacob Stambaugh (April 18, 1761-May 29, 1837).

Born Johann Jacob Stambach in Berks County, Pa. — then on the fringe of settlement in colonial America — Jacob anglicized his name early in life and during the War of Independence served with American troops in the Light Infantry Company of the 2nd Pennsylvania Regiment of the Continental Line. Later, he was a corporal in the Northampton County militia.

During his time in the Continental Army, Jacob fought at the Battle of Stony Point, N.Y., in 1779, where American troops captured the British fortification in a well-planned, three-phase nighttime assault with unloaded muskets, using only bayonets and courage. Jacob apparently was part of the first wave of the attack.

In 1788, Jacob and his brother and their families embarked to find new lands in Kentucky but halted their journey somewhere in Central Pennsylvania due to reports of troubles with Native Americans on the western frontier. As a result, Jacob settled on the farm near Elliottsburg — now owned by his descendant, Nancy Bratton — where he is buried. At some point Jacob even served as a first lieutenant and then captain in the Cumberland (now Perry) County militia.

In my remarks, I pointed out some of the reasons young Americans like Jacob fought against British rule and its repressions of liberty and freedom. I noted that while we have enjoyed fruits of the Continental Army’s victory (chiefly, an independent United States governed as a representative, constitutional Republic for nearly 250 years), the fight to preserve the Revolutionary principles enshrined in the Declaration of Independence and U.S. Constitution continues today and will shortly fall to the next generation.

The event was sponsored by the Perry County Committee of the United States Semiquincentennial (America250PA), as well as the Perry County Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution and Washingtonburg (Cumberland and Perry counties) SAR Chapter.

(Full disclosure: Jacob’s oldest son, John Jacob Stambaugh II, who died before his father in December 1832, acquired the farm in Green Park where I reside.)

Honoring a Perry County Patriot: Revolutionary War Grave Marker Dedication

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

May 20, 2025

Elliottsburg, PA

Perry County America 250 PA Executive Steering Committee announces a grave marker dedication ceremony honoring Revolutionary War Patriot Jacob Stambaugh. The Washingtonburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) are presenting this special program as part of Perry County’s celebration of America’s 250th anniversary.

Our guest speaker is the Honorable Perry Stambaugh, PA Representative of the 87th District and descendant of Jacob Stambaugh. Other participants include officers of the Pennsylvania Society SAR, SAR Color Guard (including one direct descendant), music by piper Ian Steibar, and members of Washingtonburg Chapter SAR and Perry County Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution.

The dedication ceremony will begin at 11:00 am on Friday, May 23, 2025, at a private cemetery on the Stambaugh Farm, located at 1797 Shermans Valley Rd, Elliottsburg, PA 17024 (map and parking directions in separate file). The rain date is 11:00 am on Saturday, May 24, 2025. Period attire is welcome. Appropriate footwear recommended (site is located in a field).

Join us for this historic occasion!

For more information and to confirm attendance, please contact:

Julia Majury

juliamajurydar@gmail.com

(717) 304-6425

Perry County America 250 PA Executive Steering Committee

Perry County, Pennsylvania

Find us on Facebook at America 250 – Perry County, PA

Marker Dedication at Stroh’s Cemetery with Harrisburg, NSDAR

The Harrisburg Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution held a marker dedication ceremony for two Pennsylvania Revolutionary War Patriots at Stroh’s Cemetery in Lower Paxton on April 12th, 2025. Stroh’s Cemetery is located on the Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area, 401 Fishing Creek Valley Rd, Harrisburg, PA 17112. Members of the Washingtonburg Chapter SAR, including compatriot John Guinan, were in attendance.

The following information was derived from https://harrisferrysar.org/:

The Harris Ferry Chapter SAR has a significant link to this cemetery, as Past President and Compatriot Oscar H. Stroh is buried here. Mr. Stroh was instrumental in compiling, detailing, and publishing countless records on Dauphin Country Revolutionary War Patriots.

Following the DAR’s ceremony, Harris Ferry will conduct its own Patriot and Compatriot Grave Marking Ceremony for Patriots George Stroh, Christian Stucky, and Compatriot Oscar H. Stroh. The ceremony will be slightly condensed, since the DAR will have handled the majority of the rituals.

Marker Dedication at Stroh’s Cemetery with Harrisburg, NSDAR

Americanism Can Be Delivered To Our Young People

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 250^th 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.

First Annual Washingtonburg Wreaths Across America Ceremony

Saturday, December 14th, 2024 Marked the Inaugural Washingtonburg Wreaths Across America Ceremony.

The ceremony was held at the Middle Spring Presbyterian Church in Shippensburg, PA. In attendance were several local veterans, PA District 193 Representative Torren Ecker, Colonel Park Bierbower, Girl Scout Troop 80063, Washingtonburg compatriots Raymond Mowery, Captain Dennis Dyckman, Steven Messner, Douglas Cubbison, Colonel Jeffery “Tank” Patton, Rev. Douglas Reagan, Dale Leppard, Jeremy Winn, Theron Winn, Rev. William M. Sloane, William S. Sloane, and members of the public. 100 wreaths were sponsored through the program and these were placed on every veteran’s grave in the Lower, Upper, and Modern sections of the cemetery.

*Colonel Park Bierbower and Honorable Torren Ecker*

Live with Purpose

The Honorable Torren Ecker, PA District 193 Representative, and Colonel Park Bierbower spoke on the year’s theme, “Live with Purpose”, before laying the ceremonial wreath at the Soldier’s Memorial outside of the church.

Looking Forward to Next Year

The Washingtonburg chapter hopes to make this event a holiday tradition and plan to be back at Middle Spring Presbyterian next year on Saturday, December 16, 2025. Wreaths Across America will match every wreath sponsored at our location for next year’s ceremony from now through January 17, 2025. Please use this link to sponsor wreaths: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/181029/Overview/?relatedId=180890

Gallery

Civil War Veterans Monument
Washingtonburg Compatriot Raymond Mowery
Frank Gelwicks
Washingtonburg Compatriot Steve Messner
Washingtonburg Compatriot Douglas Cubbison
Kyla Jones
Washingtonburg Compatriot Col. Jeffery “Tank” Patton
Washingtonburg Compatriot Rev. Douglas Reagan
Washingtonburg Compatriots Douglas Reagan and Dale Leppard
Rev. Ed Blank
Washingtonburg Compatriot Cap. Dennis Dyckman
Washingtonburg Compatriot Jeremy Winn
Washingtonburg Compatriot Theron Winn

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