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

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.

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.

H.M. Queen Maria I of Portugal, Patriot Ancestor

H.S.H. Dom Filipe Alberto Folque de Mendoca, Count of Rio Grande, a member of the Constitutionalist branch of the Royal House of Portugal, Compatriot of Washingtonburg Chapter, was approved for membership in the Sons of the American Revolution in 2019 by virtue of his descent from HM King Carlos III of Spain and the Indies. In 2023, through a supplemental application, for the first time, his ancestress HM Queen Maria I of Portugal and the Algarves was approved as a Patriot ancestor. The event was marked by a Resolution of the Pennsylvania Legislature sponsored by Representative Thomas Kutz. Dom Filipe was presented the SAR International Medal in June of 2023 at the Penn Harris Convention Center in Camp Hill by Former President General Davis Wright. Among many other acts, Queen Maria gave support to a crew of American sailors captured by the British and dropped off on the Azores Islands. She provided them with food and shelter and transported them to Lisbon where they could board friendly ships and rejoin the fight. Regardless of compensation, that act alone would have qualified her as a Patriot, however, when Benjamin Franklin later offered Her Majesty recompense, she refused. At that time, she ruled over a vast Kingdom that included Brazil, parts of Africa, and Portuguese India. Dom Filipe is proud of the connections of his ancestors to the founding of the United States of America and his membership as a Compatriot of Washingtonburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution.

Washingtonburg Chapter Logo

Washingtonburg Chapter Joins Wreaths Across America

WASHINGTONBURG’S
WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA CEREMONY
SATURDAY DECEMBER 14, 2024 — 10:00 am
Middle Spring Presbyterian Church & Cemetery
(135 Middle Spring Rd – Shippensburg, PA)

To sponsor a wreath:

Visit this website: https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/181029/Overview/?relatedId=180890
Click the red “Sponsor Wreaths” button in the top right corner
Select the number of wreaths you would like to sponsor
Click the red “Review My Sponsorships” button
Complete the payment information
Email me to make a grave-specific wreath sponsorship: raymondmowery@hotmail.com

* Your sponsorship is tax deductible, so print your receipt.

Our goal is to sponsor 100 wreaths to cover all veterans’ graves in the Lower, the Upper, and the Modern Cemeteries. For every 2 wreaths that are sponsored, we receive a 3rd free wreath. All wreaths that we sponsor above 100 will be donated to other Wreaths Across America locations, like Spring Hill Cemetery or Locust Grove Cemeteries across town.

SAR Commemorates 250th Anniversary of Intolerable Acts

and Conducts Grave Marking Ceremony that Pays Tribute to Cumberland County Patriots

The Washingtonburg Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) is hosting a commemorative event to honor fallen patriots from the American Revolution. This solemn ceremony will be held on Saturday, June 15th, 2024, at 10:00 A.M. at the historic Big Spring Presbyterian Church in Newville, Pennsylvania.

The event will feature an official SAR Grave Marking Ceremony at the Big Spring Cemetery, located next to the church. Participants are welcome to wear 18th-century attire to add to the historical significance of the occasion.

Following the ceremony, attendees are invited to a catered lunch at a nearby pavilion within Colonel Denning State Park. A nominal fee will cover the meal, with details provided upon RSVP (reservation) to help with headcount.

Commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the Intolerable Acts

This gathering coincides with the 250th anniversary of the Intolerable Acts, a series of punitive laws passed by the British Parliament in 1774 in response to colonial resistance, culminating in the Boston Tea Party.

The afternoon will feature a brief presentation on the Intolerable Acts, followed by the Washingtonburg Chapter SAR regular quarterly business meeting with award presentations.

Earning the Bronze 250th Anniversary Medal

All participants are eligible to earn points towards the Bronze 250th Anniversary Medal program. This program recognizes individuals who contribute to events commemorating the American Revolution.

RSVP and Participation

To RSVP for the event and the catered lunch, please contact us. Indicate the number of people attending in your RSVP.

We encourage everyone to join us in honoring the sacrifices of the patriots who secured American independence. This event is a meaningful way to connect with history and celebrate the legacy of our forefathers.

Additional Information

The NSAR Washingtonburg Chapter awards medals for participation in commemorative events. For details on the Bronze 250th Anniversary Medal program, please contact us.

About the National Sons of the American Revolution

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NSSAR) is a lineage society composed of male descendants of the patriots who fought for American independence in the Revolutionary War. The NSSAR is dedicated to preserving American history and promoting good citizenship.

Respectfully,
Dale J. J. Leppard
President and Genealogist, Washingtonburg Chapter SAR

Perry County Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution Flag Day

Perry County Chapter Regent Bobbi Wertz-Hoy
welcoming the newly elected Regent

Washingtonburg Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution was represented at the Flag Day Luncheon hosted by the Perry County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on June 1st, 2024. Featured presentation included the celebrated rugs created in a style created by Perry Countian, Magdalena Briner Eby. Following the luncheon, members of the Chapter produced a short video of the Pledge of Allegiance which was subsequently aired by ABC27.