Category: Chapter Meetings

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/TreasurerSteven Scott Burd
Registrar/GenealogistDale John Joseph Leppard
ChancellorMaj. James Bryan Oerding, USA (Ret.), Ph.D.
Chaplain Most Rev. William Martin Sloane, Ph.D., J.D., Ed.D.
Sergeant at ArmsDouglas Reginald Cubbison
HistorianDouglas Reginald Cubbison
Past PresidentDale 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 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.

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 Honors Revolutionary War Patriots

The Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR sponsored a grave marking ceremony, which recognized the contributions of five Revolutionary War Patriots buried in the Big Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery, Newville, Pennsylvania. The Patriots who received the SAR Grave Markers are: Capt. Thomas Buchanan, Major William McFarlane, Sgt. William Denning, Artificer William Ferguson, and Pvt. Peter Tritt.

Washingtonburg Chapter President, Dale John Joseph Leppard officiated at today’s ceremony.
President Leppard provided the backdrop regarding the significance of those who were honored.
Washingtonburg Secretary/Treasurer, Steven Scott Burd, was our guest speaker.
Secretary/Treasurer Burd places a SAR Marker on the grave of a Revolutionary War Patriot.
SPCO Todd Allen Hockensmith, USN (Retired) places a marker on the grave of a Revolutionary War Patriot.
The SAR Grave Marker that was placed on five Patriot graves today.
Associate Member Raymond Andrew Mowery IV, Washingtonburg Chapter, PASSAR and Jeffry Peter La Marca, President Jockey Hollow Chapter, NJSSAR carry wreath honor all of the Revolutionary War Patriots buried at the Big Spring Presbyterian Church Cemetery (including Patriots whose graves have not yet been marked).
Associate Member Mowery and President La Marca, adjust wreath.
(Left to Right): Jockey Hollow President La Marca, Washingtonburg President Leppard, and Associate Member Mowery in authentic 18th Century garb.
Following today’s grave marking ceremony, Washingtonburg Chapter Members and guest attended a BBQ and Chapter Meeting at the William Denning State Park.
President Leppard led today’s meeting. In addition to Washingtonburg Chapter business, he also discussed the Intolerable Acts in recognition of events that eventually sparked the revolt against the British.
Secretary/Treasurer Burd receives the Bronze Henry Knox Medal from President Leppard in recognition of his outstanding service to the Washingtonburg Chapter.
Compatriot Steven Pearson Messner receives the Bronze Henry Knox Medal from President Leppard in recognition of his outstanding service to the Washingtonburg Chapter.
Compatriot Steven Lee Dedmon and Associate Member Glen Halliman are related to Danel Boone! However, both men are descended from two of his sisters.

Washingtonburg Chapter Joins With Cumberland County Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution to Celebrate Washington’s Birthday

Washingtonburg member and PASSAR District Deputy
COL Samuel Russell, USA (Ret.) (L) receives Galvez Medal

Reestablishing an old tradition dating from the foundation of Washingtonburg Chapter in 1992, the Compatriots joined together with the Ladies of the Cumberland County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution to celebrate Washington’s Birthday. The original meeting was postponed due to a severe storm. The rescheduled meeting was held in March 2024 at the Carlisle County Club, in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. PASSAR District Deputy and Washingtonburg Compatriot, COL Samuel Russell, USA (Ret.), an author and authority on the Coulon de Villiers family of French Colonial America, gave a presentation on this interesting family, which culminated in the surviving brother moving to Louisiana, where he served under General Galvez and King Carlos III of Spain and the Indies as an ally of George Washington. In recognition of his research into the Coulon family, Washingtonburg Chapter President Dale Leppard presented the Galvez Medal and Certificate to Colonel Russell. Chapter President Leppard was then surprised by Regent Coanne O’Hern of the Cumberland County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution with the new Hannah White Arnett Medal. The event was well attended, and included Washingtonburg Compatriot State Representative Perry Stambaugh, PASSAR President Eric Troutman and his wife Stephanie, PASSAR Treasurer and Former PASSAR President Michael Seibert and his wife Maribeth, National Vice Regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution Beth Watkins, and many more. The ladies also provided a life-size cutout of George Washington, which provided a perfect backdrop for photographs.

Washingtonburg Chapter 3rd Quarter 2023 Meeting at USAHEC, Carlisle, Pennsylvania

Presentation on the Forbes Road and the British in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War
(L-R) Washingtonburg Compatriots 2nd Vice President William Sloane,
1st Vice President Jeff La Marca, and Jeremy Winn

Washingtonburg Chapter held its 3rd Quarter 2023 Meeting at the United States Army Heritage and Education Center in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Author and Washingtonburg Compatriot Douglas Cubbison gave a presentation concerning the British in Pennsylvania during the French and Indian War with an emphasis on Forbes Road and other early pathways through the region.