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

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.

Washingtonburg Chapter Holiday Dinner at Two Mile House in Carlisle

Past President and current Genealogist Dale Leppard with wife Susan Riley
(photo by Anthony Ebersole)

Despite a few last-minute cancellations due to inclement weather and illness, approximately 50 members and guests of Washingtonburg Chapter gathered at historic Two Mile House in Carlisle on the 15th of December 2024 for the annual Holiday Dinner. The annual event encourages 18th century attire, which was worn by nearly half of those attending. The meal was catered by Chef Mark Little of New Bloomfield and featured an 18th century fixed plate menu, which was supplemented by hot and cold period punches prepared by Compatriot Brian Engle. Colonial era music was provided by Forbes Road Frolic, attired in 18th century clothing with period instruments. Carriage rides in the light snow were provided by Benchfield Farms of Newville, whose drivers and attendant were in colonial attire. A toast to His Excellency George Washington was made using Rye made at Mount Vernon according to the recipe of Our First President and Commander-in-Chief. Those attending signed the guest list in the form of a reproduction Revolutionary War Militia roster using a quill pen and ink well. Each setting included a souvenir program and menu as well as a tavern bill customized to Two Mile House. Reproduction newspapers dating from the period were circulated among the guests. The Two Mile House property was owned in the late 18th century by Ephrain Blaine, Commissary General of the Continental Army. The house is predominantly of Georgian construction, but a part of the kitchen dates to the late 18th century consistent with the ownership period of Blaine.

A photo gallery documenting the event may be found here: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1dVASb-gCCFQe2XHVG

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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.

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

Carlisle Declaration of Independence

The First Presbyterian Church of Carlisle and Historic Carlisle, Incorporated, kindly invited Washingtonburg Chapter to join with them on July 1st, 2024, to recreate the historic Carlisle Declaration of Independence. Under the leadership of luminaries such as James Wilson (signer of the Declaration of Independence) and Ephraim Blaine (later Commissary General of the Continental Army), the citizens of Carlisle gathered on July 12th, 1774, to renounce the actions of the British in Boston and New England and to show their support. The reenactment 250 years later underscored the significance of the event and included key historical figures represented by members of the present congregation as well as members of Historic Carlisle, Incorporated, who with Washingtonburg Chapter, also provided local extras in 18th century attire. Awards were presented to Historic Carlisle and the First Presbyterian Church by Washingtonburg Chapter in recognition of this important and extraordinary effort, and a wreath was placed in the Church in honor of the courageous members who blazed a trail to independence in 1774.

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.