Washingtonburg Update: December 29, 2024

Greetings Washingtonburg Chapter,

I hope everyone had an enjoyable and safe holiday season thus far. This is the last update for 2024,
and we have lots of information to share. As we turn the calendar to 2025, I am predicting this
coming year will be the best year in Washingtonburg history. We are poised to build on programs
that we started in 2024. Many 250th Anniversary events will take place this year, and some are not
too far away.

Membership Update: Washingtonburg is approaching 60 members and will likely eclipse that
number this year. Several candidates’ applications are processing at the national office, and we
have several more prospective members who have expressed interest in joining. It is exciting to see
our membership grow; however, I, like many other compatriots, do not know everyone in the
chapter. With that in mind, I have a project to put faces with names. I am requesting that each
compatriot send me a photo (of yourself only, from the shoulders up) so that I can compile a
pictorial directory. Feel free to wear your 18th-century attire in your photo. I will crop photos to get
the correct size, so don’t worry about that. Junior members will need parental permission to be
included. Below is a sample of Compatriot Sam Russell. Let me know if you have any questions.
Email or text photos to me, Secretary Ray Mowery: raymondmowery@hotmail.com or 717-830-
1888.

Washingtonburg is hoping to join our sister DAR chapter in Cumberland County for a combined
event to honor George Washington’s birthday. A potential date is Saturday February 22, 2025. More
details will follow when they become available.
For the first time ever, Washingtonburg will host a PASSAR Board of Management (BOM) meeting—it will be from Friday January 31 to February 1, 2025, at the Penn Harris Hotel in Camp Hill, PA.
Friday evening is a reception only. The business meeting will be Saturday, and two of our
compatriots will be guest speakers: Doug Cubbison and Sam Russell. The registration form is
attached. Please send your completed form and registration check (write checks to
“Washingtonburg SAR” and write “BOM” in the memo) to Treasurer Steve Burd at 101 TeeBird Lane, Newville, PA 17241 by Friday January 17. We would like to have great attendance to support Doug and Sam and to show our chapter’s strength. Currently, we only have a handful of members who have registered. If you are not able to attend in person, there is a Zoom option. It is also a great
chance to see how our state society operates.

SAR encourages each chapter to present Flag Certificates to deserving individuals, families,
businesses and organizations in their area that fly the US flag properly. It would be nice if we could
present at least one Flag Certificate each month in 2025. We need your help to identify deserving
recipients. Please send names and addresses of deserving recipients to me, Secretary Ray Mowery,
so that I can work to arrange the details.
Our Wreaths Across America sponsorship page is active for 2025. For every wreath sponsored
from today until January 17, we will get a second wreath to place at our location for free. We
are already up to 8 wreaths sponsored. Here is the link:
https://wreathsacrossamerica.org/pages/181029/Overview/?relatedId=0. In addition, here is
the link to a digital photo album that I created for our WAA:
https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1qUva2CPUnD_7exCFPOI883G9ooVI1C6po31A_hW
QbgE/edit#slide=id.g31a970e15f4_0_0.
As a thank you for our chapter’s generosity in sponsoring Washingtonburg Founder and Past
President John Fralish’s lifetime SAR membership, he would like to complete an 18th-century
census project to publish and sell through our chapter. It is an identification project for the
Cumberland County schedule of the 1790 U.S. Census (present-day Perry and Cumberland
Counties), a project that connects the census to Revolutionary War service records. The first
edition of the results is a book (a publication of our chapter) setting forth the original census but
adding township divisions lacking in the original and also numbering the households
sequentially for reference (there are 3,019). John hopes to finish this project this winter and is
willing to take on serious volunteers with related experience in this type of work and research. If
you have a serious interest in assisting John, please contact Secretary Ray Mowery for more
information.
For our chapter web site, we would like to add short biographies for each of our patriot
ancestors. Mine is below, and you may use that as a guide. Include as much information as you
can. I will edit your ancestor’s biography to fit our web site. Attach photos if able.

Raymond Mowery IV and Raymond Mowery V’s (and soon-to-be member Alexander
Mowery’s) patriot ancestor: Barnabas Doyle, an Irish-Catholic whose family
immigrated to Path Valley in Cumberland County, Pennsylvania in the early 1700s. As
the Doyle family expanded, they founded the town of Doylesburg, which is in present-
day Franklin County. Barnabas was born in 1750 to Felix and Sarah Doyle. Barnabas
married Mary Catherine McElhenny in 1771, and they had 3 sons who were deeded
land that is now present-day Doylestown (Franklin County). During the American
Revolution, Barnabas served as a private in the 6th battalion of the Cumberland
County militia under Captain Thomas Askey’s company under the leadership of
Colonel James Dunlop from 1779-1781. On July 16, 1779, the 6th Pennsylvania was
part of the force commanded by “Mad” Anthony Wayne that stormed the British
fortifications at Stony Point, NY, in a surprise nighttime attack. This victory helped the
Continental Army control the Hudson River. They spent the rest of the year in garrison
at West Point and probably wintered at Morristown. The next year, the regiment took
part in several small engagements in New Jersey and again wintered at Morristown.
After the war, Barnabas returned home to farm his land. He died on November 23,
1797, in Fannett Township, Franklin County, Pennsylvania. He was buried at St.
Mary’s Catholic Church (now called Our Lady of Refuge Catholic Mission) in
Doylesburg, Pennsylvania, on land his family once owned. Barnabas’ original
gravestone pictured left; his new gravestone pictured right.

On a personal note, I am planning to attend the 250th anniversary of Patrick Henry’s “Liberty or
Death” speech in Richmond, VA, on Sunday March 23, 2025, at the historic St. John’s Church.
Tickets are $25 each, and the event is likely to sell out. This is the link to purchase tickets:
https://www.historicstjohnschurch.org/events/250th-anniversary-m2pt9. I will likely spend
one night in Richmond. There are several historic Revolutionary War-related sites in the area,
including the church where George Washington got married. Let me know if you would like to
attend with me. I am happy to drive. This event is for personal interest cannot be included
toward SAR 250th Anniversary Medals until approved by President Jen La Marca, who will give
us an approved list of 2025 events in the near future.

So, your homework includes these items:

Send Secretary Ray Mowery a photo of yourself for a pictorial directory at your earliest
convenience.
Send Treasurer Steve Burd your registration form and check for BOM by January 17.
Send Secretary Ray Mowery a short bio of your patriot ancestor (include a photo of your
patriot, the grave, a historical marker, or a homestead if able) at your earliest convenience.
Send Secretary Ray Mowery names and contact info for deserving recipients of Flag
Certificates at your earliest convenience.
Sponsor wreaths for our 2025 Wreaths Across America ceremony if you desire (by January
17 to give our chapter double the wreaths).
Contact Secretary Ray Mowery if you are interested in joining him for Patrick Henry’s
“Liberty or Death” speech reenactment the weekend of March 23, 2025.
Contact Secretary Ray Mowery if you have a serious interest in assisting John Fralish in his
census project.

That’s all for now. Please contact me with questions or ideas.
Ray Mowery

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

E4HhxJa_M5E9fKJg66RZfygHL4/edit#slide=id.g2a4941db549_0_739

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 (https://www.middlespringpc.org/). 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 the link below 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

Washingtonburg Chapter Displays at the Army Expo ‘24

Stop by our booth! The Washingtonburg Chapter, SAR is present this weekend at this year’s Army Expo ‘24 at the United States Army Heritage and Education Center. Come visit us today or tomorrow (September 14th and 15th) between 9 A.M. and 5 P.M. each day. Past President Dale Leppard and President Jeff La Marca are present. Several Chapter members have already stopped by.

Washingtonburg Chapter Ceremonies at Mount Vernon

Washingtonburg Chapter PASSAR conducted a flag raising ceremony at the home of George Washington at Mount Vernon, followed by wreath laying ceremonies at the Tomb of George Washington and the Slave Cemetery to honor General Washington’s valet Will Lee and his fellow slaves. President Jeffry La Marca also represented Jockey Hollow Chapter NJSSAR, raising a flag for that chapter as well. Members of Washingtonburg also participated in tours of the grounds and concluded the visit with a group dinner at the restaurant at Mount Vernon.

(L-R) Compatriot Raymond Mowery IV, President Jeffry Peter La Marca, Past President Dale Leppard

Washingtonburg Chapter Delegation at Mount Vernon
(L-R) Dawn Guinan, Jack Guinan, Ray Mowery IV, Alex Mowery, Kristin Mowery, Theron Winn, Jeremy Winn, Jeff La Marca, Bill Etsweiler, Lisa Etsweiler, Dale Leppard, Greg O’Brien, Susan Leppard, Meryl O’Brien, Chuck Brackbill

Raising the Washingtonburg Chapter Flag at Mount Vernon
(L-R) President La Marca, Past President Leppard, Compatriot Mowery

Washingtonburg Flag flying over Mount Vernon

The Tomb of His Excellency General George Washington

President La Marca and Past President Leppard placing the wreath *inside* the tomb of George Washington

(L-R) Theron Winn, Jeremy Winn, Raymond Mowery IV, Jeffry La Marca, Gregory O’Brien, Dale Leppard, William Etsweiler in front of the tomb of George Washington

Monument at the Slave Cemetery at Mount Vernon

(L-R) Raymond Mowery IV, Jeremy Winn placing wreath in honor of Washington’s valet, Will Lee, and the slaves of Mount Vernon

President La Marca giving a reading about Will Lee, followed by brief biographies about the lives of Frank Lee, Nancy Carter Quarles, and other slaves of Mount Vernon as read by Past President Leppard, Gregory O’Brien, Charles Brackbill, and Jeremy Winn

Mikey the Haflinger cross pulling a carriage at Mount Vernon

North Carolina Paper Money at Mount Vernon Gift Shop
Note individuals signed the back like a check

Washingtonburg & Jockey Hollow Chapters Arrive in Virginia

Washingtonburg & Jockey Hollow Chapters arrived in Virginia this afternoon for tomorrow’s Flag Raising Ceremony at Mount Vernon. Earlier today, we visited George Washington’s Grist Mill and Distillery. It was a fascinating place!