UPPER MERION — The lively and varied community of the Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution announces its 127th Annual State Conference from April 25-27 at the Alloy Hotel in King of Prussia.
This event is expected to bring together nearly 450 members from different chapters around the state, including those from the Chester County, Great Valley, Bucks County, Independence Hall, Jeptha Abbott, Philadelphia, and Valley Forge chapters in a lively celebration of its fundamental values of Education, Historic Preservation, and Patriotism.
Under the guidance of Pennsylvania State Regent, Marguerite Fritsch, the conference will officially start on Thursday evening. Fritsch will focus on the theme, “Love of Service to God, Home, and Country,” drawing inspiration from the Daisy, her selected state flower, which represents love and hope, and the service that members devote to their communities and the nation.
The conference will also feature Marguerite’s state project — restoring and preserving historic Old Swedes Cemetery, Chester, a final resting place for over 700 individuals, including Declaration of Independence signer John Morton and 11 Revolutionary War veterans.
The conference schedule is full of workshops, business sessions, and committee meetings — all aimed at strengthening DAR’s fundamental values. The Welcome Dinner on Thursday evening promises a warm atmosphere for reconnecting with longtime friends and making new ones.
A highlight of Friday morning will be the American Indians Breakfast, where Elizabeth Steward Garner, DAR National Chair of the American Indians Committee, will speak.
Garner will discuss the committee’s commitment to preserving American Indian culture and history and supporting educational endeavors through scholarships. Garner will share insights about the American Indians Committee scholarships, explain how the process works, honor past scholarship recipients, thank members for their ongoing support, and outline plans for expanding support to more Native American students. Currently, DAR offers 10 unconditional scholarships of $4,000 each year and hopes to increase the number of scholarships and amounts awarded next year.
Garner has been involved at all levels of the NSDAR, including Honorary State Regent of Michigan, Past Vice President General, and Past National Chair of DAR Schools. Garner also served as Senior State President of Michigan for the Children of the American Revolution and held numerous senior offices and chairmanships in that organization. She is a member of the John Sackett Chapter in Redford, Michigan, and is also related to him. During the American Revolution, Sackett served with the 3rd Regiment, Dutchess County Militia, New York.
Friday afternoon’s Project Patriot luncheon will support the United Service Organizations in its mission to provide comfort care and a feeling of “home away from home” for our country’s armed forces.
PSSDAR members will march in with backpacks they filled and collected for children of military families as part of 'Rucksacks to Backpacks' program, which provides school supplies to veterans' children. The luncheon will start with a color guard presentation by the Valley Forge Military Academy and College Color Guard, followed by a short introduction. USO members will then collect the backpacks and load them into their USO trucks.
Jenna Price, USO’s Central PA Center Operations and Programs Manager, and Peggy Whitcomb, National Chair of DAR Project Patriot, will speak about the committee’s efforts to improve the lives of military personnel and their families. Peggy, who comes from a Navy family and is a veteran herself, brings a personal connection to this event. She is a member of the Naval Reserves, her husband is a United States Marine, and her son is a Staff Sergeant in the Ohio National Guard. Peggy is currently a Human Resources Specialist for the Cuyahoga Falls City School District and is the Military Families Coordinator for the district. She is also a member of the Cuyahoga Falls Chapter and the Ohio State Chair for the Project Patriot Committee. Peggy’s leadership highlights DAR’s commitment to honoring and supporting the armed forces.
The Juniors will hold a luncheon on Saturday to display their projects and accomplishments throughout the year for the PSSDAR.
In Pennsylvania, there are over 500 Juniors aged 18 to 35 who play a crucial role in the state society’s success. Sarah Brooks, National Chair, Junior Membership, will speak at the luncheon, sharing the achievements of Juniors nationwide. Brooks comes from Louisiana and has held various positions, including Chapter Regent, State Junior Membership Chair, State C.A.R. Chair, State Hospitality Chair, and State Marshall. She has also served at the National Level as Division Vice Chair of C.A.R. South Central and as Junior Membership Junior Shoppe Vice Chair. Brooks is the CEO of Louisiana Fire Extinguisher, a cancer survivor, and a Trustee for Women’s Hospital in Baton Rouge. She and her husband have helped raise millions of dollars for women in the community for services not covered by insurance.
The conference will end with a celebratory State Banquet later in the evening featuring the Avalon String Band. The 127th Annual State Conference aims to emphasize the enduring values PSSDAR holds dear, such as promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and ensuring America’s future through better education for children.
Teri Fischer serves as the 2024 Conference Chair, with Susan Gillette Meer as the General Chair. The esteemed guests for this special gathering include Virginia Sebastian Storage, First Vice President General; S. Renee Pace, State Regent of Missouri; Kathleen A. Sterenberg, State Regent of New Hampshire; Elizabeth Steward Garner, National Chair, American Indians; Peggy Whitcomb, National Chair, DAR Project Patriot; and Sarah Brooks, National Chair, Junior Membership, NSDAR, highlighting the significance of this event.
The Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution is happy about its varied and active membership, consisting of women from all different backgrounds who are connected by their commitment to and love for helping others. Women of all kinds and ages are part of the PSSDAR, with 94 active chapters in six districts, more than 6,400 members, and 500 junior members. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove direct ancestry from someone who fought in the American Revolution, can become a member. To join, please get in touch with the State Membership Chair at [email protected].
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization whose members can trace their descent to an individual who helped gain American independence during the Revolutionary War. Since its establishment in 1890, the DAR has expanded to include over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters worldwide, giving millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and the world. Additionally, DAR chapters take part in projects to support historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
For more details or to become a member, visit www.dar.org.
