King of Prussia — Members of the Jeptha Abbott DAR and 93 other chapters from the Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (PSSDAR) held their 127th state conference, April 25th-27th at the Alloy Hotel, King of Prussia. More than 400 members and guests attended the event. Pennsylvania State Regent Marguerite Fritsch, who presided over the conference, emphasized the theme, “Love of Service to God, Home, and Country,” drawing emphasis from the Daisy, her chosen state flower, which symbolizes love and hope and the service that members dedicate to their communities and the nation. The conference also spotlighted 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 agenda was replete with workshops, business sessions, committee meetings, and award presentations — all designed to further the DAR’s mission of promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and enhancing education for children. A noteworthy event for the Jeptha Abbott Chapter was seeing junior member Michelle Bradley receive the PSSDAR State Outstanding Junior Award. Other conference highlights included the Veterans Luncheon, American Indians Breakfast, Junior Luncheon, and a grand celebratory banquet featuring the Avalon String Band.
The American Indians Breakfast underscored DAR’s commitment to educating about and supporting the American Indian community, with scholarships aimed at aiding Native American students’ educational pursuits. Through this committee, DAR currently offers The American Indian Scholarship, The Frances Crawford Marvin American Indian Scholarship, and The Anne Trevarthen Memorial Scholarship for college-bound American Indian youth and hopes to add more.
The DAR Project Patriot Luncheon, coinciding with the “Month of the Military Child,” supported “Rucksacks to Backpacks,” a USO initiative providing school supplies to veterans’ children, and showcasing the DAR’s dedication to military families. At the end of the luncheon, DAR members handed off the more than 600 backpacks they had bought, filled, and taken to the luncheon so they could be collected by USO military officers. In addition, one of the speakers shared that food insecurity is a challenge for veterans and explained how DAR members can help alleviate this dilemma within the military community.
The Juniors Luncheon spotlighted the achievements of PSSDAR’s Junior members, highlighting their pivotal role in the society. In Pennsylvania, over 500 Juniors between the ages of 18 and 35 are instrumental to the state society’s success.
The conference closed on a high note with a celebratory State Banquet featuring the Avalon String Band. 2024 Conference Chair was Teri Fischer, with Susan Gillette Meer serving as the General Chair. Esteemed guests included 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, and underscoring the significance of this special gathering.
The Pennsylvania State Society Daughters of the American Revolution (PSSDAR) is proud of its diverse and dynamic membership, representing women from all walks of life united by their dedication to and passion for service. Women of all backgrounds and ages represent 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 lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership. To join, please contact the State Membership Chair at statemembershipchair@pssdar.org.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Since its founding in 1890, the DAR has grown to include over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters worldwide, providing millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and the world. In addition, DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. For more information or to join, go to www.dar.org.
