The local chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), gathered Saturday at the Lower Marsh Creek Presbyterian Church to dedicate a Patriot bench and a Liberty Tree in the church cemetery. The bench and Liberty Tree dedications are part of a national SAR initiative in observance of the 250th, which is attempting to place at least one commemorative bench in a cemetery, courthouse, park, or historic site in each state. This was the 48th bench placed nationally and the 3rd in Pennsylvania.
The project and ceremony were organized by Col. (USAF-Ret.) Rob Moore, whose Patriot ancestor, John McElnay, is buried in the Lower Marsh Creek Church cemetery.
The ceremony was opened by Pastor Brian Moss, who observed that it is important to honor veterans but that, “What we are doing is something much older and more human: we are remembering. … May we prove to be good stewards of what we have received.”
National SAR Treasurer General Brooks Lyles praised all the Patriots who served. “When these men raised their hand to volunteer, they did not know what their fate would be. We remember the Patriots buried in this churchyard – and all those who served.”
Local member Ed Kopsick spoke briefly about the local rifle company that was one of the first organized groups outside New England to respond to the call for volunteers to transform a local fight into a national rebellion. “Gettysburg is mostly known for the Civil War. Fewer people are aware of the significance the Gettysburg area contributed to the Revolutionary War.” On June 14, 1775, two months after the fights at Lexington and Concord, the Second Continental Congress called for Pennsylvania to supply “six companies of expert riflemen.” According to Kepsick, 10 days after the Resolution, the men from the Marsh Creek community met at Sam Gettys tavern [and] a company of riflemen emerged, led by Captain Michael Doudel.” These men were combined to form Thompon’s Rifle Battalion and quickly marched to the Boston area. “The battalion eventually fought at the Siege of Boston, the Battle of Trenton, the Second Battle of Trenton, the Battle of Princeton, the Battle of Brandywine, the Battle of Matson’s Ford, the Battle of Germantown, the Battle of Monmouth, the Battle of Springfield, and the Battle of Stony Point.
Event organizer Rob Moore then spoke about his ancestor, John McElnay, who enlisted in 1776 and was held as a POW but exchanged in 1778. He returned to the area, married, and had 10 children.
The event was held at the church rather than the cemetery because of threatening weather. After a luncheon served by church volunteers, many of the attendees braved the weather to visit the cemetery and pay their respects to the 23 American Revolution veterans buried there.
Great article . I was honored to support the event as a color guard member . We salute our Revolutionary War Patriots.