A historic monument honoring local soldiers of the American Revolution will be rededicated next month during a community ceremony in northern Adams County as part of nationwide observances leading up to America’s 250th anniversary.
The America 250 Patriot Rededication Ceremony will take place on April 11 from 1 to 3 p.m. at Benders Evangelical Lutheran Church, 1385 Rentzel Road, Biglerville. The event will commemorate a Daughters of the American Revolution monument honoring 22 local men who served in the Revolutionary War.
Organizers say the public is invited to attend the ceremony, which will feature period music, historical presentations, patriotic remarks and local food. The gathering will highlight the role Adams County residents played in the fight for American independence.
The rededication will recognize the following patriots: Adam Bender, Jacob Meals, William Bender, John Henry Mihl, Johann Samuel Dietrick, William Peter, Ulrich Dotery, John Reif, Henrich Eicholtz, Freidrich Rex, Daniel Eyster Sr., George Rex, George Jacob Gardner, William Schner, Kasper Gilbert, Bernhardt Wirth, Jacob Gilbert, George Hartzel, George Dietrich, Johan Nicklas Huber, George Dietrich and Nicholas Maurer.
Descendants of the honored patriots are invited to attend the ceremony and will be recognized as part of the program.
Following the rededication, a reception will celebrate several milestones tied to the region’s heritage. The event will mark the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States, the 30th anniversary of the Biglerville Historical and Preservation Society and the 245th anniversary of Benders Evangelical Lutheran Church.
After the reception, Pastor Ryan will present a recreation of a church service from 1781, offering attendees a glimpse of what worship might have been like during the era of the American Revolution.
The rededication ceremony is one of many events expected across the country in the coming years as communities prepare to mark the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence in 2026.
Source: National Apple Museum