Fond du Lac Chapter, NSDAR

06/12/2026

Our newly formed book club just finished reading Revolutionary Mothers by Carol Berkin. We agreed that, from a historical perspective, it was quite eye-opening. It gave a realistic picture of how all Revolutionary Mothers were affected. As members of the DAR, this definitely tied into our pillar of education. We paid special attention to Abigail Adams' quote, "Remember the Ladies".

Our next selection is: America's First Daughter by Stephanie Dray. If anyone would like to join us, we'll be meeting in September to discuss it. (Stay tuned for meeting details.)

06/10/2026

🇺🇸 With Heartfelt Gratitude to National Society Daughters of the American Revolution 🇺🇸

As we unveil our newest exhibit, "Women of Valor: 250 Years of Women Serving Our Nation," we extend our deepest thanks to the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for their partnership and generous support in making this exhibit possible.

As America commemorates its 250th anniversary, this exhibit shines a light on the remarkable women whose service, sacrifice, leadership, and courage helped build, defend, and preserve our Nation across more than 250 years. Their stories remind us that women have been serving our country since before there was a United States and continue to serve with distinction today.

Through DAR’s commitment to preserving and sharing American history, thousands of visitors will have the opportunity to discover the inspiring stories of these women, learn from their experiences, and better understand the vital role they played in shaping our Nation.

We are honored to partner with an organization that shares our dedication to honoring those who came before us and ensuring their legacy endures for future generations.

Thank you, DAR, for helping us tell these important stories and for ensuring that the women who served our Nation receive the recognition they so richly deserve.

✨ Together, we are preserving history, honoring her service, and inspiring the generations to come.

06/06/2026

06/06/2026

In most Revolutionary War stories, the lines seem clear: Patriots vs. Loyalists. Freedom vs. tyranny. But for Pennsylvania Mennonites, the Revolution created a moral crisis with no easy answer.

They had crossed the Atlantic to escape persecution in Europe. They built communities around pacifism, humility, and the belief that Christians should not take up arms or swear loyalty oaths to earthly governments.

Then the American Revolution arrived at their doorstep.

In 1777, Mennonite bishop Christian Funk made a decision that shocked his church: he argued that Mennonites could support the Revolution by paying taxes to the new American government - even if some of that money funded the Continental Army.

To many fellow Mennonites, this was unthinkable.

Supporting war in any form violated everything their faith stood for. Some feared the Revolution itself was rebellion against legitimate authority. Others believed refusing to support independence could eventually cost them the religious freedom they had come to Pennsylvania to find.

Suddenly, the war wasn’t happening somewhere far away, it was happening inside church meetings and inside families.

Funk was excommunicated in 1778. Around 50 followers left with him, forming the “Funkites,” the first major Mennonite schism in America.

What makes this episode so compelling is how it reveals the Revolution through the eyes of ordinary people caught in impossible choices. Not everyone experienced the war as soldiers or politicians. For pacifist communities like the Mennonites, Quakers, and other German sects, the Revolution forced deeply personal questions:

Can you oppose violence and still support independence?
What happens when religious conviction collides with political survival?
And how far can a community bend before it breaks?

More than two centuries later, Christian Funk’s gravestone still stands in Pennsylvania - a quiet monument to the way the American Revolution reshaped not just governments, but entire communities and belief systems.

06/06/2026

Amy Kirchner, The US Flag chairperson, saluted Adashun Jones for their efforts following The Flag Code including having this flag lit last night. Beautiful patriotic opening ceremony for the Hometown Heroes Bratfest yesterday.

06/01/2026

Conservation Minute:

Witness Trees: Silent Sentinels of America’s Story

As the United States prepares to celebrate its 250th anniversary in 2026, we have a unique opportunity to reflect on the living connections to our past. Among the most remarkable of these connections are witness trees: ancient trees that stood silent watch during pivotal moments in American history.

What Are Witness Trees? Witness trees are living trees that were present during significant historical events or eras. They serve as “silent sentinels” linking people, places, and the past. The National Park Service (NPS) has formalized this concept through its Witness Tree Protection Program, launched in 2006 under the Historic American Landscapes Survey (HALS). The program documents and protects historically and biologically significant trees, with records archived at the Library of Congress.

The term also has older roots in land surveying, where “witness trees” were marked or noted near boundary corners (stakes, stones, or cairns) to help future surveyors relocate property lines. In the broader historical sense celebrated today, witness trees are those that “witnessed” everything from Revolutionary War encampments and Civil War battles to presidential lives and national tragedies—and survived to tell the tale through their enduring presence.

These trees often outlive the people and events they observed, absorbing bullets, weathering storms, and healing scars under new layers of bark and wood. They remind us of resilience, continuity, and the deep roots of the American experience.
Notable Examples of Witness Trees Many witness trees stand on protected battlefields and historic sites, offering visitors a tangible link to the past:
Burnside Sycamore (Antietam National Battlefield, Maryland): This American sycamore stood near the famous Burnside Bridge during the bloodiest single day of the Civil War on September 17, 1862. It witnessed fierce fighting as Union forces under General Ambrose Burnside struggled to cross Antietam Creek. Still standing today, it remains a prominent landmark and a protected witness tree.

Sickles Oak (Gettysburg National Military Park, Pennsylvania): Located near the Trostle Farm, this tree shaded Union General Daniel Sickles and his men on July 2, 1863, before Sickles’ controversial advance during the Battle of Gettysburg. It survived some of the battle’s heaviest fighting.

War of 1812 Willow Oak (Oxon Hill Farm / Oxon Cove Park, Maryland): Believed to be over 200 years old, this tree overlooked the Mount Welby house during the Battle of Bladensburg and the burning of Washington, D.C. The family heard cannon fire and later found rockets in their yard. It stands near the modern parking lot as a living link to the War of 1812.

Jackson Magnolia (White House, Washington, D.C.): Planted by President Andrew Jackson in the 1820s in memory of his late wife Rachel, this Southern magnolia has witnessed nearly two centuries of presidential history, inaugurations, and national decisions.

Lafayette Sycamore (Valley Forge National Historical Park, Pennsylvania): Dated to more than 300 years old, this tree (one of several “Encampment-Era” sycamores) was already mature during the Revolutionary War winter encampment of 1777–1778. It qualifies as a “William Penn Tree,” having stood when Pennsylvania was founded in 1682.

Other notable mentions include various white oaks at Manassas National Battlefield (alive during both Battles of Bull Run), trees at Mount Vernon that knew George Washington, and the famous (though no longer standing) Charter Oak of Connecticut or Liberty Tree in Boston, whose legacies live on through descendants and symbolism.

Why Witness Trees Matter Today In an age of rapid change, witness trees ground us. They survived deforestation, war, urbanization, and climate shifts. Efforts to protect them—through the NPS program, grafting descendants of lost historic trees, or community planting initiatives—ensure that future generations can stand in their shade and contemplate the same landscapes where history unfolded.

As we mark America 250, take time to visit a battlefield, historic park, or even your local woods. Look up at the oldest trees. They may have witnessed the birth of the nation, its greatest trials, or quiet moments of everyday American life. In their rings lie stories of endurance and the living history of our republic.
What witness trees have you encountered? Share their stories as we celebrate 250 years of American resilience—rooted deep, reaching high.

Happy America 250!