John Penn Chapter, NSDAR

07/28/2026

Here are a few small life changes that can make a big impact:
Take shorter showers and turn off taps while brushing.
Carpool to events and shopping.
Shut off lights when leaving rooms.
Use non-toxic cleaning supplies.
These small thoughtful life changes will make a difference and conserve our natural resources.

Today is July 28... World Nature Conservation Day! 🎊

Let's celebrate by transforming our landscapes into wildlife havens. Here are proven steps for success from forestry and horticultural educators at NC State Extension:

1. Map Existing Site and Vegetation
🐦 Create a base plan and identify the plants you already have. Are they native? Do they provide food or shelter for wildlife? Should you keep them or replace them?

2. Identify Environmental Factors
⭐ Create a site analysis identifying what you have to offer plants. Map sun, wind, sight, sound and drainage patterns.

3. & 4. Identify Human and Wildlife Activities and Uses
🦋 All wildlife needs food, water, and cover and specific types of wildlife have additional needs, including a variety of plant species, careful arrangement of plant types, and the addition of feeders, nest boxes and water features.

5. Design a Native Plant Landscape
🌳 Create a design with canopy, shrub and ground-level habitat in mind. Develop a plant list.

6. Install and Maintain a Wildlife-Friendly Landscape
🐛 This section covers where to get native plants, how to prepare the site, and how to install the plants, as well as essential maintenance strategies for sustainability.

See each step WITH RESOURCES here ➡️ go.ncsu.edu/wildlife-friendly-landscape

(OR gardening.ces.ncsu.edu/animals-in-the-garden/attracting-birds-beneficial-insects-other-wildlife/how-to-create-wildlife-friendly-landscapes)

07/05/2026

John Penn members supported and celebrated July 4th in Granville and Vance Counties. VC Veterans Monument Dedication spearheaded by the Henderson American Legion Post 60. The Declaration of Independence reading on the Granville County Court steps in Oxford. The Brutally hot conditions did not deter our re-enactors Mark Pace and Brandon Hall from attending with dress changes. North Carolina Society DAR DAR America 250!

07/04/2026

The John Penn and the Granville Museum and Harris Exhibit Hall celebrated our very own Mark Pace the recipient of the the “DAR Medal of Honor” Sunday June 28th Coverage of The Henderson Dispatch Newspaper:

“Mark Pace honored at America 250 celebration”
By Tyler Davis [email protected] 252-436-2839 Jun 29, 2026

OXFORD — The Granville County Historical Museum hosted a celebration of America 250 Sunday afternoon, as well as a celebration of local historian and North Carolina Room Specialist Mark Pace.

The North Carolina Daughters of the American Revolution presented Pace the Medal of Honor in April, the highest award given to non-DAR members. A national award, it had to be approved by the president of the nationwide DAR. The John Penn chapter put in their nomination after months of work, beginning in June 2025.

“The key to earning the Medal of Honor... is leadership, encouragement and support of everyone’s personal journey of their American experience without a trace of judgement or bias,” said Barbara Harrison, regent of the John Penn DAR. So too are trustworthiness, patriotism and a penchant for charity.

Pace, museum President Luann Thompson joked, is a most “scurrying” kind of guy, always busy, seen crossing streets and entering and exiting buildings.

“The things that he’s doing,” she said, “is touching people’s lives.”

Pace, for his part, said he was “flattered beyond measure,” before he delivered his remarks.

“I’m a firm believer that life flows like a river,” said Pace, “we get caught up in eddies sometimes... I firmly believe that God points us in a direction, and we make a choice whether or not to go in that direction.”

Life’s course can turn on a dime, too. In 1986, while living with his Henderson-based family and working in Raleigh, he stopped by North Carolina State University to visit his brother.

“I said, ‘can I sleep on your couch tonight,’ ” he recalled. “Then I stayed in Raleigh for the next 25 years.”

Then, in 2008, while working as a freelance artist and designer, he stopped by Richard Thornton Library and was asked if he’d be interested in a job.

“You make decisions in your life, sometimes, like this,” he said. “I thought, ‘I can either turn around and go back home, it’s snowing pretty bad... or I can keep going. And I thought, ‘what the heck?’ ”

Pace began in 2008, “and the rest is history,” he joked.

The other purpose of Sunday’s event was to unveil the museum’s new exhibit celebrating 250 years of local history. It is composed largely of artifacts the museum has collected over the years, Director Brittnee Worthy explained, such as a World War I-era poster celebrating the Allies, a slip encouraging citizens to keep their gas masks at the ready and sundries from Camp Butner, which trained soldiers during World War II.

The installation was named after Surry County native Major General Henry Wolfe Butner. The Town of Butner was incorporated in 2007.

The America 250 exhibit will remain open through July.

06/30/2026

The John Penn Chapter, NCSDAR hosted with the Halifax Resolves Chapter SAR our first 2026 “This Old Church” program at the Oak Hill Presbyterian Church on June 25th and what a great event it was! The congregation members can be traced back the 1750’s Grassy Creek Presbyterian Church affording the opportunity to include in our program the NC Regulators, the American Revolutionary War, Patriot Capt. John Webb and so much more. Thank you to the Church members, the community engagement, John Penn Chapter members, our Militia re-enactor and the Ledger News for publishing the event details. Event brochures are free to all at the Richard H. Thornton Library NC room.

06/25/2026

All are invited to tonight’s “This Old Church” community event at Oak Hill Presbyterian Church at 6pm., 1515 Oak Hill Church Road Oxford. Mark Pace is our speaker with Historical event brochures for all attendees and refreshments. Learn of the origins of the Church and its congregation that can be traced back to the 1750’s, the Regulator movement and the Revolutionary War. A John Penn Chapter, NCSDAR “This Old Church” program.

06/19/2026

The John Penn members are so very grateful for the support of the Granville Museum! We look forward to our community supporting our very own DAR Medal of Honor recipient, Mark Pace and the Granville County Museum American 250 exhibit. Should be a great day! Wynn Martin Smith

You may have heard that your favorite local historian and genealogist, Mark Pace, received the DAR Medal of Honor earlier this year! 🎉

In honor of Mark and his contributions to the Granville County history community, GCHS will be hosting a 250th Bash in his honor on Sunday, June 28th, 2-4 pm! 🇺🇲🎉

Fit with a brand new exhibit, "Through the Eyes of Granville: An America 250 Exhibit," live music, Lord Granville tractors, reenactments, and, of course, an award presentation - the day will be full of celebration!

05/25/2026

In memory of the fallen, in gratitude for their sacrifice, and in honor of their enduring legacy. Today, we remember. 🇺🇸

05/22/2026

The John Penn Chapter, NSDAR - Oxford, NC last meeting before our summer break. Presented Three Vietnam Veteran Pins, thank you to Wynn Martin Smith and 49 members received NCSDAR awards for their service to our community this past year. Our chapters NC award winning “This Old Church” program Certificate of Appreciation for participation presented to Bullocks UMC. Members received gifts from the tea-party Page baskets and patriotic flags and pinwheels. Speaker “Boogie” Yeargin on the History of NC To***co was excellent. It was a great day shared with among our daughters, friends and guests.

05/01/2026

Our Oxford, Granville County DAR John Penn Chapter, NSDAR 2nd "Birthday Bag" donation to the local ACIM-Area Congregations in Ministry Food Panty. Members donate enthusiastically to such a worthy institution that supports our local community. We are honored to serve where we are able.

Thank you to the DAR for their donation of birthday bags for our families. Our families get so excited to have the means to celebrate their loved ones on their special day!

04/22/2026

April 22nd 2026 is Earth Day, we can all help our planet by this small conservation moment tonight by turning out your lights for one hour starting at 8:30 pm -9:30 pm! Earth Day is an annual event on to demonstrate support for environmental protection. First held on April 22, 1970, it now includes a wide range of events coordinate globally.