DAR Celebrates America 250! with Revolutionary Westchester 250

The Polly Cooper Chapter, NSDAR was pleased to award Constance Kehoe, the NYS 250th Commemoration Commissioner at Revolutionary Westchester 250 the Daughters of the American Revolution DAR America 250! Commendation Medal and Certificate. The commendation award recognizes Connie for her demonstration of extraordinary efforts in raising awareness of Revolutionary patriots and America's 250th anniversary.

The presentation took place November 9, 2024 at the Revolution on the Hudson Living History Experience at Croton Point Park. The event, which was produced by RW250, was a very successful educational and social event with over 100 historic reenactors, craftspeople, musicians, as well as displays on British and Continental camps, horse drills, oxen pulls and spycraft activities. Basket weaving, candle making demonstrations, Lenape technologies, musket demonstrations, and colonial games were part of the all day activities.

The Polly Cooper, NSDAR along with the Hudson River Patriots, Mohegan and White Plains Chapters of the DAR, The John Jay Society of the Children of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution were all exhibitors highlighting their respective lineage societies, all with members who can trace their genealogy back to American Patriot ancestors!

Philipse Manor Hall organized a Spymaster Edition scavenger hunt for children, with the Polly Cooper Chapter being one of the sites with a clue to deciphering a secret message. In addition, the Polly Cooper Chapter had Revolutionary Word Find worksheets and several deciphering worksheets to help teach children and educate the public on Washington's Culper Spyring and the role of coded messages in the Revolutionary War.

Regent Rosemarie Schmidt stated, "We are so excited to be able to share this part of history with the attendees. I can trace by lineage back to members of the Culper Spyring and am thrilled to help educate the public about the role my ancestors' played in the American revolution".

To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.dar.org. Polly Cooper Chapter, NSDAR was established in Chappaqua, New York, and our service projects have supported education and literacy, historic preservation, conservation initiatives, veterans and active-duty service members, genealogy research, naturalization ceremonies for new citizens and more. Now is a great time to discover if you have an American Revolutionary ancestor as our nation approaches the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026.