Wilmington DAR chapter to dedicate America 250 patriot marker at Battleship Park
WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — A local chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has been awarded a national historic marker as part of the country’s upcoming 250th anniversary.
The Stamp Defiance Chapter will dedicate the America 250 Patriot Marker during a public ceremony Friday, March 20 at 10 a.m. at Battleship Park, next to the Battleship North Carolina.
The marker recognizes the chapter’s work honoring “Forgotten Patriots,” including African American, Native American, and female patriots whose contributions helped shape the fight for American independence.
“We are deeply honored to receive the NSDAR America 250 Patriot Marker,” said Lynne Ashcraft, regent and America 250 chair of the Stamp Defiance Chapter. “This recognition is a meaningful reminder of the need to preserve our nation’s history and honor the patriots whose sacrifices shaped our freedoms.”
Jay Martin, executive director of the Battleship North Carolina Memorial, is expected to deliver remarks during the ceremony along with other invited guests and community leaders.
“This is an important moment for us at the Battleship North Carolina Memorial,” Martin said. “Long before the ship was berthed here, North Carolinian minutemen marched across this very ground on their way to the Battle of Moore’s Creek Bridge.”
Organizers say students from Eugene Ashley High School Navy Junior ROTC and members of the Lower Cape Fear Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will also take part in the ceremony.
The event is open to the public, and a reception will follow the dedication.
The America 250 initiative marks the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States and encourages communities nationwide to reflect on the nation’s revolutionary origins and the legacy of those who fought for independence.
Officials say the Stamp Defiance Chapter, with more than 300 members, is the largest DAR chapter in North Carolina and has spent more than a century working to preserve American history and honor those who helped secure the nation’s independence.
