The Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a virtual meeting via Zoom on July 2. There were eight members present.

Regent Brenda Johnson opened the meeting with the Pledge of Allegiance.

Registrar Barbara Pietro reported that Andrea Snyder’s application was approved and Regent Johnson stated that the chapter now has 44 members. Johnson stated that the 129th Continental Congress was held online and hoped members were able to watch it.

The President General Denise Doring VanBuren congratulated everyone who helped to make the virtual Continental Congress a success. Johnson said that the opening ceremony was good and if you missed it, you could watch it on the DAR website.

One award presented on Opening Night was the 2020 DAR Media and Entertainment Award which was given to the PBS Series Finding Your Roots, hosted and co-produced by Dr. Henry Louis Gates Jr. Dr. Gates is a member of the SAR and works in genealogy.

Also, a fundraiser was held to raise monies for the Laylight Project to restore the ceiling in Constitutional Hall.

Johnson then mentioned the New York State Luncheon which was held virtually on Thursday, June 25, 2020. Here the speaker was Julian Icher, founder of the Lafayette Trail, Inc. New York State Regent Patrice Bowley Birner has made the Lafayette Trail Inc. a part of her state project.

The chapter plans to get together on Saturday, Aug. 15, at 11 a.m. at the Pioneer Cemetery in Fredonia. Here members will work and clean the gravestones and enjoy a picnic lunch afterwards.

Social distancing is required so it was thought best to be outdoors with a mask. Elizabeth Sedlmayer said to park in the cemetery and we would walk over to Pioneer Cemetery. Members are asked to bring a lunch, gloves, mask, chair, gardening tools and garbage bags.

Bonnie Larkin mentioned that the president general wishes members to wear red on Fridays in support of our veterans.

It was decided that a date for the next regular meeting would be discussed at the work/picnic on Aug. 15.

Those who had an ancestor who fought for freedom in the Revolutionary War and would like to join us, call Barbara Pietro at 392-1166 or email jbpietro@gmail.com/.