The Benjamin Prescott Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met recently.

The opening ceremony was performed by Bonnie Larkin, regent. The President General’s Message was not available. The theme of the National Defense Article “A Moment of Remembrance” was about how Memorial Day started in 1866 as Decoration Day, when Gen. James Garfield made a speech after the Civil War at Arlington National Cemetery where the graves of 20,000 Civil War soldiers, both Union and Confederate were decorated with flowers and flags.

The Spring District 8 meeting was held at the Chautauqua Institution Athenaeum hosted by the Jamestown Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The proposed cruise this summer on the Victorian Princess in Erie was discussed with prices and options. Lisa Sedlemeyer proposed the possibility of visiting the Buffalo and Erie County Botanical Garden and Myra Johnston proposed visiting Our Lady of Victory National Shrine and Basilica in Lackawanna on the same trip. The members showed interest in this trip and more information will be collected for the June meeting.

The Patriot Minute was presented by Lois Bentzoni. Her patriot, David Stebbins, was born in 1741 and died in 1816. He served as a second lieutenant in the Massachusetts Militia and married Rhoda Sheldon in 1765 and had 12 children. After his return to his farm and family after the Revolutionary War, he lived to 75 years old in his house that remains today.

Members are planting flowers at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at the American Legion in Fredonia prior to Memorial Day.

On May 29, Memorial Day services at the Fredonia American Legion will be held at 11 a.m. May 29 is also the unveiling of ‘Our Patriots in Stone Monument’ at the Forest Lawn Cemetery. Benjamin Prescott as well as many members’ patriots are included on the stone.

The DAR will dedicate the Lafayette Marker in Fredonia at the Barker Museum Lawn on June 4. Then, on June 5, the chapter will award the JROTC Award.

The next chapter meeting will be held at 5 p.m. June 1 at Meeder’s Restaurant in Ripley.

Those who are over 18 years of age and had an ancestor who fought or gave aid to the brave soldiers that fought and won the American Revolutionary War and would like to join can call Barbara Pietro at 716-392-1166 or email jbpietro@gmail.com.