THE SPIRIT OF ’76 PUBLISHED BY THE DESCENDANTS OF THE SIGNERS OF THE DECLARATION OF INDEPENDENCE VOLUME 52 NO. 2 SUMMER 2018 Annual Congress in Philadelphia The Society’s Annual Congress was held July 3-4, 2018 in Philadelphia, highlighted by the ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell by junior members of the DSDI. The Board of Directors met on the afternoon of July 3, followed by a special tour of the Museum of the American Revolution. The morning of July 4, DSDI’s 10 Tappers along with two new citizens were honored at breakfast before going to the Liberty Bell Bell Tappers preparing for the ceremonial tapping of the Liberty Bell July 4, 2018 for a practice session with former DSDI President-General Donald Ward Sr. The Bell Tapping occurred at 2 p.m., followed by reported 13 new senior members and 7 new At the dinner Saturday night, members heard the Annual Congress in the Long Gallery of junior members, for a total of 1,220 senior Abigail Adams (Kim Hanley) describe life in Independence Hall. members and 203 junior members. Fifty-six the revolutionary era. scholarship recipients were announced and The Annual Congress, attended by 112 peo- Treasurer-General Johnny Alexander reported The meeting was coordinated by Gene and ple, was led by President-General R. Bruce on the Society’s finances. A slate of officers Carol Mayhew and the Tappers events were W. Laubach. Registrar-General Jim Alexander was elected for 2018-2019. coordinated by Stacy Clements. s President-General’s Message Fall Meeting In Connecticut IN THIS ISSUE page 2 page 10 Annual Congress in Philadelphia Photo Collection DSDI Merchandise page 3-5 page 11 Bell Tappers History of the DSDI Biography Project page 6 page 12 Gifts and Contributions Treasurer-General Report page 7 page 13 DSDI Member Composes Song About DSDI Registrar-General’s Report Philadelphia, PA His Ancestor page 14 page 8 Scholarships page 15 DSDI Officers 2018-19 President-General’s Message Elected at Annual Congress Dear fellow Society members, President-General Treasurer-General Everything is going well with the So- Robert Bruce Warden Laubach Johnny D. Alexander ciety. I’m happy to say we welcomed 3700 Shackleton Lane P.O. Box 425 Williamsburg, VA 23188 Salem, OR 97308 in 13 new senior members since our last meeting, five of which were ad- First Vice President-General Assistant Treasurer-General vancements from junior member. We Lucy Duke Tonacci Alyson Burnett-Rawitch 6821 Bond St. 7111 W 151st Street, Suite 11 also welcomed seven new junior St. Leonard, MD 20685 Overland Park, KS 66223-2231 members. It is always nice to bring in new members. It shows that the Soci- Second Vice President-General Secretary-General Cari S. Haimes Donald Crosset Ward, Jr. ety is growing and, of course, new ju- 5224 Bantom Woods Bend 103 East Wells Street, Apt. C-131 nior members means more future Bell Tappers. Austin, TX 78724-6236 Baltimore, MD 21230 Registrar-General Assistant Secretary-General This year’s Fourth of July meeting turned into quite an adventure for all James Herbert Alexander, Jr. Sally G. Fridy who attended. For those of us who arrived on July 3, we were treated to 7157 SE Reed College Place 451 Darby-Paoli Road a tour of the Museum of the American Revolution, where the highlight Portland, OR 97202 Paoli, PA 19301-2005 was seeing the exhibit of General George Washington’s tent. While in Assistant Registrar-General Chancellor-General the museum, a thunderstorm rolled through Philadelphia and, as we Wendy Davis-Bushey James S. Bainbridge Esq. were to find out, a lightning strike took out the load center for the 20 Maryland Ave, Unit 410 1250 Germantown Pike, Suite 203 Wyndham Hotel. Most of our members staying at the hotel decided to Rockville, MD 20850 Plymouth Meeting, PA 19462 tough it out and stay for the night. It took until 7:30 a.m. for emergency Historian-General Chaplain-General crews to restore power to the hotel. I do think the staff of the Wynd- Leroy Anderson Keller Eugene A. Mayhew ham went out of their way to accommodate us and tried to make the 9701 Fireside Dr. 17 E 5th St Glen Allen, VA 23060-6280 New Castle, DE 19720-5019 best of a bad situation. I cannot speak for all but, even though there was no power, but my room remained comfortably cool all night long. Assistant Historian-General I am glad that the power came on in time for the hotel to be able to Hart Mayhew Clements 8 College Ave prepare our Fourth of July brunch, and we were able to enjoy our meal Swarthmore, PA 19081-1423 in a nice air-conditioned room. We are a tough bunch of folks to put up with conditions not expected in our modern world. Just think of how our ancestors lived in the summer heat! Board of Governors The rest of the activities on the Fourth went on as planned. This is my first time being able to observe the Bell Tapping from behind the podi- New Hampshire Lt. Col. Erin P. Hayde, USAF um. I not only got the chance to see our tappers up close, but I got to Massachusetts Marianne Brinker watch the faces of the proud parents and grandparents of our junior Rhode Island Elizabeth Urstadt members. Some were moved to tears of pride and joy at this unique Connecticut Elizabeth Urstadt opportunity of tapping the Liberty Bell. Another high point of the day New York Alan P. Zdimal was the naturalization of two new citizens, Azli Ipek Diker and Naz- New Jersey Philip Robert Livingston li Cicek Diker, from Turkey. It was interesting that when the INS agent Pennsylvania Donald Crosset Ward, Sr. presented them with their certificates of citizenship, she asked all of us Delaware L. D. (Morgan) Shank to repeat the Oath of Allegiance to the United States. I am sure it made Maryland Lucy Duke Tonacci this moment more meaningful for all of us. Virginia Angus S. Lamond North Carolina Nancy McBride Wark Moving forward, I hope to see a lot of you at our next meeting in Litch- South Carolina Robin Leigh Rawl field CT, the weekend of September 28-30, 2018. Georgia P. Randolph Taylor District of Columbia Laura Haines Belman Thank you, DSDI WEB SITE: www.dsdi1776.com R. Bruce W. Laubach President-General, DSDI, Inc. 2 SPIRIT OF ‘76 Annual Congress in Philadelphia (Photo Collection) DSDI Bell Tappers 2018: Jackson Wolcott Flemming, Kalen T eresa Zdimal, Lauren Marie Bushey, Margaret Elizabeth Long, Pauline Louise Singer, Andrew Michael Devlin, Matthew Alexan- der Devlin, Alexander Grady, Roberts, Madeleine Elise George and Ryan Cooper George, joined by new citizens Asli Ipek Diker and Nazli Cicek Diker. DSDI members watch the Bell Tapping DSDI members in the Long Gallery of Independence Hall President-General R. Bruce W. Laubach addresses the Annual Congress Stacy Clements, coordinator of the Bell Tappers, with President-General R. Bruce W. Laubach Gene and Carol Mayhew, who coordinated events in Philadelphia SPIRIT OF ‘76 3 Annual Congress in Philadelphia (Photo Collection) Registrar-General Jim Alexander delivers his report at the Annual Abigail Smith Adams (Kim Hanley) recounts life in the Revolutionary period at the DSDI dinner Congress Immigration Services Officer Alice Siplin presents certificates to two new citizens, Asli Ipek Diker and Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence Nazli Cicek Diker. National Historic Park, speaks to DSDI members Catherine Petit, Butch Petit, Michelle Roberts, Alexander Roberts Bruce Morton, Laura Belman, Nancy Morton President-General R. Bruce W. Laubach addresses spectators before the Bell Tapping 4 SPIRIT OF ‘76 Annual Congress in Philadelphia (Photo Collection) Alan Zdimal, Michelle Farrell, Barbara Zdimal, Kevin Farrell Hunter George II, Patty George, Kathleen Cooper George, Ryan Cooper George, Madeleine Elise George Former President-General Donald Ward Sr. presents awards to the Bell Tappers We welcome submissions If you have information you’d like to submit for publication in The Spirit of ’76, send it to: Hunter George Cynthia MacLeod, superintendent of Independence Editor, The Spirit of ‘76 National Historic Park, speaks to DSDI members , [email protected] Dues collections and second invoices As of July 15, 2018, the Treasury has collected annual dues from 309 members. In August, we will be mailing out second notices to those who have not paid. Alexander Roberts, grandson of O.K. Alexander, Jim Alexander, Johnny Alexander SPIRIT OF ‘76 5 BELL TAPPERS2018 Lauren Marie Bushey Andrew Michael Devlin Matthew Alexander Devlin Jackson Wolcott Fleming Madeleine Elise George Ryan Cooper George Maggie Long Alexander Grady Roberts Pauline Louise Singer Kalen Teresa Zdimal s Lauren Marie Bushey 17, of Rockville, Mary- Hill High School East in the fall. Andrew with his brother Andrew and take part in the land is a descendant of Richard Stockton. enjoys math and science and hopes to Independence Day events in Philadelphia. She has just graduated from Richard study chemistry or chemical engineering Montgomery High School and is planning to in the future. Andrew received special Jackson Wolcott Fleming, 17, of New York major in Communication at the University recognition by the Johns Hopkins Center for City, is a descendant of Oliver Wolcott. He of Maryland, College Park. In her final year Talented Youth for achieving top scores in attends the Browning School in New York of high school, Lauren completed the Inter- their testing program. Andrew is excited to City and will be a senior in the fall of 2018. national Baccalaureate Diploma Program, tap the Liberty Bell with his brother Matthew Jackson is interested in medicine and captained the girl’s varsity soccer team and and take part in the Independence Day hopes to pursue a career as a doctor.