During a rainy afternoon on December 18, 2024, 13 Blackwater Chapter DAR members dedicated a bronze, commemorative patriot marker which has been placed on the Tucker County Courthouse in Parsons, WV. This Patriot Marker joins other such plaques placed around the country and the state, is only the second plaque of its kind to be placed in West Virginia by a DAR chapter (The first was placed at Pricketts Fort in Fairmont) and the third including the one the WVDAR Central District placed at the I-79 Rest Area near Clarksburg.
A group of Tucker County veterans respectfully presented and retired the flags during the ceremony. The welcome was given by Blackwater Chapter Regent, Cathy Hebb. Other chapter members contributing during the ceremony were Terri Lawrence, Diane Beall, and Debbie Stevens. Speakers included WVDAR State Regent, Jane Jacobs Larke, who is also a member of Blackwater Chapter and WVDAR Central District Director and America 250! WV State Chair, Georgette Ward.
Rhett Dusenbury, the District Representative for the Honorable Alex Mooney, former member of the U.S. House of Representatives, brought greetings. Mr. Dusenbury also gave a brief account of his personal connection with the Revolutionary War as he is a SAR (Sons of the American Revolutionary) member.
Local historian Thomas Yocum gave an informative presentation during the ceremony, revealing some accounts of the six Revolutionary War Patriots buried in Tucker County. He said these patriots “had a wide range of duties during the war and saw several different battles. For instance, one Patriot was involved with the production of salt, which was a key resource for preserving meat, in Kanawha Valley that was blockaded by the British. Another was a member of Morgan’s Riflemen, a unit of elite sharpshooters.”
“The DAR never wants our Revolutionary War Patriots to be forgotten for their service to our country. We owe everything as a nation to them, fundamentally. If it weren’t for their efforts and their sacrifices, our nation would not have been formed,” Blackwater Chapter Regent Cathy Hebb said.
The inscription on the plaque reads: ”Revolutionary War Patriots This marker commemorates the men and women who achieved American independence. These Patriots, believing in the noble cause of liberty, fought valiantly to found a new nation. 1775-1783 Presented by Blackwater Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in honor of the 250th anniversary of the United States.
The placement of these Patriot Markers is meant to foster a sense of national pride in the areas in which they have been placed. They also serve as a testament to the DAR Society’s three primary goals: historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
The Tucker County Commissioners enthusiastically voted to approve the placement of Blackwater Chapter’s America 250! Patriot Marker on the Tucker County Courthouse. This is the one location which collectively serves all the residents of Tucker County and, more than likely, will remain many decades in the future.
