ROCKPORT — Area youth presented history and patriotism programs at the September 20 meeting of Lady Knox Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution, at the Rockport Masonic Center. The DAR promotes patriotism, historic preservation, and an enlightened public opinion through education.

Because September is back to school month in Knox County, the Chapter’s new Regent, Mary Kay Felton, felt it was important to involve area youth in the meeting. Felton’s administration theme is “Preserve, Protect, Perpetuate.” Over the next three years, Felton is inviting members "to preserve the knowledge, skills, and wisdom of our ancestors, protect our cultural and natural heritage, and ensure that we perpetuate these great treasures for the benefit of future generations.”

While subbing as a fifth grade teacher at Camden-Rockport Middle School last fall, Felton had the good fortune to meet (then) fifth grader Ben Tolman. Both Ben and Felton are descendants of Isaiah Tolman. As it happens, the Chapter had made the local news numerous times in the past ten plus years for their work with Tolman Cemetery in Rockland. 

Felton was impressed with the amount of family and local history Ben knew, so this year she invited Ben to do a Show and Tell at the DAR meeting. Ben, together with his parents, Clay and Kit, showed the members his pre-Revolutionary War rifle, handed down through ten generations of Tolmans who hunted the Rockland Bog and rescued countless men who, as Lou Dietz put it in his story, “The Bog,” found their way into the bog but couldn’t find their way out again.

For its project, the Chapter recorded GPS coordinates, restored every headstone in the cemetery, placed a granite monument with bronze plaques, one honoring the 24 Revolutionary War patriots buried at Tolman, one honoring Isaiah Tolman for his Revolutionary War service and for donating the land for the cemetery in the late 1700s, and a third plaque recognizing the Cemetery’s 2017 designation on the National Register of Historic Places. Most recently, the Chapter published a book about the people buried at Tolman, called Fighting for Freedom, Fighting for Survival.

Also at the back to school month meeting, Camden Hills Regional High School freshman Elle Felton talked about Camden and Rockport History, sharing information about the lime industry, the Rockport Opera House and the Ingraham Store of Rockport and Felton Store of Camden. She told about the experiences of her great, great grandfather, John Sullivan Felton, as a fifer and bugler in major battles of the Civil War, and showed photos of the Grand Army of the Republic picnics that took place annually after the War on the lawn of the J.S. Felton Store at the Corner of Washington and Sand Street in Camden. Elle is a member of the C.A.R., Children of the American Revolution, the youth equivalent of the DAR and SAR (Sons of the American Revolution).

Ellie Zelinsky, an 8th grader at South Portland Middle School and Maine State C.A.R. President, gave a talk about Honor Flight. Her C.A.R. State Project is to raise $1000 to send one veteran on an Honor Flight experience. The Chapter was pleased to make a donation toward her project. Ellie’s grandmother, Catherine Fisher, Honorary State C.A.R. Senior President attended the meeting and brought greetings on behalf of Maine C.A.R.

The DAR is a non-profit, nonpolitical, women’s service organization open to any woman 18 years of age or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descendant to a patriot who aided the cause of American independence. For more information about Lady Knox Chapter, DAR meetings, events, programs, or projects, contact Regent, Mary Kay Felton at feltonmk@gmail.com. To get more information about joining the DAR, contact Chapter Registrar, Joanne Richards at joanneleerichards@gmail.com.