News from Camp
Camp Middlebrook Chapter NSDAR
The Return of our Chapter Newsletter
Vol. 5, Issue 1
April 2025
America 250 Project
Laurel Grube Vice Regent
Aquilt was made with the help of our chapter members, showing the names of our 358 Patriots
All chapter members from our beginning in 1893, have a bloodline to one of these Patriots. The names are written around squares of fabric representing the many ways our Patriots served, besides those being soldiers. One was a spy who helped Washington with the crossing of Delaware, some were doctors and ministers. One participated in the Boston Tea Party. We had drummer boys and fifers. Many provided food and housing or pastured horses Some were sailors before we had a navy, and one traveled back and forth to France with correspondence. Many of the Patriots were local to Somerset County, NJ. We even had five women Patriots.
Aposter was made with fifteen questions for children so they could get involved and find different fabric squares that answer the questions.
There is a QR code on the quilt which will take you to three links. One about National DAR, one about our chapter and one to an alphabetical listing of each Patriot and their information.
The quilt has been seen by Veterans at the West Palm Beach VAHospital, residents of Covenant Living assisted living facility, Coral Springs Quilt Guild, DAR chapters, American Harp Society chapters, attendees at the NJ DAR state conference, and visitors to theAbraham Staats House in South Bound Brook. Further arrangements have been made to display this quilt.
This picture is at the West Palm Beach VA Hospital and shows Koren War Veteran William saluting with another Veteran. William had recently received his “Quilt of Valor” (a patriotic quilt made for a specific Veteran and given to him in a touching ceremony). William said, “This is a Quilt of Valor for all those men”. William is on the left in the dark shirt.
This is the quilt being shown to the Fontanada DAR chapter in Florida. Their Regent, Barbara, went with me to the West Palm Beach VAHospital and assisted me in displaying our quilt. She wanted her chapter to see it and invited me to their next meeting. There were over forty women in the room enjoying the presentation.
These pictures are at Covenant Living. My friend, Charlene, played her harp while the 30 people on the floor looked at the quilt after I spoke about it. Her mother is 101 ½ and asked me to display the quilt on her floor. The facility invited the quilt to be part of their Memorial Day Program in May.
The next picture is of the NJ DAR State Conference. I was given a perfect spot between the two rooms where people set up tables. Everyone had to walk by me and notice the quilt. There was a lot of positive feedback. The National Chairman of theAmerica 250 Committee was the keynote speaker and was very excited to see the quilt. She had her picture taken with it and said she could not wait to show it to the other committee members. Also, the DAR State publicity photographer was there and took a few pictures. It may appear on their Facebook page. She does not make those final decisions though, and said to keep an eye out for it.
These pictures are at theAbraham Staats House on Sunday for the Battle of Bound Brook Weekend. When General Von Stuben spoke, the room was filled.Afterwards, I was given the floor to talk about the quilt. There was much interest, and throughout the day, many people looked for familiar names and recognized the names of local streets.
Overall, this is a successful project and has been enthusiastically enjoyed by many.
Two Lights Tonight
Tonight, April 18, is the 250th Anniversary of Paul Revere’s Ride. It is the beginning of the America 250 Celebration. DAR is asking everyone to start the celebration by placing two lights in your window tonight. Remember the line from Longfellow’s famous poem, Paul Revere’s Ride. “One if by land, and two, if by sea.” This alerted the people to the route the British were taking for their attack.
So, TWO Lights for tonight.