DSDI Represented at Event Honoring Samuel Chase

On a beautiful Sunday morning, October 5, 2025, two Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) chapters – the John Eager Howard and the Nicholas Ruston Moore chapters – hosted a remembrance ceremony for various patriots at the Old St. Paul’s Cemetery in Baltimore, Maryland, complete with fife and drum accompaniment.

Several patriots from the Revolutionary War, the War of 1812, and the Civil War were recognized in moving tributes around the cemetery. The focus of this event was to honor Samuel Chase, one of the four Signers from Maryland, and to dedicate a SAR Patriot Grave Marker for him. Washington D.C. Governor Laura Belman, and a direct descendant of Samuel Chase, shared interesting information about Justice Chase’s life. As a fun surprise for Laura, her grandson, Chase Belman, arrived at the cemetery with his mom, Heather, from Nashville, Tennessee, and was delighted to participate in all of the activities.

The impetus behind this event was Randal Clark, Chair of Patriotic Activities from the Florida SAR, who has a personal mission to visit as many graves of the 56 Signers as possible before the end of 2026. It has taken him 10 years thus far, and, on his own dime, he has visited all but seven.

Previously held as an annual celebration, the SAR expressed appreciation to the local Scout troop for their excellent clean-up of the cemetery, which had become heavily overgrown in the last few years. This was the first SAR event at the cemetery since Covid. The Scouts served as an honor guard at the ceremony, marching flags to each grave.

DSDI members and guests attending besides the Belmans were Maryland Governor Madelyn Sturgeon, Secretary General Marianne Brinker, and Massachusetts Governor Ellen Brinker, and Jen Coolahan and her husband, Daniel. Besides the SAR, several other historical groups were represented as well for this festive and proudly patriotic ceremony.