Ham Family Cemetery Dedication
The Ham family cemetery project, headed by Denise Wright of the Fort Crailo DAR chapter, was dedicated on September 11th. There were several town officials in attendance as well as the eagle scout that originally worked on the cemetery and a descendent of the family. All were happy to celebrate the opening of this local cemetery in East Schodack, NY near the Hudson Electric Bike trail.
Pictured: Deb Lyman, Committee head Denise Wright and Regent Liz Goodermote. |
Ellen Hardin Walworth Exhibit Opening
Members of Fort Crailo Chapter DAR attended the ribbon cutting ceremony opening the Ellen Hardin Walworth Exhibit at the Saratoga Springs History Museum. These members included Regent Liz Goodermote, Kathy Keenan, Nancy Langlie, Marianne Lamborne and Elaine Silvernail.
NYS Flag Essay Winner
Ham Cemetery Restoration Project
Fort Crailo Chapter DAR member Denise Wright presented a cemetery restoration project to the chapter who accepted the challenge. The Fort Crailo Chapter DAR has ongoing work on the Ham Cemetery in Schodack. They have maintained the landscape, cleaned the stones, beautified the cemetery with plants and worked with the boy scouts to place new stone signs. Their continuing work is even being noticed by the patrons of the Albany Hudson Electric Bike Trail, "What a good deed you have done, thank you!" -David Pratt.
If you are interested in donating to this project please send your donation to Denise Wright at 680 County Route 7 East Schodack, NY 12063. Checks can be made payable to "Fort Crailo Chapter DAR".
If you are interested in donating to this project please send your donation to Denise Wright at 680 County Route 7 East Schodack, NY 12063. Checks can be made payable to "Fort Crailo Chapter DAR".
Fort Crailo Planting 2021
New York State Regents Luncheon 2021
Fort Crailo Chapter DAR hosted the NYS Regents Luncheon at Tawasentha park on May 8th. Although it was colder than usual for early May there was a great level of participation and attendance among the NYS DAR members.
Cemetery Restoration Class
Melody Howarth, Conservator and Professor, attended the Fort Crailo Chapter DAR virtual meeting to present on how cemetery conservation works, focusing on cleaning and preserving cemetery stones and markers. She then hosted a hands on cemetery stone preservation class the following Saturday (April 17th) at Larkin Cemetery in East Nassau. Several Fort Crailo Chapter DAR members attended the class to grow their preservation knowledge and skills.
Flag Essay Contest 2021
Stephentown Veteran's Recognition and Road Sign Dedication 2020
Literacy Awareness 2020
U.S. History Award 2020
COVID-19 Mask Makers in the Fort Crailo Chapter
Veteran's Volunteer Recognition
The Fort Crailo Chapter members participated in a collection of hygiene products for the Veteran's Hospital in Albany. Our donation was recognized by the VA hospital with a volunteer service pin.
Operation Bean of Life/Suitcases for Foster Children
The Fort Crailo members have participated in a couple of collection drives. Operation Bean of Life is a Coffee House opened by an Army Chaplain and Assistant located on a base in the Middle East. It offers transient soldiers from all branches of active duty military coming in and out of country a place of resiliency and comfort away from military life. The other drive we participated in was Suitcases for Foster Children where we collected gently used suitcases and bag for children in foster care. Foster kids are often asked to transport their belongings from place to place in a trash bag. So they are grateful for a suitcase of their own.
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Good Citizen Awards Ceremony
Continental Congress
Cemetery Tours
Fort Crailo member, Denise Wright, participated in the Oakwood Cemetery tours. She portrayed Sarah Moulton Wool and her husband, General Wool was portrayed by Jim Cochran. This acted as a fundraiser for the historical preservation program at the cemetery.
CDRT Meeting October 2019
2019 Harvest Faire
Rensselaer's Music in the Park
Saratoga Walking Tour
NSDAR Fort Crailo Chapter members and friends attended a walking tour of Saratoga and learned of some great architecture and wealthy families of the area. Then they all enjoyed a lovely lunch at the Olde Bryan Inn.
Fort Crailo Planting 2019
Dancing Back into Action
1st Vice Regent, Elisa Hammersmith (R) presented on Shaker religion and demonstrated some Shaker dances with Regent, Denise Wright (L) and Deborah Lyman (C).
Holiday pilgrimage
The Fort Crailo Chapter NSDAR attended a background tour at Albany Institute of History and Art and then had lunch at Albany Pump Station.
DAR Good Citizen
Quilt Raffle
Nassau Preservation Day
2018 New York State Conference
State Regents Luncheon Raffle
Members of the Fort Crailo Chapter attended the State Regents Luncheon in September and were in charge of putting together the basket raffle. What a lovely luncheon put on by the Mohawk chapter with a great turn out.
2018 Harvest Faire
2018 Pilgrimage- Coeymans Old Stone House
Memorial Dedication for Private Absalom Townsend
On June 2nd, The Fort Crailo Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held a grave marking ceremony at the Beverwyck Cemetery in Rensselaer to honor -Private Absalom Townsend, a Revolutionary War soldier, who is buried in the cemetery. Private Townsend served in the 5th New York Regiment. The Brunswick Boy Scout Troop 537 provided the Color Guard, Rensselaer High School student musicians provided the music. Congressman Paul Tonko, Rensselaer City and County dignitaries, Peter Goebel who is director of the Rensselaer Veterans Service Agency, NYDAR Historian and members the Daughters of the American Revolution and Sons of the American Revolution, descendants of Pvt. Townsend and reenactors were in attendance. A musket salute ended the ceremony. A light reception at the Rensselaer Public Library followed the ceremony
2018 Rensselaer Memorial Day Parade
Vietnam Memorial Bench Dedication
Following Rensselaer’s Memorial Day Parade the Fort Crailo chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution dedicated a memorial bench to honor Vietnam War Veterans in Riverfront Park. Chairwoman, Kathy Keenan, led the ceremony where Everlasting Memorials, Terry and Caitlin Mooney were honored for their generous assistance with this project and veterans were honored. The Rensselaer Alumni Association co-sponsored an art contest with the chapter and Rensselaer High School junior Kyaw Lwin’s drawing was chosen and engraved on the bench.
Planting at Fort Crailo Historic Site
RPI ROTC Awards Ceremony
A Busy April Meeting
During this meeting we had several things to celebrate. We awarded our Community Service Award to our former Regent Doris Roberts for her dedication to the Rensselaer Alumni Association and Friends of the Rensselaer Library. Then we had a celebration for our 1st Vice Regent, Elisa Hammersmith's, up and coming baby. Finally, we are getting all set for our re-dedication to Private Absalom Townsend's grave site in June.
All Together Again
After a long winter the Fort Crailo NSDAR Chapter is all together again for their March meeting and luncheon. To kick of our spring time meetings this year the chapter participated in a DAR murder mystery skit. Our volunteers did an amazing job and transported us to the south with their great accents and attitude. It is always so much fun to do a theatrical reading with this bunch. Cannot wait until the next one! |
Fort Crailo Chapter Holiday Celebration
DAR Youth Citizenship Award
Vietnam War Memorial Art Contest
Rensselaer City School District students participated in a Vietnam War Memorial art contest, funded by the Rensselaer Alumni Association. The winner's artwork will appear on a Vietnam War Memorial Bench being established by Fort Crailo NSDAR Chapter.
(From left to right) Lynne Beimeister President of the Rensselaer Alumni Association, Tessa Sedlar RCSD Art teacher standing in for winner Kyaw Lwin, Olivia Mangione 2nd place winner, Bryan Mangual 3rd place winner and Fort Crailo chair of the Vietnam Memorial Bench Kathy Keenan. |
Surrender Day in Saratoga
Friendship Tea
In October the Fort Crailo Chapter NSDAR hosted a friendship tea. This allowed for non-members to attend a DAR meeting and engage in interesting conversation about DAR and other patriotic topics. We had a great turn out and hope to continue this event in the future, who knows maybe more members will be in our future. |
Fort Crailo Harvest Faire 2017
Veteran Honored at Disney
1st Vice Regent, Elisa Hammersmith and HODAR Anthony Hammersmith attended a service honoring a Veteran while on their honeymoon in Disney. Each day at about 4pm the employees at Magic Kingdom honor a veteran by singing the national anthem and then presenting them with a folded flag and certificate. It's so great that they take their time out to do this each and every day.
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Fort Crailo Ice Cream Day
Music in the Park Bake Sale
Remembering Judy Rowe
We had the great opportunity to see a video made of Judy Rowe, past Fort Crailo DAR member and West Sand Lake historian, where she discusses the history of West Sand Lake with Kathy Sheehan from the Rensselaer County Historical Society. Thank you to Bob Moore for this great memorial to such an amazing and knowledgeable woman.
Historical Preservation and Goat Yoga?
The Hancock Shaker Village hosted three goat yoga sessions in order to help raise the final $2,000 they needed to begin the restoration of the wooden silos attached to the dairy ell. The silos were in desperate need of repair after last summer's storms and $90,000 needed to be raised very quickly before they were too much in disrepair. So to help the preservation cause Regent Denise Wright and 1st Vice Regent Elisa Hammersmith attended a session of goat yoga which is more about the goats than your "relaxation", but either way it is fun.
Fort Crailo Planting
Community Service Award
Military Donation
Pilgrimage to Clermont Historic Site
Flag Essay Contest
DAR Holiday Celebration
One of our own members wrote a beautiful poem about the devotion of DAR. This poem was presented to our chapter during our holiday celebration. Thank you to Elizabeth Goodermote Barrows who so eloquently put the sisterly bond between DAR members and their dedication to our patriots into words.
Oh call to me,
Oh sisters of mine,
The battle call has been chimed.
Waving proudly,
The flag is raised,
The time of togetherness,
Here begins our days.
We take our stance,
Straight and tall,
Wearing our hearts,
For all to know.
The colors run deep,
Red,white and blue.
The battle continues,
Marching on,
Hand and hand ,
We continue on.
We are the daughters ,
Of the patriots,
Here to ensure,
Their work is not forgotten.
We are American.
Oh call to me,
Oh sisters of mine,
The battle call has been chimed.
Waving proudly,
The flag is raised,
The time of togetherness,
Here begins our days.
We take our stance,
Straight and tall,
Wearing our hearts,
For all to know.
The colors run deep,
Red,white and blue.
The battle continues,
Marching on,
Hand and hand ,
We continue on.
We are the daughters ,
Of the patriots,
Here to ensure,
Their work is not forgotten.
We are American.
Fort Crailo member Gloria Perrault read an excerpt from her new book "Souls in the Soil" and had an interesting book talk about her inspiration for this book. Thank you Gloria for sharing your words with us.
2016 Good Citizens Awards
The Fort Crailo Chapter recognized four great students from local school districts. These students are being recognized for their demonstration of citizenship through their applications and essays focusing on their definition of a good citizen.
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Induction of a New Member
The Fort Crailo Chapter is proud to induct a new member to the chapter. Allison Relyea is now NSDAR member of the Fort Crailo Chapter and was inducted on October 15, 2016. She is a happy addition to our chapter, and we are more than glad to have her.
2016 Fort Crailo Harvest Faire
Music in the Park Bake Sale
Fort Ticonderoga Scots Day
Ruth Leeson Honored
Our very own Ruth Leeson was honored on June 9th by Albany County as a World War II veteran. She was one of the first women to demonstrate that being nurses and medical assistants were not the only duties women could fulfill in service. Below is what News 10 had to say honoring Ruth.
"Ruth Leeson, who served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Leeson served as an aerial navigation instructor and was well-versed in the use of the Link Simulator, which taught pilots about the art and science of celestial navigation. This was a key pilot training aid used by almost every combatant nation and more than 500,000 US pilots were trained on these simulators."
"Ruth Leeson, who served in the US Marine Corps during World War II. Leeson served as an aerial navigation instructor and was well-versed in the use of the Link Simulator, which taught pilots about the art and science of celestial navigation. This was a key pilot training aid used by almost every combatant nation and more than 500,000 US pilots were trained on these simulators."
Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute Presentation
Fort Crailo Chapter member, Denise Wright, spoke about her experience at the Fort Ticonderoga Teacher Institute. Denise attended this national program, which only accepts 12 teachers, in June 2015 and the chapter was excited to finally hear about her experiences. She presented us with new ideas on how to get students, children, and grandchildren involved and engaged in the use of historical documents and experiences at historical sites and in the classroom. Great job Denise. The chapter really enjoyed the presentation.
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Planting at the Knox Monument
Induction of Two New Members
The Fort Crailo Chapter is proud to induct two new members to the chapter. Elizabeth Barrows and Anne Sturm are now NSDAR members of the Fort Crailo Chapter and were inducted on March 12, 2016. They are a happy addition to our chapter, and we are more than glad to have them.
Vietnam Exhibit at Rensselaer Public Library
Judy Rowe's Memorial Service
2015 Harvest Faire
Donation to Guardian House
June 2015- Doris Roberts presents the residents and associates of Guardian House in Ballston Spa with a monetary donation from our chapter's t-shirt fundraiser.
Planting at Fort Crailo and Knox Monument
May 2015- Denise and Elisa Wright planted petunias and begonias at the Fort Crailo Historic Site and the Knox Monument.
Cemetery Preservation Project
May 2015 - The ladies of the Fort Crailo Chapter of NSDAR are taking action for our local ancestors who dedicated their lives to the American purpose during the Revolutionary War. As a chapter, we are researching the Beverwyck Cemetery in Renssealer to try and locate some Revolutionary war soldiers. Once we locate their sites, we would like to purchase markers inscribed with the same wording of the original stones, in order to bring awareness to the poor conditions of the resting places of such honorable men.
In order to complete this task of purchasing, transcribing, and placing these markers, we hope to enlist the aid of several veterans' organizations and/or chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution.
In order to complete this task of purchasing, transcribing, and placing these markers, we hope to enlist the aid of several veterans' organizations and/or chapters of the Sons of the American Revolution.
Louisa May Alcott Re-enactment
March 2015- Denise Wright in period costume presented herself as Louisa May Alcott, the author of Little Women, to the West Sand Lake Historical Society. She discussed her motivations, her family history, her loves, and how the characters in her books represent those in her real life.
Military Road March
December 2014- Rachel Wright, Denise Wright, and Elisa Wright participated in the Military Road March to honor those soldiers who are unable to be home with their families during the holidays. This is their third year attending the march and every year it seems to grow.
2014 DAR Good Citizen Award
2014 NYS Conference
Thank you to all that donate and provide permission for photographs and their use on this website.
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.
Web hyperlinks to non-DAR sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters.