Patriotism and Tradition Echo Through the Decades and Streets of Philadelphia

Earlier this week, I not only walked in the footsteps of history but also shared in boldly declaring the sentiments of those who courageously charted the course for our new nation more than two centuries ago. The occasion was a unique event staged in the heart of historic Philadelphia to commemorate the 246th anniversary of the close of the First Continental Congress.

From September 5 until October 26, 1774, delegates from 12 of the colonies (Georgia did not participate) met to organize resistance to Britain’s Coercive Acts. Those colonial delegates included George Washington of Virginia, John Adams of Massachusetts and John Jay of New York.  The Congress ultimately issued a Declaration of Rights, affirming its loyalty to the British Crown but disputing Parliament’s right to tax it. It also passed the Articles of Association, which called on the colonies to stop importing goods from the British beginning on December 1 if the Coercive Acts were not repealed. Should Britain fail to redress the colonists’ grievances in a timely manner, the Congress declared that the colonies would also cease to export goods to Britain in September 1775. These were fiery words with dangerous consequences for these men. And, of course, the clash on April 19, 1775, at Lexington and Concord forever altered the course of future events.

I thank the Carpenters’ Company for preserving their historic structure, staging this event and inviting me to represent our National Society; and, I appreciate the Pennsylvania Daughters who turned out to share the outdoor, socially distanced event on a chilly, overcast day.

Mine was a brief-but-history-filled visit to this revolutionary city, and it included three additional stops that I think you will appreciate.

Every Daughter should take pride in being a member of a Society that helped to improve and preserve these historic spaces on behalf of the nation. The Governor's Council Chamber was used by the Provincial Council, the highest legislative body in the Colony, and features objects primarily from the 1740s. The adjacent Committee of the Assembly Chamber was used from 1747 to 1752 as a combined Committee Room and Library for the Pennsylvania Assembly. It was then given over to the Militia of the City of Philadelphia for the storage of military items. In May of 1775, the Pennsylvania Assembly convened here, while the first floor was occupied by the Continental Congress.

Finally, I am overjoyed to report that I inspected two of the 76 trees donated to this 51-acre national park in the heart of Philadelphia during the administration of President General Ann Turner Dillon. They are both thriving in the shadow of these national landmarks, which are visited by about 5 million people during a typical year. Their planting continued a long tradition by DAR here on these hallowed grounds, begun in 1926, when State Regents from the 13 Colonies donated trees for the 150^th anniversary of the nation.