Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

By DONALD MOTTERN | Staff Writer

MONTEVALLO – A crowd of organizers gathered at the Lucille Ryals Thompson Colonial Chapel at the American Village to observe the dedication of new benches by the Alabama Society Daughters of the American Revolution on Saturday, Aug. 17.

With a ceremony presided by ASDAR State Regent Malinda Williams and including the Alabama Sons of the American Revolution Color Guard, the ASDAR dedicated a total of six “Patriot” benches to the American Village as part of the American Village’s cooperation with America250 ahead of America’s national semiquincentennial celebration.

Among the crowd of dedicators were Pamela Wright, president general of the National Society DAR, National Society DAR America 250 Committee Chair Kathryn West and Alan Miller, American Village Citizenship Trust president and CEO.

Tom Walker, the founder and president emeritus of the American Village Citizenship Trust, and American Village Chief Education and Programs Officer Val Croft—who both also serve as commissioners of the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission—were also in attendance.

“The Alabama Society is proud to dedicate six benches using funds raised from 28 DAR chapters across Alabama.” Williams said. “It is an honor to commemorate the men and women who helped found this nation.”

The benches, which are engraved along the top with the text, “DAR honors the men and women who achieved American independence,” and along the bottom with, “In celebration of America’s 250th birthday,” are the result of the America 250 Revolutionary Patriots Marker program and were born out of a collaborative effort from across 28 ASDAR chapters who raised funds for the project.

“With American Village Citizenship Trust’s mission to share with young people America’s journey to independence through experience-based American history, civics and government academic programs, it is fitting that the six benches reside here,” Williams said. “It is the hope of the ASDAR that future generations visiting American Village will continue to be reminded of those who sacrificed for us all.”

The Daughters of the American Revolution is the first heritage society to formally partner with America250, the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary in 2026 led by the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission.

The America 250 Revolutionary Patriots Marker program was established by the National Society DAR to honor the memory of the men and women who secured American independence through their service and sacrifice during the Revolutionary War.

The 28 ASDAR chapters who sponsored the six benches included:

• Anne Phillips – Montgomery, AL
• Birmingham Territory – Birmingham, AL
• Cahawba – Birmingham, AL
• Chinnabee-Fort Strothers – Oxford, AL
• Choctaw – Greensboro, AL
• Coweta Town – Phenix City, AL
• Daring Dicey – Veron, AL
• David Lindsay – Montevallo, AL
• Emassee-Robert Grierson – Dothan, AL
• Fort Dale – Greenville, AL
• Francis Marion – Montgomery, AL
• General Sumter – Birmingham, AL
• Gunter Mountain – Grant, AL
• Hannah White Arnett – Fort Payne, AL
• Heroes of Kings Mountain – Guntersville, AL
• Hunt’s Spring – Huntsville, AL
• James Gadsden – Gadsden, AL
• John Parke Custis – Birmingham, AL
• Josiah Brunson – Trussville, AL
• Light Horse Harry Lee – Auburn, AL
• Lily of the Cahaba – Birmingham, AL
• Martha Wayles Jefferson – Opelika, AL
• Oak Mountain – Birmingham, AL
• Old Elyton – Birmingham, AL
• Phillip Hamman – Fort Payne, AL
• Princess Sehoy – Birmingham, AL
• Warrior Rivers – Oneonta, AL
•  William Rufus King – Selma, AL

The ASDAR is comprised of more than 4,500 women across 71 chapters throughout Alabama, who can trace their lineage to Revolutionary War patriots. The National Society DAR, founded in 1890, promotes historic preservation, education and the practice of patriotism. With over 185,000 active members worldwide, DAR is recognized as one of the world’s largest service organizations, which has accumulated more than 12.5 million volunteer hours in the past three years.