John B. Denton, NSDAR

Thank you to the Decatur Police Department for participating in our annual Reading of the Constitution!

The John B. Denton Chapter's marquee event, the Reading of the Constitution, is this Thursday at the Wise County Veterans Park from 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m. Please join us! Members of our Chapter, as well as community members, will read the entire Constitution and its amendments, followed by the nationwide Ringing of the Bells. This is a wonderful opportunity to celebrate our Constitution and share its importance with our community.

We already have our readers assigned, but we always have last minute cancellations, so if you want to be a substitute reader, email [email protected]. You don't have to read but can just come enjoy the event, and we do hope to see you there so we can have a great turnout!

250 years ago today: The United States Gets Its Name

On September 9, 1776, the Continental Congress officially directed that the words “United Colonies” be replaced with “United States” in its official documents. Interestingly, the name “United States of America” had already appeared in the Declaration of Independence, adopted just two months earlier, but September 9 marked the official change in Congress’s documents.

Want to learn more? The National Constitution Center’s article about this historic moment includes a special mention of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and our connection to preserving and sharing America’s history. Be sure to look for it when you read the article!

On this day, the name “United States of America” becomes official | Constitution Center On September 9, 1776, the Second Continental Congress adopted a new name for what had been called “the United Colonies.” The moniker United States of America has remained since then as a symbol of freedom and independence.

Happy Independence Day, America!

Today, as our nation celebrates 250 years since the adoption of the Declaration of Independence, we pause to remember the extraordinary courage and vision of the Patriots who pledged "our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor" to secure the blessings of liberty for future generations.

As members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, we are honored to preserve their legacy through our mission of Historic Preservation, Education, and Patriotism. Whether we are hosting our annual Reading of the Constitution, caring for our nation's history through Gravestone Cleaning Workshops, presenting educational programs to schoolchildren, honoring our veterans through Wreaths Across America, or serving our community in countless other ways, each act of service helps keep the ideals of the American Revolution alive.

Americans have always held strong opinions, and our era is no different. We are free to disagree and advocate passionately for the ideas we believe in because of the liberties secured by our Patriot ancestors, including the freedoms protected by the First Amendment. Those freedoms are among our nation's greatest strengths. Disagreement is not something to fear; it is one of the ways our Republic continues to grow and endure. Through it all, we remain united by our love of country.

As we celebrate this historic milestone, we are especially grateful for the opportunity to serve our community, honor those who came before us, and help inspire the next generation to cherish the freedoms we enjoy today.

From all of us in the John B. Denton Chapter, NSDAR, we wish you and your family a safe, joyful, and meaningful Independence Day as we celebrate America's 250th birthday! 🇺🇸❤️🤍💙🇺🇸

Happy Fourth of July!

Join us in Wise County as we celebrate America's 250th anniversary with two great events this weekend!

First, we have our sixth Gravestone Cleaning Workshop on Saturday. Join us for a short presentation followed by hands-on cleaning of veterans' gravestones. Bring your family, friends, kids, and grandkids as we honor those who served and help preserve their memory for future generations.

Gravestone Cleaning Workshop #6
Saturday, June 13
9:00 a.m.
Paradise Cemetery
250 Pecan St. Paradise, TX 76073

Our second event this weekend is a short Flag Day Celebration at the Wise County Veterans Memorial Park on Sunday. County Judge J.D. Clark will emcee this special community event. I'm on the agenda to share a little about the DAR and our work in Wise County. Be sure to visit our DAR tables! Dana Manoushagian will have a table with activities for children and teens, and Mary Smith will have her display of various colonial and early U.S. flags along with interesting facts about each. If you like, you can wear your colonial dresses or other historical garb.

Flag Day Celebration
Sunday, June 14
1:00 p.m.
Wise County Veterans Memorial Park
405 Trinity St. Decatur, TX 76234

Bring your children, grandchildren, friends, and neighbors to either or both of these events. See the attached flyers for more information. These are wonderful opportunities to share our love of history, patriotism, and service while celebrating America 250!

Our chapter year runs May 1 through April 30, and what a wonderful year it has been, full of service, friendship, and fun. We are proud of what we accomplished in our Wise County communities. Please enjoy our annual report, beautifully prepared by our very talented Amy Evans!

The DAR's mission is to promote education, historic preservation, and patriotism. Our very own Judge Dana Manoushagian exemplifies this with her work in our schools.

APRIL 19, 1775, DAWN

American Revolution Opening Day



The British were not expecting a fight in Lexington, they simply wanted to seize military supplies, destroy colonial weapons and arrest Samuel Adams and John Hancock whom they believed were in Lexington at the time. Delayed by a lack of boats, 700 regulars began a slow, noisy march after midnight on the 18 April 1775 for 3-4 hours encountering patriot alarms along the way. It was raining. Roads were muddy. The troops wearing their distinctive coats and heavy gear arrived in Lexington around 5:00 a.m. There they met 70-80 local militiamen. A “shot” fired, leading to a 15-20 minute chaotic fight that killed eight colonists before them British continued to Concord.

Mystery. Who fired that shot? The Regulars claimed militiamen fired. The militiamen claimed the Regulars fired. Someone said a nervous man on the Green fired. Another said it was a spectator sitting behind a stone wall near Buckman Tavern did. Regardless, that shot became the known as the opening engagement of the American Revolutionary War, galvanizing colonial resistance.

The colonists on the Green scrambled. The British marched on to Concord. Another shot! This one was ordered. The Concord battle lasted all day both sides doing a running battle for 16 miles. By 6:00 that night, the British had retreated to Charlestown.



Our rebels shocked the British leaving them dismayed by the events. Colonial resistance was unexpected. It was disorderly and an act of rebellion. It was not even a “legitimate” fight. Early reports were dismissed as propaganda but truth was heavy casualties were suffered by the British during their retreat to Boston (273 total). This forced them to recognize the serious, armed defiance of the colonists.

Wise County America 250 Wise County America 250 County Judge J.D. Clark letter One Nation Under God Wise County Faith and Freedom Wise County Texas America 250 worship event Texas Wise County churches unity event April 12 20