AROUND THE PARK AGAIN by Sharon Lee Tegler
Brought to you by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu & Tai Chi
It was stirring to observe audience members standing, hands over hearts, and singing the “Star Spangled Banner” led by Jan Holland as she stood in front of a color guard before The Rising Sun Inn in Crownsville yesterday afternoon.
The occasion was the Liberty Tree Dedication by the Maryland State Society Daughters of the American Revolution on the lawn of the historic site and house built by Edward Baldwin in 1753. The shovel was still in place beside the tree as guests from the Ann Arundel, Fort Severn, Mary Diggs Lee and Peggy Stewart Tea Party chapters of MSSDAR arrived along with guests from the Maryland Society Sons of the American Revolution.
About sixty guests were expected – so many guests that limited parking space meant many of them arrived by shuttles from a nearby church. They drifted in singly or in pairs to congregate beneath the shade of an enormous tree. The combination of beautiful weather and DAR members and regents’ sense of style meant the occasion was perfect for wearing fancy hats and flowing summer dresses.
In front of The Rising Sun Inn, musicians from the Monumental City Ancient Fife and Drum Corps not only provided an appropriate instrumental background while waiting for the event to begin but would later provide the event’s ceremonial music.
Inside the Inn, things moved apace as Ann Arundel Chapter members set up tables in the Tea Room draped with blue and white tablecloths accented by red flowers.
The women also set up a station for lemonade and iced tea in the reception area and laid out a buffet of fruit, cheeses and desserts in a corner of the original Tavern Room.
Time was fast approaching for the ceremony to begin at 2 pm. Meanwhile, it was fun chatting with guests. We met Christine West, a DAR member from the Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chapter in Eastport and an author who is writing a book on the 1649 Puritan settlement of Providence that eventually became Annapolis.
“The settlement actually started on Greenbury Point and expanded into the Whitehall and Chesapeake Bay areas and went as far north as Gibson Island and as far south as the West River,” West said. “The name ‘Providence’ given it by the Puritan settlers only lasted for a year as Lord Baltimore, who granted them the land, lost his wife Ann Arundel (pronounced Air-un-dale) that year and renamed the settlement after her. Obviously, her name lived on through the name of the city of Annapolis and the name Anne Arundel County.”
We later met Ann Arundel DAR Chapter members Cheryl Boyer and daughter Rebecca along with their guest Shirley Andrzyewski. The Boyers were very excited that their chapter was hosting such an important event and receiving a Liberty Tree.
We spoke with several other guests but, after a slight delay, the Monumental City Ancient Fife and Drum Corps gents began the welcome music signaling the beginning of The Liberty Tree Dedication program. Ann Arundel Chapter Regent Kris Jenkins started things off with Opening Remarks that were welcoming, informative and, at times, touching. She cited MSSDAR’s Tree of Life Project’s planting of Liberty Trees as a living symbol in the future of our hard-won freedoms by the men and women of our nation. Jenkins ended by observing that it is important while celebrating 250 years of America’s history, to reflecting on the efforts it has taken to maintain our liberty.
She next called forward Felicia Farr, Chaplain of the Fort Severn DAR Chapter for the Invocation followed by the Presentation of Colors from the John Paul Jones Chapter of the MDSSAR Color Guard. They stood behind Shannon Gerling-Patch, the Regent of the Fort Severn Chapter as she led the audience in reciting the Pledge of Allegiance, The America’s Creed and The Preamble of the Constitution.
The Color Guard maintained their post until, as mentioned previously, Jan Holland, First Regent of the Ann Arundel Chapter, led the audience in singing the “Star Spangled Banner”.
Heather Barham, Regent of the Mary Diggs Lee Chapter introduced the many special guests in the audience and also introduced Maryland State Society Daughters of the American Revolution State Regent Liz Deering.
During Deering’s remarks, she observed, that The Rising Sun Inn was a most appropriate historic site to be gifted a Liberty Tree. Henry Baldwin, who inherited the property from his father Edward, served in the American Revolution and also supplied troops. She spoke about Liberty Trees as a beacon of resistance and unity in the years leading up to the Revolution and alluded to the revered Liberty Tree on the lawn of St. John’s College that was estimated to be more than 400 years old before being lost to a lightning strike during a storm.
“A scion was taken from that Annapolis Liberty Tree and grown into a seedling beside the original site,” Deering said. “It’s important to note that the seedling here was cultivated from that line sharing the same genetic heritage as that original Liberty Tree. In late 2024, MSSDAR acquired 13 seedlings – one for each of the 13 original colonies in preparation for our Legacy of Liberty Project. To mark the 250th Anniversary of our nation, we are planting them at historic and significant locations across Maryland. Only 20 to 30 seedlings are grown each year from 2000 seeds. We are especially grateful to be planting one here at The Rising Sun Inn. We hope it, too, will survive for 400 years.”
The tree dedication followed with the State and Chapter Regents participating. A letter from Maryland Governor Wes Moore was read by Peggy Stewart Tea Party Chapter Librarian Anna Boehk and a plaque unveiled marking the historic occasion.
The dedication of the Liberty Tree followed with DAR Regents Kris Jenkins, Shannon Gerling-Patch and Heather Barham scattering soil from all of the State’s DAR Chapters around the newly planted Liberty Tree.
A benediction by NSDAR Chaplain General Mernie Crane and the singing of “America The Beautiful” by the audience followed and the Liberty Tree Dedication ended with a three-volley salute by the MDSSAR Color Guard.
Guests were then invited into The Rising Sun Inn for refreshments and also invited to visit the Inn’s converted Carriage House to view The American Revolution Experience Traveling Exhibit which will be on display through June 13th. The exhibit was created by the American Battlefield Trust.
For information on the Traveling Exhibit and additional companion events through June and July, visit The Rising Sun Inn Crownsville, Maryland – Home.
The Around The Park Again column is brought to you this week by Jing Ying Institute of Kung Fu and Tai Chi at 1195 Baltimore Annapolis Blvd. – For over two decades providing martial arts training that improves cardio-vascular health, strength and flexibility while reducing stress. Jing Ying is again bringing Tai Chi to the Severna Park Community Center. The school will be holding a fun-filled summer camp this August. From health-defense to self-defense, Jing Ying provides fitness with a purpose for the whole family!
and by Lean On Dee Senior Home Care Services at 815 Ritchie Hwy., Suite 206 – When you need someone to lean on, Lean On Dee. Their experienced team of personal care management specialists and friendly companions provide high quality consistent care.
