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Welcome to the Erie SAR

 

Welcome to the Erie Chapter of Sons of the American Revolution (SAR), an organization of male descendants of Patriots, who during the American Revolution rendered unwavering loyal service to the cause of American Independence.From its inception, the SAR has been dedicated to patriotic, historical and educational objectives to help perpetuate understanding of, reverence for, and preservation of the institutions of American freedom as delineated in the Preamble of the United States Constitution.  Just as our nation is composed of a union of the various sovereign states, the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (NASSAR) is comprised of the various state SAR societies, as well as several SAR societies outside of the US (the French and Spanish SAR Societies, for example.)  The Pennsylvania Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (PASSAR) is 

the fourth largest state society, with over 1,700 members in 25 chapters.  For more information on becoming a member of the Sons of the American Revolution, review the criteria NASSAR web site.  If you are a male 18 years or older, and can prove your lineage to a Patriot, please contact us.  You can email us at prusia@reagan.com or call Raynold L. Prusia,Sr. at 814-547-2730.

 

Graves of Patriots
Buried in Erie County, Pennsylvania.
 

Because Northwest Pennsylvania was not opened to settlement until 1795, no revolutionary patriots were originally from Erie County.  However, Erie County is home to the graves of 212 patriots who moved here after the Revolution. A list of these Patriot graves and cemeteries can be found on the Pennsylvania SAR state web site at Burials in Erie County.  The Erie Chapter published a book, Revolutionary Patriots in Erie County, PA., in 1992.  It contains information on each Patriot, photos of the headstone, sources, and location of the graves. Although the book is out of print, libraries should have reference copies available.  From time to time used copies come up for sale; try the Erie County Historical Society gift shop/book store or the Erie Book Store. 

 

If you are out of town and need a photo-copy of a page from the book, contact us and we'll try to accommodate you.

 

Raynold L. Prusia, Sr.

 

History of Sons of the American Revolution

 

 

In the Centennial Year of 1876, a time of patriotic fervor, a group of men in San Francisco, who were descended from Revolutionary patriots, formed the Sons of Revolutionary Sires, a fraternal and civic organization, the purpose of which was to honor the memory of the Revolutionary Patriots.

In 1889, on the anniversary of George Washington’s first inauguration, the Sires reorganized as the Sons of the American Revolution.  The following year, unable to persuade the SAR to open its membership to women, a group of women formed their own similar organization, the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).  

Despite their having a similar purpose and sharing a common set of Revolutionary Ancestors, the two organizations have remained totally separate and unaffiliated to this day.  The DAR is headquartered in Washington, DC; the SAR in Louisville, Kentucky.

In 1906 the National Society SAR was chartered by an act of Congress.  The law was signed by President Theodore Roosevelt,  who was a member.  

As set forth in the Federal Act of June 9, 1906, the purpose of the SAR is (paraphrased):

  • to perpetuate the memory of the patriots of the American Revolution

  • to promote fellowship among their descendants;

  • to encourage historical research and preserve records, documents, relics, and landmarks;

  • to mark the scenes of the Revolution by appropriate memorials and commerate the anniversaries of prominent events

  • to foster patriotism and inspire the community at large to maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom

 

Today there are 28,000 members of the SAR in 500 chapters located in every state and in countries around the world.  The Pennsylvania Society, founded in 1893, has over 1.700 members in 25 chapters statewide.  The Erie Chapter was established in 1939.

15 US presidents have been members, including:

As well as...

 

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