Good afternoon, everyone.  My name is Larry Cornwell.  We are here today to commemorate the service of Revolutionary War patriot Peter Witmer and to mark his gravestone appropriately.  I am a descendant of Peter Witmer, and am a member of the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution.  Please feel free to take as many pictures as you want during this ceremony.

Compatriot Raymond Sharritts, Chaplain of the Ohio Society, SAR, will give the invocation.

Will everyone please remove your hats and place your hands over your hearts as the colors are brought in, and remain in this position during the National Anthem and Pledge of Allegiance.

“Color Guard, Post the Colors!”

Andrea Aiello of the New Lexington High School will sing the National Anthem.

Will Carter Webb, a Peter Witmer descendant, please come forward and lead us in the Pledge of Allegiance.

“Color Guard Commander, Place your men at rest!”

Again, everyone, welcome, especially those of you who are a part of this program, and those of you who traveled some distance to be here today, to include the descendants of Peter Witmer who are here to honor their ancestor.  We are especially gratified by the turnout of the local citizenry and the members of the media.

The objective of the Sons of the American Revolution grave marking program is to place a bronze SAR marker at the grave site of every military veteran and civilian patriot of the Revolutionary War.  (Remove drape)

The SAR marker is a modified Maltese Cross with the center containing the figure of a Minuteman encircled by thirteen stars.  A laurel wreath encircles the arms of a Cross and the word Patriot appears at the bottom of the wreath.

We are here today amidst the flags and uniforms of our great Nation to dedicate the final resting place of one of our patriots in the struggle for independence:  Peter Witmer.  We will learn more later about his contributions.  Without the service of Peter Witmer and thousands of men and women like him, we would not enjoy the benefits of national independence and liberty.

Public observances are useful reminders of the costs of citizenship in our Republic.  Freedom, as we know from long experience, is not easily maintained.  It is good that we today pause and reflect upon the courage and daring of Peter Witmer’s generation, with gratitude and respect as we dedicate this marker today.

Today’s ceremony incorporates elements of military reviews dating from the time of the Revolution:  a formation of troops, the presentation of colors, music, and gun salutes.  Music recalls the role of bugles, drums and fifes in camp and on the battlefield.  The presence of the Colors, in this case accompanied by the SAR flag, Ohio state flag, and Alabama state flag, rather than a battalion flag, represents the national banner at the forefront of the men during a battle.

Gun salutes, both by the SAR and by the American Legion to honor the brave dead and the playing of taps - originated during the Civil War.  A Civil War cannon will be fired to recognize Peter’s 10 or more grandsons who fought in the War Between the States.  Eventually written into Army Regulations as a regular part of a military funeral or dedications service such as this, taps becomes a call to remember, a call to honor, and a call to consider anew our duties to our nation founded and preserved by the service of men like Peter Witmer.

Peter Witmer, Jr. served in the American Revolution for three years, according to his son.  Official records reflect that Peter was a member of Captain Balzer Orth’s First Company of the Second Battalion of the Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, militia.  He is listed in the Official Roster of the Soldiers of the American Revolution in the State of Ohio.

Peter came from a remarkably family.  His father, Peter Witmer, Sr. served in the 3rd Battalion, Northumberland County, Pennsylvania militia during the Revolution.

Peter is buried next to his wife of 48 years, Mary Magdalena Overmyer.  Her father was Captain John George Overmyer, who served before, during, and after the Revolution in uniform.  Capt. Overmyer’s wife has also been credited by the DAR and SAR for her public service for preparing soldiers’ bodies for burial.  Mary Magdalena’s two older brothers were in the Revolution, serving under her father Capt. Overmyer.

Peter and Mary Magdalena’s daughter Sarah, from whom I am descended  married Leonard Houtz, whose father Jacob Houtz, and grandfather Philip Lorentz Houtz were in the Revolution.

Peter Witmer and his family moved here in 1802, settled on a farm near here, and were among this area‘s first settlers.

Will Compatriot J. David Sympson, the Vice President General of the Central District, Sons of the American Revolution, representing National Society President General Henry McCarl, please come forward for his remarks?

Will Compatriot Terry Whetstone, Past President of the Ohio Society, Sons of the American Revolution, please come forward for his remarks?

Will Compatriot Ted Minier, Secretary of the Western Reserve Society Sons of the American Revolution and Immediate Past President of the Ohio Genealogical Society, please come forward for his remarks? 

Will Marcia Seifert, State Regent, The Ohio Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, please come forward for her remarks?

Will Miss Elizabeth Okrutny, State President of the Ohio Society of the Children of the American Revolution, please come forward for her remarks?

Will Mr. David Snider, representing the Perry County Historical Society and Somerset, Ohio, please come forward for his remarks?

Will Mr. Jerry McTeague, the Perry County Veterans Service Commissioner, please come forward with his remarks?

Will anyone else with a wreath to lay please do so at this time, and after doing so, come to the microphone to give us your name and organization?

Will Compatriot Bob Farling, Past President of the Ohio Society Sons of the American Revolution, please come forward for his recital of “The American Revolution Rolls On?”

In this grave yard today, performing a duty of civic patriotism, we now dedicate this memorial and we restore Peter Witmer to deserved public memory by marking his final resting place.

We will now have volley salutes honoring Peter Witmer’s Revolutionary War service and as a tribute to him personally, followed by taps.  (SAR muskets, followed by American Legion rifles, followed by cannon, followed by taps)

Will Compatriot Keith Kaufman, President of the local Rufus Putnam chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, and chief organizer of this event, please come forward with his concluding remarks?  (Appeal to prospective members, and announce the reception).

(Presentation of SAR Certificates of Appreciation)

Will Compatriot Chaplain Sherritts give the benediction?

As the colors are retired, will everyone again please remove their hats and place their hands over their hearts until the colors have passed.

“Color Guard Commander, Retire the Colors!”

Thank you, everyone, for your presence here today.  If you have the time, please do attend the reception in Somerset.  See you there.