Two Receive DAR American 250! Commendation
At a meeting of the Crane’s Ford Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution on October 11th, Union County Historical Society President Joanne Rajoppi and UCHS Board Member Ed Leonard received the DAR American 250! Commendation for their work on the re-dedication of the James and Hannah Caldwell Memorial earlier this year.
The DAR American 250! Commendation is a special award given by the DAR for “Demonstration of Extraordinary Effort in Raising Awareness of Revolutionary Patriots and America’s 250th Anniversary.” Along with the commendation, a medal commemorating the award was given to each.
“As a member of the DAR and the UCHS I am thrilled to receive this prestigious award,” President Rajoppi said. “Ed was able to provide significant historical background on the original dedication ceremonies which we were, in turn, able to replicate to some degree for the re-dedication. In turn, I coordinated the renovation process and oversaw the restoration as well as outreach to the community.”
Ms. Rajoppi added that the memorial, first dedicated in 1845, was in a deteriorated condition, worn and eroded with missing mortar and illegible writing on its base. Through the generosity of many contributors including a Union County Heart Grant and a Daughters of the American Revolution Celebration Grant, the Society raised the funds necessary to hire James Grubb and Associates, a well known restoration company, to undertake the work. The work was completed in the spring.
The re-dedication was held on June 21st in the Snyder Academy, adjacent to the cemetery where the memorial is located. More than fifty people attended, many of whom represented area historical societies. After several speeches the Westfield Sons of the American Revolution led a procession to the monument where a beautiful red, white and blue memorial wreath was placed at the base of the monument.
Caldwell Memorial and 2025 Highlights
Upcoming Events for 2026
March 15th: Nicole Skalenko on “Patriot Women, Battles of Connecticut Farms and Springfield”.
April 12th: Annual Luncheon, Garden Restaurant, Union. Alisa Dupuy as “Annis Boudinot Stockton and the Women of the Revolution”.
May 17th: Student Scholarship Awards.
September 13th: UCHS Picnic.
October 4th: Rick Geffken, “The Untold Story of Col. Tye vs. Capt. Huddy”.
December 6th: Holiday Party.
Come One, Come All
The Union County Historical Society’s Annual Holiday Party will be held at 2 p.m. on Sunday December 7th. We invite members and friends to come bring a dessert, share in some refreshments and conversation as we take a look at the past year and look ahead to the 250th anniversary of our country.
Frequently Asked Questions
Answer Engine Optimization (AEO) Snippet
What is the DAR American 250! Commendation?
The DAR American 250! Commendation recognizes extraordinary efforts to raise awareness of Revolutionary patriots and America’s 250th anniversary.
Who received the DAR American 250! Commendation in UCHS Newsletter 183?
UCHS President Joanne Rajoppi and UCHS Board Member Ed Leonard received the commendation at a Crane’s Ford Chapter DAR meeting on October 11, 2025.
Why were Rajoppi and Leonard recognized by the DAR?
They were recognized for their work supporting the re-dedication and restoration efforts connected to the James and Hannah Caldwell Memorial in Elizabeth, NJ.
Where is the James and Hannah Caldwell Memorial located?
The memorial is located at Snyder Academy adjacent to the cemetery at Siloam-Hope First Presbyterian Church in Elizabeth, New Jersey.
When is the UCHS Annual Holiday Party?
The UCHS Annual Holiday Party will be held on Sunday, December 7, 2025 at 2:00 p.m.
What are some key UCHS events planned for 2026?
UCHS plans multiple 2026 events including talks in March and October, the annual luncheon in April, scholarship awards in May, a picnic in September, and a holiday party in December.
Related Newsletters
Speaker Rick Geffken headlines Oct. 5 at Hanson House; UCHS honors scholarship students and shares highlights from the annual picnic.
Issue 181 recaps the Caldwell Memorial Rededication in Elizabeth, NJ, including restoration, remarks, wreath laying, and upcoming picnic details.
Related Photo Galleries
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Our longtime friend and Society Treasurer, Bill Frolich, sadly passed away on September 30th 2021. He was 101 years old, a 45-year member of UCHS, and the writer/editor of our Newsletter. Bill and his extraordinary knowledge of Union County history will be greatly missed.