Date: September 04, 2000

Resolutions Adopted In Support of Fort Laurens' Rebuilding

BOLIVAR, OH– State and national resolutions supporting the rebuilding of Fort Laurens, Ohio's only American Revolutionary War fort, were adopted by the Ohio Society of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) and the National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution.

The resolutions, which will be forwarded to Ohio Governor Bob Taft, the Ohio Bicentennial Commission, the Ohio Historical Society and members of the Ohio General Assembly, state in part, "the reconstruction of Fort Laurens should be done in a timely fashion so that the citizens of Ohio can celebrate its historic role in both Ohio and American history during the State's 200th Anniversary and Bicentennial celebration in March 2003."

In addition, the Ohio SAR resolution, "calls upon the State of Ohio and its elected officials and the Ohio Historical Society to fulfill its obligations to rebuild Fort Laurens, the only outpost of the American Revolution in Ohio."

The Ohio Society SAR was a driving force in 1915 in enacting state legislation that preserved the Fort Laurens site, " said Scott Fisher, trustee with the Friends of Fort Laurens Foundation. "But that legislation also called for Fort Laurens to be properly restored. Obviously, that has never occurred."

"The SAR has rekindled the fire of hope and determination to finish a project that should have been done 85 years ago. We are extremely honored to have their support and dedication," Fisher said.

The Ohio Society SAR resolution was adopted unanimously at its May Annual Conference in Columbus. The resolution was then presented and adopted by the National Society SAR in Boston, Massachusetts on June 27th.

"The purpose of the SAR is to perpetuate the memory of those who, by their services or sacrifices during the war of the American Revolution, achieved the independence of the American people, " said James Lochary, Secretary of the Ohio Society SAR. "Fort Laurens played a role in that fight for independence was witnessed by the 21 patriots who died there defending the fort. Our organization fought to preserve the site eight decades ago and now its time to finish the job of rebuilding Ohio's direct link to the American Revolution.

The Ohio Society SAR is made up of 1339 members in 21 chapters throughout the state of Ohio. Nationally, the SAR consists of 26,000 members in over 740 chapters in the United States and five other countries.

The National Society of the Sons of the American Revolution was organized on April 30, 1889--the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of George Washington. The organization was conceived as a fraternal and civic society composed of lineal descendants of the men who wintered at Valley Forge, signed the Declaration of Independence, fought in the battles of the American Revolution, served in the Continental Congress, or otherwise supported the cause of American Independence.