Members of the Jockey Hollow Chapter, SAR (L to R: Bob Stark, Ellis Bailey, President Jeff La Marca, and Sergeant-at-Arms George Link), unpacked and placed nearly 700 wreaths at distribution stations in preparation for tomorrow’s Wreaths Across America event!
If you plan to attend (and we encourage all compatriots to join us), here’s what you need to know:
On Saturday, November 15, 2025, the Jockey Hollow Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) dedicated a new Liberty Tree at Burnham Park in Morristown, marking the first officially sanctioned Liberty Tree dedication by the New Jersey Society SAR (NJSSAR).
In Revolutionary America, Liberty Trees were prominent community gathering places where Patriots rallied against British oppression, posted declarations, held public meetings, and organized resistance—becoming enduring symbols of the fight for freedom.
The SAR America 250 Liberty Tree Program, launched nationally to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026, invites SAR chapters to plant new Liberty Trees at significant public sites to honor these historic symbols and inspire patriotic education for future generations.
The ceremony drew strong community support and featured distinguished speakers, patriotic pageantry, and collaboration across numerous organizations. Guest speakers included:
Chris Sands, President, New Jersey Society SAR
Kristin Ace, Chair, Morristown Shade Tree Commission
Siva Jonnada, Morris Township Committeeman and Burnham Park Association member
Sarah Neibart, Chair, Morris County America 250 Committee and Mayor of Mendham Township
New Jersey State Senator Anthony M. Bucco (District 25)
Morristown Councilman Chris Russo, representing Mayor Tim Dougherty
Patriotic pageantry was provided by the NJSSAR Color Guard and the Colonial Musketeers Senior Fife and Drum Corps. Pat Sanftner, Chair of the New Jersey State Society Daughters of the American Revolution America 250 Committee, performed “God Bless America.”
The Jockey Hollow Chapter also received a Legislative Citation from New Jersey’s 21st Legislative District, signed by Senator Jon Bramnick and Assemblywomen Nancy Munoz and Michele Matsikoudis.
Representatives in Attendance
Sons of the American Revolution: New Jersey State Society, SAR; Colonel John Rosenkrans Chapter, SAR; Monmouth Chapter, SAR; and West Fields Chapter, SAR
Daughters of the American Revolution: New Jersey State Society DAR (with multiple state officers present); Continental Chapter, DAR; Ferro Monte Chapter, DAR; General Frelinghuysen–Colonel Lowry Chapter, DAR; and the Morristown Chapter, DAR
Organizations with Member Representation: New Jersey Community Forestry Council (to the NJ Department of Environmental Protection), Morris County Historical Society, Morristown Partnership, and the Washington Association of New Jersey
“This Liberty Tree will stand as a living link between Morristown’s Revolutionary past and our future generations,” said Jeff La Marca, President of the Jockey Hollow Chapter, SAR.
This broad participation highlighted the shared commitment of these civic, veterans, patriotic, and community organizations to preserving America’s Revolutionary heritage as the nation approaches its semiquincentennial. The new Liberty Tree will serve as a lasting symbol of unity and remembrance in Morristown.
The Jockey Hollow Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, is a nonprofit lineage organization, covering Morris, Somerset, and parts of Hunterdon Counties, dedicated to preserving the memory of the American Revolution through education, historic preservation, and patriotic outreach.
The new Liberty Tree in Burnham Park, Morristown, immediately following the November 15, 2025 ceremony.The Liberty Tree Dedication Plaque.New Jersey Society, SAR Color GuardColonial Musketeer Senior Fife and Drum CorpsChris Sands, President, NJSSARJeff La Marca, President, Jockey Hollow Chapter, SARGeorge Link, Jockey Hollow Chapter, Sergeant-at-ArmsJockey Hollow Chapter Compatriot Brewster Miner unveiling the Liberty Tree Dedication Plaque.Jockey Hollow Chapter Members (L to R: Chris Sands, President, NJSSAR; Jeff La Marca, President, Jockey Hollow Chapter, SAR; Bruce Ryno, Genealogist, NJSSAR & Jockey Hollow Chapter; Roger Loomis, Past President, Jockey Hollow Chapter; Rich Perry; Alex Carmichael; Ellis Bailey; George Link; and Brewster Miner.New Jersey General Assembly (21st District) Citation signed by Assemblywomen Michelle Matsikoudis and Nancy Muñoz, and Senator Jon Bramnick.
In preparation for this year’s Wreaths Across America Program (Saturday, December 13, 2025), the Jockey Hollow Chapter will be assisting the Ferro Monte Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution in cleaning some of the graves that will be marked with wreaths later. This event will take place:
If you have never cleaned graves before, it’s a very rewarding process and the results are often quite specular. All chapter members are encouraged to attend. For further information, please contact us.
For the second year, Jockey Hollow Chapter will support the Wreaths Across America Program. This year, the First Presbyterian Church Cemetery, United Methodist Church Cemetery, and Flanders-Hillside Cemetery (NJFPUM) will be the site we support through donations of wreaths and time. This wonderful program, sponsored and managed by the Ferro Monte Chapter, NSDAR for 11 years, to be held at 99 Main Street in Succasunna, NJ honors approximately 700 graves of the men and woman who have served our county. The ceremony will be on Saturday, December 13, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
What can you do?
Sponsor (purchase) wreaths at the Official Jockey Hollow Chapter donation page. Same $17 price per wreath as last year. Please ask family, friends, associates and acquaintances to help support. Note: cut-off date for ordering for 2025: ~Thanksgiving.
After the wonderful events on The Morristown Green on Sunday, July 13, 2025, two members attended the Lafayette Ball at the historic Sansay House in Morristown. The event was a re-enactment of the ball held 200 years ago to celebrate Lafayette’s return visit to Morristown.
The Sansay House was the actual venue for the original ball, and the hosts, Dillard and Adrienne Kirby, of the contemporary party truly went all out to make this celebration memorable. The house entry was adorned with blue, white and red flowers in the gardens, in honor of the the Marquis’s home country. The “dining” room was set as though the Marquis and his hosts and guests had just finished a grand meal, while around the room were originals of correspondence from, and to, the Marquis owned by the Gilder-Lehrman Institute for American History – what a treat. Proceeding to the back yard, guests were treated with French champagne cocktails upon entry. The passed foods were delicious, French-themed wonders.
President Jeff La Marca and compatriot Ellis Bailey joined the approximate 130 guests in enjoying the festivities of toasts from the re-enactors, specially composed music from an ensemble from the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey, and an exhibition of period dances by professional dancers from NYC and CT, in costume.
This was a wonderful event held by those that support the history and triumphs of America, and Morristown’s contributions.
The splendid Sansay House decorated for the Ball.Attendees enjoying the Ball.Attendees enjoying the Ball.The Ensemble from the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey.The dancers demonstrating choices of the period.The “Sansay’s” escorting their esteemed guest, “The Marquis de Lafayette.”
Five compatriots staffed a table on The Morristown Green on Sunday, July 13, 2025 to celebrate the bicentennial of the Marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of America. The wonderful event brought more than an estimated 1000+ people out to visit the displays, watch and march in the parade, listen to the guest speakers and enjoy the Baroque Orchestra of New Jersey’s rendition of the specially composed music for the event.
President Jeff La Marca, in full uniform, along with Vice President Michael Smilek, Sergeant-at-Arms George Link, and compatriots David Paretti and Ellis Bailey were visited by many of the attendees, answering questions about the SAR, our chapter, and our projects. Numerous men completed forms to allow follow up for possibly joining the chapter.
The parade saw the arrival of the Marquis in horse drawn carriage, escorted by a fife and drum corps, dragoons from the 2nd Continental Light Dragoons, re-enactors from the 1st Rhode Island Regiment, cannon fire, church bells, other period re-enactors and townsfolk. Numerous town officials and re-enactors participated in the event. The Marquis circulated through the crowd, being welcomed by all, much like the event 200 years ago.
It was a wonderful day of camaraderie, enlightenment and celebration.
Re-enactor Julie Diddell (Westfield Chapter, DAR)Re-enactor Pat Sanftner (Morristown Chapter, DAR)Re-enactors Jeff La Marca (President, Jockey Hollow Chapter) and Frank Hadley (President, Colonel John Rosenkrans Chapter)Sargent-at-Arms George Link and President Jeff La Marca ready for visitors.Our table on The Green.The Marquis de Lafayette (Michael Halbert), his escort Ned Hector (Noah Lewis) and event co-chair Carol Barkin.
Two chapter compatriots enjoyed the symposium “The Marquis de Lafayette: Human Rights Champion” held on July 14, 2025 at the Morris County Library in Morristown. Over 120 people attended.
Prior to lunch, Alan Hoffman, President of the American Friends of Lafayette, presented “Lafayette and the Anti-Slavery Cause” and Diane Windham Shaw, Curator Emerita, Lafayette Collections of Lafayette College, presented “Lafayette and Human Rights”. Both presentations were excellent and provided great insight to the hero’s beliefs and actions.
After lunch, a panel, moderated by Chuck Schwam, Executive Director of the American Friends of Lafayette, included the two presenters in addition to John Becica (author and historian), Pat Sanftner (DAR past state historian re-enacting a Quaker woman), and Leslie Bramlett (owner of “From the Grey Fortress” educational consultancy re-enacting Hannah Till, Washington’s cook who served Lafayette). The panel discussed various topics and questions about Lafayette and his role as human rights champion.
Compatriots David Paretti and Ellis Bailey enjoyed the presentations and discussions about the great leader.
Symposium programPresenter Alan Hoffman.Presenter Diane Windham Shaw.Panel discussion and Q&A. Diane Windham Shaw, John Becca, Leslie Bramlett, Pat Sanftner, Alan Hoffman and moderator Chuck Schwam.
Four chapter members attended the June 21, 2025 presentation of the off-Broadway play “Father Anonymous” to celebrate America 250. The play “tells the story of America’s forgotten founder Dr. Joseph Warren and his more famous friends, Samuel Adams, John Hancock, and Paul Revere. Opening on the day of the Boston Massacre (1770), it closes with Joseph’s martyrdom at Bunker Hill (1775)” – https://fatheranonymousplay.com
The story of Joseph Warren is truly inspiring – the ultimate sacrifice so that we can have the opportunity to celebrate 250 years as a democracy.
President Jeff La Marca, Vice President Michael Smilek, and Compatriots George Robb and Ellis Bailey attended the wonderful play. Vice President Smilek is the Producer of the play and facilitated the event for the members. Everyone had a wonderful time at the outing.
The play is currently at the AMT Theater on West 45th Street, NYCPresident La Marca and Vice President Smilek discuss the play during intermission.Morristown Chapter DAR member Pat Sanftner also enjoyed the play with the members.Members George Robb, Michael Smilek, Jeff La Marca and Ellis Bailey enjoyed the outing.
Three members of the chapter attended the June 7, 2025 NSSAR quarterly meeting celebrating the Battle of Monmouth. President Jeff La Marca, Past President Roger Loomis, and compatriot Ellis Bailey especially enjoyed the unique venue – aboard The USS New Jersey (BB-62) in Camden, NJ.
Prior to the luncheon, the Society held its State Board of Managers meeting. During this time, visitors could take a tour of the impressive ship, the largest battleship ever built and the most decorated in Navy history. BB-62 was built at the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard, just a short distance across the Delaware River from where she is docked now, and launched December 7, 1942—just a year after the Pearl Harbor Attack brought America into WWII. The size of the Iowa-Class ship made it easy to have the luncheon on the aft deck for the many members and visitors. Captain Baker, the last officer to captain the ship during military action in the Middle East, was a guest and told very interesting anecdotes about the great vessel and its crew. He explained that although currently not in active duty and serving as a living museum and memorial, the ship has been outfitted with modern weapons, is fully functional, and can get underway if called to duty.
Numerous awards and medals were presented during the luncheon to compatriots and guests for their service to the society and to the community. Following that, guest speaker Gary Ecelbarger, award-winning author of ten books and numerous other publications discussed his new work “George Washington’s Momentous Year 1777: Twelve Months that Transformed the Revolution, Philadelphia to Monmouth.” The Battle of Monmouth played a key role in this.
The USS New Jersey (BB-62) docked in Camden, NJ.President La Marca and the USS NJ.President La Marca prepares to board.Three of the nine monstrous, 16″ guns on the deck of the USS NJ.The color guard prepares to present the colors.The luncheon was well attended.
Two members of the Jockey Hollow Chapter attended the Salute to Lafayette on May 10, 2025 on The Morristown Green. President Jeff La Marca and compatriot Ellis Bailey attended the ceremony on the beautiful spring morning to celebrate the kick-off of the 2025 celebration activities for General Lafayette, marking the 245th anniversary of his historic visit to General George Washington at the Ford Mansion in Morristown, when he delivered the news that France would support the fight for freedom. The event was held around the Alliance Statue, depicting Washington, Lafayette and Hamilton to commemorate the event. Morristown Mayor Doherty and other officials spoke and attended, as well as reenactors of General Lafayette and a colonial singer. This was prelude to the celebration of the 200th anniversary of Lafayette’s return to Morristown in July, 1825. A memorable parade is planned and festivities on The Morristown Green on Sunday, July 13, 2025 will include a table for the Jockey Hollow Chapter.
The Alliance Statue on The Morristown Green.Mayor Doherty with two Lafayettes!Singer Pat Sanftner from the Morristown Chapter DAR.President La Marca and Compatriot Bailey honored to stand with the greats.
