Caption: Bells above were rung simultaneously across the nation!
The members of the Isaac Van Wart Chapter of DAR celebrated the start of Constitution Week (Sept 17-23) with the official ringing of the bells at 4pm EDT in front of the Van Wert County Courthouse on September 17, 2026. Bells rang for 1 minute following a history on the Constitution read by Regent Deb Hardeman and the Mayoral Proclamation read by Sheila Baltzell-Linn. On this day in 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America. Nearly 170 years later, in 1955, DAR spearheaded an effort to set aside one week annually when Americans could celebrate this iconic signing. After petitioning Congress to set aside the week of September 17 – 23, on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Constitution Week into law. Our Country’s founding document (a copy), The Constitution, is on display at the Brumback Library along with some books you can check-out to learn more!
The Isaac Van Wart Chapter, DAR met with Paulding County VFW Post Commander John Daeger, for the opening ceremony of the traveling Vietnam wall exhibit. The ceremony, provided by all military posts in Van Wert County, honored all those who lost their lives in the Vietnam War. After lunch and a brief business meeting the members heard the details of 9/11 in a presentation by John Daeger. It was fitting and informative on the eve of 25 years since that dreadful day. Two new DAR officers were inducted at the meeting and two members displayed their DAR grave markers. Later Mr. Daeger took the members to the latest Veteran’s Memorial in downtown Paulding. The bronze eagle was beautiful. Photos were submitted by a member. Mr. Daeger received a special veteran’s shirt from the membership.
Communities throughout the nation, including Van Wert OH, will be celebrating the spirit and meaning of the country’s Constitution beginning September 17. On this day in 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America. Nearly 170 years later, in 1955, DAR spearheaded an effort to set aside one week annually when Americans could celebrate this iconic signing. After petitioning Congress to set aside the week of September 17 – 23, on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Constitution Week into law.
Local chapters of NSDAR celebrate with many events to honor this founding document. Celebrations begin with Bells Across America, on September 17, when bells across the country are rung simultaneously at 4 p.m. EDT. The Isaac Van Wart Chapter will gather and ring bells at 4 PM at the Van Wert County Courthouse. The Van Wert community is invited to join the DAR in celebrating Constitution Week.
Three members of Isaac Van Wart DAR attended the recent 2026 State DAR Committee Showcase in Columbus, OH. Left to right: Cindy, Mickey and Sheila strolled the Committee Booths, talking to the Chairs, picking up literature, and securing ideas for future projects. Following the showcase, a delicious catered meal was served at the Lunch and Learn session led by State Regent Christina Nehring. She introduced the speaker, Kim Weitkamp who followed with a humorous and engaging program.
The Wren Homecoming Parade was not without its challenges on 8-22-2026. There was a rain and wind storm 20 minutes before the parade started, and things got soaked, but not the Isaac Van Wart Chapter members riding. We stayed in our cars till the showers passed. We dried the float out later that evening. And the parade was a load of fun! Photo submitted by a member.
Debra Hardeman, Regent of the Chapter, led a patriotic NSDAR re-dedication ceremony on Tuesday, August 18, 2026, honoring Revolutionary War Hero, Isaac Van Wart 1760-1828. Van Wart is the Chapter namesake, namesake of Van Wert County and the namesake of the City of Van Wert Ohio. Following her introduction and leading the members and guests in the Pledge of Allegiance in the outdoor ceremony at the sign-site on US Route 127 just south of Van Wert, Ohio, Regent Hardeman welcomed member and new Vice Regent Sheila Baltzell-Linn, thanking her for taking on the sign project for the chapter, researching, gaining approval, designing and ordering the sign and seeing it through to today’s re-dedication.
Baltzell-Linn gave a brief history of Isaac Van Wart and the events of September 23, 1780, when three young militiamen (including Williams and Paulding) on patrol detained and searched Major John Andre. They found incriminating paperwork in his boot which implicated Commander Benedict Arnold’s plot to turn over his Post at Fort West Point to the British for personal gain. As the accounts go, Andre tried to bride the young men 3 times with gold and treasures, but they would not accept. In Van Wart’s words, which echo in history even today, “We are Americans, and above all considerations of personal gain, we prize our independence.” Van Wart, Paulding and Williams turned Andre over to the local militia commanders where he was tried and hanged as a spy. Arnold got away to Great Britain.
Mayor Markward then stepped to the podium and shared this historical fact: Ohio’s distinct, navy-blue/black, state-outline-shaped signs posted at municipal boundaries are known as Corporate Limit Markers. Initiated in 1953 by the Ohio Department of Highways alongside the Ohio Sesquicentennial Commission, these roadside fixtures were designed to welcome drivers with a concise, 13-word-or-less historical fact about the village or city they were entering. He remarked that this sign could describe three counties in Northwest Ohio as there were 3 Captors of Major John Andre, British Spy. Williams County is named for David Williams and Paulding County is named for John Paulding. These two 20+ year olds, along with Van Wart were honored with their names on three counties in the new state of Ohio in 1820. He said, “The signs are historically correct, but our hero, Isaac Van Wart is not named on it, and we are very happy that the Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the NSDAR is changing that today during year of the 250th Birthday of our Country’s Independence.”
Van Wert County Commissioner Thad Lichtensteiger and Mayor Ken Markward then had the honor of unveiling the new sign to the pleasure of everyone attending. The recently acquired 3-D printed bust of Van Wart was on display.
A second Corporation Limit Sign, housed at the Van Wert County Museum will be re-dedicated on October 11. The public is invited. All photos were submitted by chapter members.
The Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Debra Hardeman, Regent, in coordination with The City of Van Wert, OH, under the leadership of Mayor Ken Markward, are pleased to announce the re-dedication of the Historical City Limit Sign on US Route 127 South of Van Wert and the unveiling of a new Daughters of the American Revolution, NSDAR sign honoring Isaac Van Wart as a hero of the American Revolutionary War and the namesake of the city of Van Wert Ohio and the county of Van Wert. This short ceremony and unveiling will take place on Tuesday, August 18, 2026 at 10 AM. The location for parking will be at the city dog park, address 10763 US Route 127 south of Van Wert. The community is invited to attend this short event and celebrate America250! Please note the event will be canceled and rescheduled in case of rain.
First Cousins who descended from William Horney, PA: Christal Etzkorn, Isaac Van Wart Chapter; Kelli Wooddell, Isaac Van Wart Chapter Prospective Member; and Angela Herron, Fort GreeneVille Chapter all met recently at a local restaurant where Kelli signed her application to join the NSDAR, Isaac Van Wart Chapter. Chapter registrar Mickey McConahay provided the paperwork necessary. Cousin Angela surprised Kelli and came for this special event.
Christal explained that she and her sister Mindy (absent) joined the NSDAR together in 2023 using their Great-Great Grandmother’s application information. Her name was Lucy (Blessing) McKillip, and her father William Blessing invented the corn planter. Lucy was a founding member of the William Horney DAR Chapter in Jeffersonville, OH which has now disbanded. Angela joined in 2025.
Christal, Mindy, and Angela took their research further, learning lineage in the same line that led them to joining The General Society of Mayflower Descendants in Columbus.
The ladies all agree that a trip to their patriot’s grave is in order. William Horney is interred in Ohio. A member submitted this photograph.
The Lambert Days Parade in Ohio City OH , on July 19, 2026, was a special time for a few of our DAR members who actually grew up in this village in Van Wert County. Some members still live nearby. The festival each year remembers John William Lambert (January 29, 1860 – May 20, 1952) who was an American automobile manufacturer pioneer and inventor. He is the inventor of the first practical American gasoline automobile. In 1891, he built a working gasoline automobile and took it on the streets of Ohio City, Ohio for experimental drives. He had over 600 patents. One DAR member pointed out the historical sign that locates the first automobile wreck location! One DARmember’s grandson assembled the float with a HODAR, then drove all members in the parade. Twelve members rode.
The Isaac Van Wart Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (IVW NSDAR) celebrated their patriotic heritage, with their beautiful DAR America250 float on July 25, 2026 at the Celina Lake Festival Parade in Celina, OH.
DAR members can prove their lineage back 250 years to a family member who fought or otherwise served in the Continental Army during the Revolutionary War. Their float featured the National DAR official logo for the 250th; the members dressed in “Continental” costumes or official chapter 250th shirts; a DAR husband (HODAR) built and drove the float; a DAR grandchild who portrayed Isaac Van Wart in the parade; two DAR grandchildren in continental costumes including General George Washington and Elizabeth, Washington’s niece; and a DAR member who portrayed Betsy Ross sewing the first flag of the United States of America.
Of utmost historical value, the members carried the three recently acquired busts of American Revolutionary War Heroes John Paulding, David Williams and county/city namesake Isaac Van Wart. The busts are 3-D printed by permission of the John Henri Isaac Browere Collection, where the original bronze busts are housed in the Fenimore Museum in Cooperstown NY. The busts were commissioned in the early 1800’s and were the men’s live
These three Revolutionary War Heroes, as young militia men, captured the British Spy Major John Andre who had just left West Point New York Colony. There he had conspired with American General Benedict Arnold to commit treason and hand over Ft. West Point. They made the Major strip down and found, in his boot, the incriminating documents. Andre was hung. Benedict Arnold got wawy and served the British for the rest of his life. But his name goes down in infamy!. The young men were rewarded with a farm each, $200 stipend yearly for life, having a county named after each of them in the wild state of Ohio – Williams, Paulding and Van Wert Counties, AND they each received the first every silver Fidelity Medal of Honor form the 2nd Continental Congress and General George Washington himself. They are Northwest Ohio’s Heroes! How lucky is this corner of the state? The members enjoyed the parade and carry these busts with great pride.
Photos were submitted by several IVW-DAR members and families.
More photos below. All photos submitted by a member.
