DAR honors Calhoun County man

During this two-day event, daughters assembled to celebrate and learn from each other as well as display initiatives that local chapters have sponsored.

On Saturday, at the “Let’s Celebrate, By George! Our Patriot Ladies Luncheon,” they heard from Margaret F. Pickett, author of “Rebecca Brewton Motte: American Patriot and Successful Rice Planter.”

Rebecca Motte’s property is in Calhoun County on the banks of the Congaree River.

The following announcement is from Alice Lamb Caskey, state regent South Carolina Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

“On the banks of the Congaree lies a sylvan property once the homestead of an amazing woman and widowed patriot by the name of Rebecca Brewton Motte. Mrs. Motte graciously offered her home to the cause of freedom.

“Considering gracious offerings, joining us today are two very special guests, whom I have had the pleasure of getting to know in the past few years due to their historic preservation work, Mr. and Mrs. Luther Wannamaker. Mr. Wannamaker, landowner and steward of this property, not only has shared with us in DAR exclusive opportunities to view this historic site, and organized symposiums for us, but he has offered this property for excavation for archeological studies by Dr. Steven Smith of the University of South Carolina , students like Stacey Renae Whitacre for her dissertation, and allowed countless historians like Dr. Alexia Helsley, authors such as our speaker today, Margaret Pickett, numerous journalists, and preservationists of the American Battlefield Trust access to study this land.

“At 95 years young, and just recently retired from the seed business, he has made it his mission to share the story of the American Revolutionary fight for freedom. A graduate of Washington and Lee University and Yale School of Law, Luther Wannamaker is an outspoken supporter of women who dared to advocate for the patriot cause. I am grateful for the generosity of Mr. and Mrs. Wanamaker.

“On behalf of the S.C. State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, I present the DAR America 250 Commendation Medal, in recognition of your extraordinary effort to not only honor the men and women who achieved American independence but have educated others about their service and sacrifice. Mr. and Mrs. Wannamaker attended today under the guise of hearing our guest speaker. Thank you, Mr. and Mrs. Wannamaker, for all you have done to help us remember our history and preserve this sacred part of America’s past.”