News

The 138th annual meeting of the Pennsylvania Society of Sons of the Revolution was held Thursday, April 16, 2026, at the 23rd Street Armory of The First Troop Philadelphia City Cavalry, with a good crowd in attendance on a warm evening.

Christopher Michael Whelan, 39th President, called the meeting to order at 5 p.m. Color Guard Lt. Austin W. Lamac led the presentation of The Colors during The Pledge of Allegiance. The Rev. Tommy Alan Thompson, Society Chaplain, offered the Invocation. Secretary James Kipp Gearhart IV and Treasurer Kenneth Walter MacNeal gave their annual reports, and Lt. Lamac read aloud the report of Color Guard Captain Robert Jacob McNelly, Esq. Dr. Shawn Patrick Gallagher gave the report of the Lancaster County chapter.

President Whelan, in his annual report, thanked everyone for supporting the mission of the Society, which he said is to promote knowledge and appreciation of the achievements of American independence and to foster fellowship among members. In a summary of Society achievements in the previous year, he highlighted the new online giving platform for members and others to support the Society. Unlike previous giving campaigns, this is not just focused on a particular program or a period of time. It will be ongoing, a Legacy Campaign. Gifts may consist of cash, stocks and bonds, real estate, retirement assets, business interests, mineral interests and farm interests. They may also include bequests, major gifts, endowments, and other Planned Giving mechanisms.m”Membership remains strong at approximately 1,030,” the President said. “The Pennsylvania Society continues as the largest of all state societies thanks to you who are proposing new members on a regular basis.”

Two men were recognized for 50 years of membership in the Society: Charles Nimson Eckert and President C. Michael Whelan. President Whelan presented Mr. Eckert with his 50-Year Certificate, and Secretary Gearhart presented President Whelan with his certificate. These two gentlemen were 2 of the 12 gentlemen achieving this membership milestone this year. Next, the Captain Alexander Grayson Award, for the member who had the greatest impact on new member development in the previous year, was given on Dr. Edwin Sipler Hart, III, who continues to encourage membership growth in the Lehigh Valley.

Rosettes were presented to 9 new members who were able to attend the Annual Meeting, of the over 30 new members admitted since last year’s meeting. President Whelan thanked the officers, board members and Color Guard for their dedication, and he offered thanks to Wayne Ralph Strausbaugh, Esq., and Ben Ramsay Wolf, Jr. for leading the team that organized the annual meeting.

President Emeritus Richard Francis Pagano gave the report of the nominating committee for the single slate of officers and board members, who were unanimously elected under the watchful eye of our Judge of Elections, Ronald William Fenstermacher, Jr., Esq. The 2026-2027 officers are as follows: President, Christopher Michael Whelan; Vice presidents, Joseph Thomas Coleman, Ed.D., Tench Coxe Forbes, William Frederick Forbes, David Christopher Hill Byrne and Wayne Ralph Strasbaugh, Esq.; Secretary, David William French; Assistant Secretary, Thomas Herbert Infield; Treasurer, Kenneth Walter MacNeal; Assistant Treasurer, Carl Gissler Morgan; Registrar, Brad Stephen Miller; Historian, Dr. Edwin Sipler Hart, III; Chaplain, The Rev. Tommy Alan Thompson, and Counselor, Christopher Brett Alexander, Esq.

Managers for 2024-2027: Troy Michael Keener, Kristopher Stewart Powell, Jesse Terrence Proetto and William Raymond Warwick

Managers for 2025-2028: Andrew Allan Evans Hunter, Philip Avery Krogstad, Justin Nathaniel Thompson and Ben Ramsay Wolf, Jr.

Managers for 2026-2029: Matthew Lee Forester, Clinton Frederick Grable, Gavin Matthew Grater and Kyle Lee Miller

Appreciation and gratitude were extended to retiring managers James Kipp Gearhart, IV, Perry Catherwood Gresh, Mark Duane Lupke and Spencer Talbot Stokes

Once the business portion of the Annual Meeting was completed, the membership enjoyed a few remarks from local Philadelphia historian Jim Murphy about the Early American Navy. After this, the Annual Meeting was adjourned, and the members retired upstairs to the Troop mess hall for heavy hors d’oeuvres, an open bar, a broad array of Society merchandise available for purchase, and great company from all in attendance.

GALLERY