It is hard to write about a national event on the day of actual celebration, for there is much to cover.

It can hardly be left unmentioned as well, especially since we are speaking of the reason for our freedom given so many years ago, wondering if we are still grateful for it, and aware of why and how we received it. … a gift with a very high price.

I follow the trail of my ancestry to find a man named Jacobus Swart who assisted in establishing American independence while acting in the capacity of private in Captain John Van Petten’s Company in Col. Abraham Wemple’s Regiment in New York in 1776.

To facilitate this I needed to become a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). The Lone Pine Tree Chapter of this organization shared between La Grande and Baker City was active, so I sought to join them.

One of the requirements to join DAR was to follow one’s ancestry from self backward to connect with a relative involved directly in the war. So, I began the search through my maiden name of Swart.

This was easy going from my father, Walter Earl 1894-1949, to my grandfather Henry Walter 1872-1928; a little harder from Henry Walter to Walter Swart, 1847-1913, my great-grandfather.

Now the search became serious.

Walter Swart’s father was Jacoby James Swart,1819/20-1858, my great-great grandfather.

His father was Harmanus Swart and Harmanus, 1781-1823, my great-great-great-grandfather was the son of Jacobus Swart.

Jacobus Swart, 1740-1812, my great-great-great-great grandfather and the one whom I was seeking, was the son of Jesaias Swart, 1709-1792, and his wife Sarah (Vedder) Swart who lived in Albany, New York. The Swart family had originally settled the town of Schenectady, New York, in 1662, having come from The Netherlands for that purpose.

Jacobus was the age of 36 when the 1776 war for freedom wrapped him in the Army uniform and sent him out on the line to fight for our freedom, my freedom as a citizen of this great country. He died at age 83, and, here I am nearing the century mark of age 97 in a few months, still grateful for the gift given me so many years ago.

In July of 2005 I became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) by joining the Lone Pine Tree Chapter. This local chapter has an interesting history of its own, organized on April 22, 1995, and continues to support its objectives of historical preservation, promotion of public knowledge, and fostering of patriotism and love of country.

There is also a Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) unit in La Grande (not to be confused with SAR, Search and Rescue), a small organization but striving to fulfill its obligations.

It seems that there is always a war somewhere in the world or the threat of war closer to home. We may always need such supporting organizations as the DAR and SAR with those who remember the sacrifices given.

I hate war in any form whether it be between nations or even comes down to a neighborhood or family squabble. But the War of 1776 came and went and we have shared the goodness that came from it with the rest of the world. May an enduring brotherhood and sisterhood continue to come from it.

This is the final Dory’s Diary column.