· CEREMONY HELD TO CELEBRATE DANIEL BOONE’S BIRTHDAY

(reprinted with permission of The Missourian, originally published November 5, 2008)

Wreath Laying

Lemira Parks, regent of the Missouri State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, lays a wreath at the grave of Daniel Boone in Marthasville to mark his 274^th birthday Sunday, Nov. 2. The organization also will replace the stolen and vandalized plaque from the Boone Monument sometime next year.

CEREMONY HELD TO CELEBRATE DANIEL BOONE’S BIRTHDAY

By Cindy Gladden, Missourian Staff Writer

A celebration for one of America’s most well-known frontiersmen was held Sunday, Nov. 2, on the plot where he was laid to rest near Marthasville Sept. 26, 1820.

Boone descendants, historians, dignitaries and Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) members from several chapters traveled to the Marthasville cemetery for the celebration of Boone’s 274^th birthday.

Lemira Parks, regent of the Missouri State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution (MSSDAR), organized the event to honor Boone and the contributions he made in Missouri.

Warren County Presiding Commissioner Arden Engelage commented on the recent theft of the monument’s bronze plaque, saying the incident was a shameful act.

He was optimistic about the cemetery’s future, however, citing the formation of the Friends of Daniel Boone Burial Site in Missouri whose goal is to preserve the site.

“We’re pulling together because of the theft,” Engelage said.

Also in attendance were Dale Verges, mayor of Marthasville, and Larry Brewe, Marthasville Chamber president and commander of the Daniel Boone Post 180 of the American Legion.

Ken Kamper, historian of the Daniel Boone & Frontier Families Association and director and historian for The National Boone Society, shared insights into Boone’s reputation.

He quoted Timothy Flint, who published these comments about Boone in 1833.

“He was home in the woods where others were bewildered and lost,” said Flint. “He was a patriarch of backwoods pioneers.”

Kamper said Teddy Roosevelt described Boon as having “absolute trust in his own powers and resources.”

Parks’ mission as state regent of the Daughters of the American Revolution even prior to the vandalism of the monument was to highlight the life of Daniel Boone during her two-year term. The opportunity to replace the plaque has now provided unique opportunities for the future of the site.

“We want to have a working relationship with local people as we continue to go through the process of replacing the plaque,” she said. “We’re going to keep Daniel Boone in front of the ‘Daughters’ all the time.”

The MSSDAR will replace the stolen and vandalized bronze plaque with a new on made of black granite within the next year. The DAR donated the original plaque in 1915.

Parks said the next step is to complete paperwork to be approved by the historian general of the DAR in Washington, D.C. All historical data will need to be verified prior to approving the use of the organization’s emblem on the new plaque.

Several bids have been submitted for the creation of the new plaque according to Parks. The MSSDAR executive board will make the final decision on the design and the contractor.

At the conclusion of the ceremony, Parks laid a red, white and blue wreath on the burial site of Daniel Boone. Wayne Davis, president of the Spirit of St. Louis Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution, played “Amazing Grace” on the bagpipes.