About the Adopt A Revolutionary Hero Project:

 The Old Salem Cemetery, located three miles north of New Derry along PA State Route 982, is the final resting place for 30 local Revolutionary War veterans. In the more than 200 years since they left this life, many of the grave markers have de-laminated and have lost the face of the stone containing the details of who is interred there. 

 We at the Derry Area Historical Society began fundraising for this honorable cause with the goal of placing more permanent granite stones so that our local first American heroes are not lost to ravages of time. Most of the veterans grave markers are all approximately more than 200 years old, many of them are no longer readable. We have been placing more permanent granite markers at the base of the original stones. 

 Beginning in 2017, we have raised enough from community donations to purchase and install 20 veterans granite grave markers at a cost of more than $15,000.00. We have continued fundraising since then but are in need of additional funding to complete the project. It is our goal to be able to finish purchasing and install the final granite grave markers for the remaining 10 Revolutionary War veterans.   

Previous work days have brought together community volunteers, both young and old. The Old Salem Church Board of Directors has been assisting in the installation of the new grave markers. We have also included the University of Pittsburgh Bryan Hanks, PhD Department of Anthropology and his students, as an educational opportunity for aspiring archeology students to learn research methods using equipment to perform ground penetrating radar surveys of the site helping us to determine unmarked grave locations and other subsurface anomalies revealing the foundation of an earlier church structure.

 Those who risked all to protect their communities were the literal pioneers of all who came to follow them. Working, living, and worshipping in Derry Township, their final rest places are in dire need of preservation. Installing the permanent granite markers at the Revolutionary Veterans grave sites is the very least we can do in honoring, commemorating, and remembering those American heroes for generations to come. 

 This project directly coincides with the mission of the Derry Area Historical Society to encourage the appreciation and preservation of local history, genealogy, and historic architecture while building strong community partnerships with other organizations and groups that will strengthen our community.