‘We should never forget’ Marker to pay tribute to Fayette County soldier
Revolutionary War soldier Reuben Thorpe, a longtime Fayette County resident, will be remembered for his service when a commemorative marker is placed in his honor at an Ohiopyle cemetery this Sunday.
"Without revolutionary soldiers and patriots, we would not have the freedoms and privileges we enjoy today. Reuben gave his time and risked his safety as a scout, spy, and minuteman," said Susan Moon, regent, Great Crossings Chapter NSDAR (The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution).
This project is a culmination of two years, according to Moon, of work that first began at the request of Great Crossings NSDAR member Bonnie Schaefer, who lives near the Irwin Memorial Cemetery, where the commemorative marker will be placed.
In the early 1900s, an NSDAR bronze marker was placed on Thorpe's grave but came up missing years later. The Great Crossings Chapter NSDAR purchased the replacement marker with monetary support from the Irwin Cemetery Association and the Fort Necessity Chapter NSDAR.
"It is very important for everyone to know the sacrifices made by soldiers for this country's fight for independence and liberty. We cannot thank them enough. Younger generations need to learn our nation's history and remember to honor these patriots. We should never forget. Simply saying a veteran's name aloud honors him and ensures he is not forgotten," Moon said.
Moon said Thorpe was an early pioneer of Fayette County, obtaining 150 acres of the Askins Tract for 100 pounds in 1792. Later in life, he had a tavern license, a public house, and a distillery when the old Turkeyfoot Road was one of the mainstays for those traveling from Somerset to Uniontown. He died in Fayette County on Jan. 7, 1848.
The marker will be unveiled this Sunday at 3 p.m. at Irwin Memorial Cemetery, 784 Farmington-Ohiopyle Road, Ohiopyle.
Moon said an honor guard and a color guard will present honors, carry out a traditional gun salute and play taps. Additionally six chapters from NSDAR are planning to attend and will honor Thorpe with a memorial wreath.
The service is open to the public, though Moon asks those who plan to attend to RSVP by calling her at 814-233-5238 or emailing her
