GOSHEN — The Massachusetts Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) will acknowledge various commemorations and dedications at the DAR State Forest on Saturday, highlighting Goshen’s roots stretching back to the American Revolution.

The day will begin at 11 a.m., with lunch at noon (which can be either brought or purchased in advance), followed by a “Birds of Prey” demonstration by Tom Ricardi, featuring eagles, hawks and owls. Ricardi is director of the Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway.

Before lunch, a presentation on the DAR State Forest’s history will be given, outlining the 95 years since the organization donated the property to the state — much of which had been lots owned by Goshen Revolutionary war patriots.

A semiquincentennial memorial marking America’s 250th Anniversary on July 4, 2026 will be dedicated at the park’s newly renovated Memorial Ellipse, as numerous similar memorials are being funded by the organization across the state to honor the anniversary.

In attendance will be several representatives from the state’s DAR, including the MDAR state regent, vice regent, and honorary state regent. The MDAR recently funded the renovation of the Memorial Ellipse, enhancing the area with landscaping and 130 memorial bricks.

The DAR will also dedicate 45 benches paid for by the Betty Allen chapter, and have been installed at the state park over the past five years.

Goshen American Revolutionary heroes will be a point of focus, “who at one time or another, had owned the lots that make up the State Park,” said Donna Helm, second vice regent of Northampton’s Betty Allen DAR Chapter, who mentioned all the work that has been done by the chapter to remember America’s first patriots who were also Goshen’s founding fathers.

She shared that the Betty Allen chapter has extensively researched Goshen’s patriots, and have located the graves of 38 of the 44 veterans who fought in America’s first struggle. The chapter has also cleaned their resting places, honoring their lots with flags. A sketch of the original cemetery will be provided to guests interested in touring either the Goshen Center Cemetery or Nature Center at the close of the day.

Samuel Gelinas can be reached at sgelinas@gazettenet.com