Our country stands on the eve of a grand anniversary, and DAR is preparing to celebrate in a big way! This pin, ninth in a Limited 250th Anniversary Series, commemorates the Burning of the Gaspee in Rhode Island in June 1772.
In the evening hours of June 9 and into June 10, 1772, a group of courageous Rhode Islanders rowed under cover of darkness from Providence into Narragansett Bay, where the British tax ship HMS Gaspee lay stranded on a sandbar. The small band of patriots took the British crew prisoner, shot the commanding British officer, and set fire to the ship, burning her to the waterfire. This bold and revolutionary act against the British in protest of tax enforcement, 18 months before the Boston Tea Party, was an important spark in revolutionary fervor. This beautiful pin, featuring the Gaspee aflame, celebrates and recognizes the semiquincentennial of the Burning of the Gaspee.
When this commemorative pin is worn by DAR members on the official Insignia ribbon, it must be placed according to the most current "Placement of DAR Insignia and Pins on Official Ribbon" document found on the Insignia Committee webpage.
When not worn on the official ribbon, DAR members may only wear this commemorative pin as a brooch, not on a right-side ribbon. When non-members wear this commemorative pin, they should demonstrate pride in all DAR stands for by wearing it only when dressed nicely and in a respectful manner.
Show your support of DAR's mission by adding the Rhode Island Gaspee Affair 1772 commemorative pin to your Insignia collection today!
