By JENNIFER AMATO
Staff Writer
EAST BRUNSWICK — Jersey Blue member Susan Luczu of East Brunswick has been awarded the Martha Washington Medal by the National Society, Sons of the American Revolution (SAR).
Presentation of the award was made at a recent Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter meeting by Kathrine (Kitty) Bowers of the Francis Hopkinson-Monmouth Courthouse Chapter from Freehold. Bowers is the New Jersey state liaison for the DAR/SAR.
The Martha Washington Medal is the highest honor the SAR can bestow upon a woman and is in recognition of her outstanding service for and/or with the SAR. The medal is gold in color and bears on the obverse a portrait of Martha Washington within the inscription “SAR Martha Washington Award.” It is suspended from a chest ribbon of the SAR colors and is accompanied by an embossed certificate.
Luczu was commended “for her outstanding service to the SAR, the DAR and other lineage societies throughout her tenure as the Jersey Blue Chapter Regent,” according to a statement released by the DAR.
“My personal connection to the Revolutionary War is my four-times great-grandfather Joseph Mishler. He was born in 1757 in Switzerland, married to Margaretha Margaret Beer in 1783; they had three children, Henry, Elizabeth and John. He died in 1819 in Cocalico, Pennsylvania, in Lancaster County. Joseph’s patriot service was in the Lancaster County/Pennsylvania militia under Capt. Ream. He served in the rank of private,” Luczu said in an interview.
Luczu is active with regional historical organizations that work to preserve and present Revolutionary War presentations, short stories and media releases to the public in a learning and informational format.
“DAR is important to me because it represents an opportunity to keep alive the volunteerism and patriotic service to country, exhibited by our ancestors who fought to establish a nation of freedoms,” she said.
She has been active in the community since relocating to East Brunswick in the early 1970s. She interprets life in the 18th century with a “Colonial household” program, has worked with several New Jersey house museums and is an experienced community speaker.
“Volunteerism has always been an important part of my life. I learned from my parents’ example that there will always be those in society that have more money and those that have much less that you do. It is the right thing to do to help out where you can, both financially and with goods and/or service to others,” she said.
She and her husband live in a home that dates to 1705, with an original 7-foot cooking fireplace. She has lived in East Brunswick for 44 years and has been a hearth cook for more than 20 years.
“I fell in love with my circa-1705 home when I first saw it in 1972. I love to cook and bake, and having an opportunity to do that in a cooking fireplace was a big drawing point for me. I am fortunate to have had the opportunity to live in a historic property, to learn about hearth cooking and have the chance to practice both at home and with others who have similar interests, through organizations I have joined,” she said.
In relation, she is also an active member/volunteer with the Historic Foodways Society of the Delaware Valley, an organization that is dedicated to the promotion and understanding of food and its place and contributions to history, primarily the 17th–20th centuries. She served as secretary and is currently webmaster for the organization.
Luczu said there are many historic properties and interest groups in the area for anyone to get involved. She has volunteered with the East Brunswick Museum, the Freehold Township Heritage Society, the Monmouth County Historical Association and the Meadows Foundation in Franklin Township.
“Most operate and maintain historic properties on limited budgets, and new members or volunteers are always welcomed,” she said.
For more information or for a DAR application, email jerseybluedar@comcast.net or visit Jersey Blue DAR on Facebook.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.
