Great grandson of a sergeant from Lewis and Clark Expedition receives patch, certificate from Foundation
A ceremony for the great grandson of a sergeant from the Lewis and Clark Expedition will be held on Sunday.
Patrick Gass, born in Falling Springs (present day Chambersburg) in 1771, served as a sergeant in the Expedition from 1803-1806. His service as a carpenter helped the group in their journeys.
The great grandson of Patrick, Eugene Gass Painter and his granddaughter, Maggie, will be recognized by the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation for their heritage. The foundation is non-profit organization designed to preserve the Lewis and Clark Trail and the sharing of its stories.
Gass Painter will receive a honorary patch and certificate to commemorate the ceremony. There will be reanactors in period dress playing music during the ceremony.
President of the Lewis and Clark Heritage Foundation Louis Nritten said they wanted to acknowledge his family tree. Gass Painter is 104-years-old.
“To have someone here with us that is a descendant of a sergeant is great, it’s something we have to celebrate,” Nritten said.
The great grandson of William Clark, Preyton “Bud” Clark, was supposed to present the certificate and patch to Gass Painter, but recently fell and will not be able to travel.
“It’s very unfortunate, we hope that he gets better,” Nritten said.
The ceremony will take place at 5 p.m. outside the Presbyterian SeniorCare Center in Washington on Sunday.