LEE COUNTY ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION Southern Base of the Research Triangle Region NEWS RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Friday, April 20, 2007 REVOLUTIONARY WAR VETERAN TO REST AT LEE COUNTY COURT HOUSE AFTER CEREMONY SANFORD -- Revolutionary War veteran Jacob Gaster, who was captured by the British and survived being held on a prison ship near Wilmington, will rest at the Lee County Court House after a public ceremony on Apr. 29 honoring his contribution to American independence. The commemoration, featuring bagpipes and a U.S. military honor guard from Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, will begin at 2 p.m. outside the courthouse on Horner Boulevard in downtown Sanford. It is being held as a part of this year's Lee County Centennial celebration. Before his reinterment, Gaster's grave was located in a remote area of what is now SouthPark, an industrial park being developed along Highway 87 in south Sanford. As the only known and documented veteran who fought on the Patriot side and was buried in what is now Lee County, his remains are being moved to honor his contribution to creating a new nation. It's something his family wanted. "I'm glad it's being done. All of the Gasters feel this way," says Marvin Gaster, a descendant. "It gives his grave a more prominent place, so that people will learn about him." Jacob Gaster was part of a militia company in 1781, when his unit was surprised by British scouts. One soldier was killed, one was wounded and five, including Jacob, were captured. They were marched to Wilmington and kept in a stockade before being moved to the ship. While on board, another member of the group, Capt. Daniel Buie, died. Jacob was released as part of a prison exchange, a few months after his capture, and returned home. Early the next year, he joined another militia company led by brother Henry Gaster Jr., and served for another three months. After the war, Jacob served nine terms in the North Carolina General Assembly and survived until 1855, when he died at the age of 90. Expected to run between 30 and 40 minutes, the ceremony includes a funeral rite conducted by the Rev. Thomas K. Spence Jr. and a military chaplain, along with a brief look at the veteran's life by Marvin Gaster. The Old Guard, an honor guard from Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region, will provide a military salute. Based at Fort McNair in Washington, the headquarters draws resources from the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, Coast Guard and North American Aerospace Defense Command to defend the nation's capital and surrounding areas. Brief comments will be made by Lee County Centennial Co-Chair Lynn Veach Sadler and Lee County Board of Commissioners Chairman Robert Brown. Music before and after the ceremony will be provided by bagpiper William Caudill, director of the Scottish Heritage Center at St. Andrews Presbyterian College in Laurinburg. This year's Lee County Centennial celebration kicked off in January, when noted Civil War authority Edwin Bearss visited the county to help raise money to restore the Endor Iron Furnace, a historic structure along the Deep River. Bearss is slated for a return on Nov. 30 to speak on Light Horse Harry Lee. Before then, the extensive schedule of events includes dances themed to different periods of time, historical tours of the county and a large birthday celebration set for Independence Weekend, on July 2 in Depot Park. The Lee County Economic Development Corp. is a nonprofit organization established to attract industry, enhance job opportunities and promote sound planning across Lee County. Funding is provided by the county, as well as the City of Sanford and Town of Broadway, the two county municipalities. -- 30 -- Media Contacts Bob Heuts, Director Jane Haber, Administrative Assistant 919.774.8439 (phone) 919.775.5410 (fax) info@lcedc.com (e-mail) Lynn Veach Sadler, Chair Lee County Centennial 919.499.9216 lvsadler@alltel.net More on the Web LCEDC Media Web: http://www.lcedc.com/media/ This release: http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/nr042007.txt Jacob Gaster biography (31K PDF) http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/releasephotos/gasterbio.pdf Reinterment ceremony tentative schedule (32K PDF) http://www.lcedc.com/media/releases/releasephotos/gasterprogram.pdf Lee Centennial http://leecountync.gov/history/centennial.html Musician William Caudill photo (St. Andrews Presbyterian College Web site) http://www.sapc.edu/directory/faculty/picbio/facultylist.php?name=caudill Joint Force Headquarters National Capital Region (JFHQ-NCR) http://www.jfhqncr.northcom.mil