The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Historic Preservation Medal was awarded to Andrew M. Outten in a recent ceremony held on the hallowed ground of Birmingham Hill Preserve in Birmingham Township. One of only twelve recipients nationwide to receive DAR’s most prestigious honor, Andrew is well known for his work as a historical researcher and educator about topics related to the battle of Brandywine and the colonial era. He is also recognized for generously volunteering his time and expertise in support of many local preservation efforts.
The ceremony was held on Birmingham Hill, the site where on the afternoon of September 11, 1777, General Howe’s troops, having marched past Strode’s Mill and headed southeast, outflanked General Washington’s forces in fierce and sustained conflict. 

The wall of the Birmingham Meeting House across Birmingham Road provided the first line of defense for the Continental Army and is the site of the common grave for those who perished during the battle of Brandywine and its aftermath. The award ceremony was organized by the Chester County Chapter of DAR and the Brandywine Conservancy, which preserves and protects these 113 acres under permanent easement.
Andrew’s family and friends joined representatives from the Granite Corinthian Lodge #34 of the Ancient Free and Accepted Masons where Andrew is the Past Master, professional colleagues from the Brandywine Battlefield Associates, members of the DAR, representatives of the Brandywine Conservancy, and elected officials to share accolades, and expressions of praise and thankfulness for Outten’s scholarship and outstanding contributions to historic preservation. In the words of Denise VanBuren, the President General of DAR, “I commend him in the highest terms for ensuring that the events of September 11, 1777 will not be forgotten. And I salute him for his dedication to sharing the stories of the heroes who fought and died here so that we may live as a free and independent people.”