New "Bears" added to downtown

Thanks to a collaboration between the Richard Dobbs Spaight Chapter, NSDAR and the New Bern Chapter, SAR along with the support of the City of New Bern downtown has welcomed the installation of two new bears at Patriot Square.

Between the two America 250 bears stands a 3000 lb granite stone with a bronze plaque honoring the 71 signers of the 1774 New Bern Resolves.

Funding for the $49,000.00 project has been obtained though sales of engraved bricks to private citizens, civic organizations and businesses. The project as of 8/26/2026 is 88% complete. The local DAR and SAR chapters are still selling bricks and will do so until the project is fully funded. (Contact them here if you would like to make a contribution.)

According to Tammy Gillete, DAR the "Daughter of Freedom" bear is so named as she represents the women from the colonial era that paved the way for our future generations of American Women. She represents women who have chosen to wear this country's uniform, teach in the classrooms, lead business or for those that have chosen to stay at home and help shape our future. She shows us that it isn't just Statesmen and soldiers that have shaped this nation but the women that have lived their lives fighting on a different level for liberty and justice.

Private Resolve is named to remind us that we as a nation have chosen to not take things just as a given but to resolve to stand for what we believe in.

Bear Feet Street Tours introduces you to both Daughter of Freedom and Private Resolve en route on The Feature Tour!

Photo taken by Gary Gillete, New Bern Chapter SAR