Mercer Oak Award Reception
The Board of Trustees of the Princeton Battlefield Society invites you to honor
2026 Mercer Oak Award Honouree: Lorna Hainesworth
The enduring symbol of the Princeton Battlefield and the Battle of Princeton, fought on January 3, 1777, is the Mercer Oak, against which tradition suggests General Hugh Mercer was placed after being mortally wounded. He later gave his life for the American cause.
Today, a new-generation Mercer Oak grows at the battlefield, continuing to symbolize how Princeton helped alter the course of the American Revolution in favor of independence.
The Mercer Oak Award represents the spirit and heritage of America’s fight for independence. It reflects what visitors to the Princeton Battlefield still feel today—the enduring meaning of the freedom and independence for which Washington, Mercer, and their troops fought to secure.
Presented by the Princeton Battlefield Society, the Mercer Oak Award recognizes individuals whose dedication and leadership advance the preservation of American history and the legacy of the Princeton Battlefield.
About Lorna Hainesworth
The Princeton Battlefield Society is proud to present the 2026 Mercer Oak Award to Lorna Hainesworth, a generous benefactor of the Society and a strong supporter of Experience the Battle of Princeton.
“Honoring Lorna with our Mercer Oak Award,” said Ben Strong, President of the Princeton Battlefield Society, “is a tribute to her outstanding philanthropic efforts on behalf of numerous national American Revolution sites and organizations, including the Princeton Battlefield. She is an involved leader and friend, and we are thrilled to honor and thank her with our 2026 Mercer Oak Award.”
With the Nation’s 250th Anniversary approaching, it is especially fitting to recognize her dedication to preserving and promoting the history and heritage of the American Revolution.
Lorna Hainesworth has played an important role in supporting the preservation, interpretation, and continued public engagement with Revolutionary War history across the country.
About the Invitation Artwork
The painting featured on this year’s Mercer Oak Award invitation is George Matthews Harding’s mural of Washington’s troops crossing the Delaware on December 25, 1776.
Painted for the Trenton Opera House in 1921, the mural was removed from the building in the late 1960s and stored in a North Jersey basement, where it remained largely forgotten for nearly fifty years.
The mural has since been restored by the Washington Crossing Park Association and is now on display in the new Washington Crossing State Park Museum & Visitor Center.
Lorna Hainesworth was a proud contributor to the restoration of this historic work of art.
Supporting the Princeton Battlefield
Funds raised through the Mercer Oak Award reception support the continued preservation, interpretation, and public education efforts of the Princeton Battlefield Society as the nation approaches the 250th anniversary of American independence.
Interested in Joining us?
You may join us by
– attending our reception,
– making a donation in honor of Senator Zwicker, or
– placing a message of congratulations in our Program.