WFA is YOUR family organization. Let’s grow together!

By Terry Davis

Few American families can say they can visit the home their ancestors lived in, played in, and shared good times and bad times in 385 years ago. But thousands of Americans who can trace their family line back to the family of the brothers Wing – John, Daniel and Stephen – can!

That’s because the East Sandwich, Cape Cod, home, known as the Wing Fort House, the earliest part of which was built circa1641, still stands and is lovingly cared for by the Wing Family of America. The two-story house is the oldest in Massachusetts, and likely in all of New England, to be owned by the same family its entire existence.

But the house and a second, modern house across the street that serves as WFA’s headquarters and history center, are just the most obvious reasons for joining and supporting WFA. The benefits of membership in this family organization extend well beyond those walls and roofs.

One of the most obvious benefits the almost 850 WFA members have is access to this quarterly digital newsletter, Window on the Wings, you are reading right now. Initiated a few years ago, the WOW is meant to supplement the annual 68-page OWL booklet by providing timely reminders of WFA activities, such as district gatherings, telling stories of our amazing family’s history, and keeping membership informed of happenings in the wide world of Wings.

In addition to these fine print and digital publications, WFA’s website, revamped in the

past year by the same committee that brings you the quarterly WOW newsletter, tells about our Wing history, museums, genealogy and annual reunions. After the exciting 2025 reunion at Gettysburg (PA) College, the reunion this year returns to our Cape Cod roots at the Wing Fort House in East Sandwich. And we’ll be back on Cape Cod again in 2027 for the 125^th anniversary of the founding of the Wing Family of America.

Membership also gives you free access to the Fort House and History Museum.  Come see the current “Revolutionary Wings” exhibit at the museum or get an understanding of how our ancestors lived in the last three centuries when you tour the Fort House.

The website also has for sale WFA items such as t-shirts, sweatshirts, caps, flags, tote bags, greeting cards and books such as “Wing Genealogy, Volume 1” covering the first five generations, or “And So It Begins” about life at the Wing Fort House. Click here to visit the gift shop.

On top of all that, being a member of WFA allows you access to portions of the website open only to members (coming soon!), and to the organization’s extensive genealogical resources.

But perhaps most importantly, membership in WFA helps us continue to provide all these great benefits. Our membership year expires in June, so now is the time to renew. And it is also a good time to consider inviting others in your family to join their family organization. Or perhaps consider giving them a gift of membership in WFA for only $45 per year. An even better deal is a life membership for only $400. It is a gift of love your family members will surely find unique and worthwhile.

 Non-Wing descendants can join, too, as associate members for $45.

Growing the WFA would allow us to do more things for all Wings! Remember to renew now and please consider inviting others in your family to join or sign them up for just $45.

We hope to see you at East Sandwich in June!

Click here to learn more about membership.