PRINCETON — On the 248th Anniversary of New Jersey signing the Declaration of Independence, the Princeton Battlefield Society (PBS) announced it has honored Willis Mercer, seventh generation descendant of General Hugh Mercer, as the first member of its new “Heroes of Princeton” program. PBS created “Heroes of Princeton” to honor the Americans who fought at the Battle of Princeton. The Honor Roll aims to recognize their service in the Revolutionary War victory. Under General George Washington, 4,500 Americans defeated the British at the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 1777. The battle is considered a pivotal moment in the fight for American Independence. “We want to strengthen the link between the heroism of those men in 1777 and the present,” said PBS President Benjamin Strong. “In a Tik Tok age, when things don’t matter if they weren’t captured on a phone, our job is to make sure people understand what happened here and why it matters. One of the ways to do that is to renew the ties between the men who fought and today’s Americans by learning about the Battle of Princeton. Our shared Revolutionary War history is brought to life by this type of program.” PBS honored Willis Mercer on April 25 at a wine tasting event featuring wines from Mercer Estates, the Mercer family vineyards in Washington state. Gen. Mercer led the first Americans onto the battlefield and was mortally wounded by the British in the battle. Ten towns, Mercer County, New Jersey, and the Mercer Oak were named after Hugh Mercer. “We think of this as one of the first steps we will take to mark the 250th anniversary of the Battle of Princeton on January 3, 2027,” Strong said. “We will continue to announce new 250th events going forward.” PBS encourages those interested in honoring a Patriot soldier who fought at Princeton to sign up on the PBS website. The Princeton Battlefield is located at 500 Mercer St. (Princeton Pike).