DAR sets Guinness World Record!!

     

To celebrate DAR’s 125^th Anniversary and the culmination of the Celebrate America! Volunteer Service Initiative,  DAR channeled its fervor for patriotism and dedicated support of our nation’s military service members toward an ambitious goal. During the week of the NSDAR’s Continental Congress, held

in June at Washington, D.C., the DAR set an official 

GUINNESS  WORLD RECORD ^TM in patriotism for “most letters to military personnel collected in one month.” 

DAR collected and delivered 100,904 letters, more than 10 times the minimum threshold needed to set the record for most letters to military personnel collected in one month!

Unveiling the Vietnam Veterans Memorial banner in Sweetwater, TN

Close-up of the Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR Memorial Wreath

Carrie Ann Bright, Regent and Jane Yates, Vice-Regent with the Rhea-Craig Memorial Wreath
at the Vietnam War Memorial

Rhea-Craig Chapter members with the Memorial Wreath
at the Vietnam War Memorial in Sweetwater, TN
From left to right: Diane Walter, Carrie Ann Bright, Jane Yates,
Marcia Long, Caren Lorelle, Susan Pluff.  Also present but not in the photograph was Holly Bright.

Rhea-Craig Memorial Wreath

Rhea-Craig members with photographs of the four Sweetwater residents who were killed in the Vietnam War: Sgt. Tommy Wilson, 10/29/39 - 12/02/65; Sgt. Thomas Latham, 12/31/45 - 5/12/69; Pfc. Freddy Gray, 6/11/47 - 6/9/67; Sgt. Larry Arwood, 12/14/46 - 11/09/67.

Seven members of the V. F. W. Post 5156 fired a three volley salute 
as is traditional to honor fallen members of the military.

Following the 21-gun salute 2 members of the V.F.W.  Post 5156 played taps.

Family members of the fallen were seated in the gazebo.

Sweetwater Mayor Doyle Lowe welcomed guests and Randall Glaze gave a very moving speech.

 The banner of Sweetwater Hometown Heroes was unveiled.  Melvin L. Oggs is the brother-in-law of one of the fallen, Sgt. Thomas Latham.

Rhea-Craig DAR members who helped distribute water and refreshments after the ceremony.

 Rhea-Craig DAR members with the Memorial Wreath in front of the War Memorial .

Flag Day 2016

On May 30, 1916, President Woodrow Wilson issued a presidential proclamation establishing a national Flag Day on June 14. Many Americans celebrate Flag Day by displaying the Red, White and Blue in front of homes and businesses. The day commemorates the adoption of the Stars and Stripes as the official flag of the United States.

Rhea-Craig Officers for FY 2016-2017

Newly sworn-in officers of Rhea-Craig Chapter: Faye Sliger, Chaplain; Marcia Long, Historian; Susan Pluff, Treasurer; Caren Lorelle Corresponding Secretary and Social Media; Barbara McKeel, Recording Secretary, Jane Yates, Vice-regent, Carrie Ann Bright, Regent. June 11, 2016

Rhea-Craig Regent Carrie Ann Bright reminding members of the up-coming Flag Day Holiday!

Brainerd Mission Cemetery Flag Raising

On June 8, 2016 Rhea-Craig daughters (Faye Sliger, Marcia Long, Carrie Ann Bright and Jane Yates) attended the Flag Raising Ceremony at the Brainerd Mission Cemetery - shown here with the Tennessee DAR State Regent, Susan Rogers Thomas (center).

Celebrating Nanyehi - Planting an Herb Garden with native herbs

Saturday May 28, 2016 Members of the Cherokee District DAR met at the grave site of Nancy Ward to plant an herb garden. Members of Rhea Craig Chapter joined members of Nancy Ward, Alexander Keith , Avery Trace and Ocoee Chapters to clear the weeds and plant the native herbs. We were joined by Becky Hobbs, 5th great-grand daughter of Nancy Ware (in center of photo of Rhea-Craig members) and Cherokee "Jimmy" shown in photo with Betsy Hobbs. Jimmy shared knowledge of the use of the herbs by the Cherokee. 

 

New herbs planted in the herb garden.

Nancy Ward's Grave

Presenting "Stagecoach Mary"

Susan Pluff presented a wonderful program about Mary Fields, better known as "Stagecoach Mary" at our May 12, 2016 meeting.  Mary Fields was born a slave in Tennessee. After emancipation she became the first African American, and the second woman to work for the United States Postal System.

Rhea-Craig Members at the Tennessee State Conference April 22-24, 2016

Rhea-Craig Chapter was represented at the 113th State Conference of the TSDAR in Franklin, TN, April 22-24, 2016. From left to right: Faye Sliger, Chaplain; Cecile Wimberley, Associate Member, newly elected 1st Vice Regent; Memorial Wreath of Deceased members; Jane Yates, Vice Regent; and Carrie Ann Bright, Regent. Cecile will be installed as Tennessee's First Vice Regent in Washington, D.C. at the national meeting of the DAR in June 2016.Tennessee has over 6000 members and the DAR has chapters in all 50 states and has 22 foreign chapters.

Jr. ROTC Awards Ceremony for Rhea County High School

April 28, 2016 members of the Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR attended the Jr. ROTC Awards Ceremony for students of Rhea County High School. With the Jr. ROTC Color Guard in the background, Rhea-Craig Chapter Regent Carrie Ann Bright presented a DAR medal and certificate of recognition to Cadet Captain Melanie Daniel for her demonstration of "Academic Excellence, Dependability, Good Character, Adherence to Military Discipline, Leadership and a Fundamental and Patriotic Understanding of the Importance of the Reserve Officers Training Corps". Congratulations Melanie!

From left to right: Faye Sliger, Carrie Ann Bright,
 Caren Lorelle, Melanie Daniel, Susan Pluff,
Marcia Long, Kathy Tyler, Barbara McKeel.

 

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The Constitution of the United States

Caren Lorelle presented a program on the United States Constitution at the April 17, 2016 meeting.

Honoring Vietnam Veterans

Members of Rhea-Craig Dar with the official Vietnam Veterans' banner honoring their service and sacrifice. The banner hung in the gazebo in downtown Sweetwater for all to see as a reminder never to forget the service and sacrifice the Vietnam Veterans made in their youth. From left to right: Faye Sliger, Carrie Ann Bright and Jane Yates.

DAR Donation to the Public Library

Vinita Allmond (left) and Marcia Long (right) presented to Tania Rich, the librarian of the Sweetwater Public Library with a gift of books for children and adults.  The library maintains a list of books and recordings that they would love to add to their collection.

Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony - March 2, 2016

March 29, 2016 Rhea-Craig members participated in the Vietnam Veterans Day Ceremony at the McMinn County Senior Citizen Center in Athens, TN. From greeting these brave men, handing each one of them a commemorative pin recognizing their service during the Vietnam War, to the Celebratory Toast at the end of the program, the morning was an emotional reminder that we must never forget the sacrifices these men made in their youth.
They have earned our undying gratitude.