Gifts of the Season

Members of the Rhea-Craig Chapter made decorations for the local nursing home in Sweetwater. Here are Dana Myers, Carrie Bright, Susan Pluff and Caren Lorelle putting together table center pieces.  Each had a hand-folded origami crane attached for good luck in the new year.

 

 

Rhea-Craig members at the home of Marcia Long for the December meeting and Christmas celebration, December 12, 2013. Seated: Carrie Bright, Nelle Ward, Jane Yates, Jo Watson. Standing: Dana Myers, Kathy Tyler, Susan Pluff, Caren Lorelle, Marilyn Ward, Faye Sliger, Sheila Dunn, Peg Michael.

Honoring our Veterans

Jane Yates and Bill Long

On December 12, 2013 Jane Yates, Regent for Rhea-Craig Chapter presented a Certificate of Appreciation from the Daughters of the American Revolution to William C. (Bill) Long for his service in the United States Army.  Bill is the husband of Marcia Long, Corresponding Secretary for Rhea-Craig Chapter. 



Jane Yates, Bill Long and Marcia Long

Veterans' Day Parade - November 9, 2013

The Rhea-Craig Chapter honors our veterans with a float in the Sweetwater Veterans' Day parade.  Shown in the photo below are Bill Long - U. S. Army and Gail Yates - National Guard.   In the other photo are Bill Long - U. S. Army; Gail Yates - National Guard; Ivan - Air Force and Richard - Air Force.  The crowds always greet our veterans with enthusiasm and appreciation.

Community Service - Beautification of Entry Monument at Engleman Park

October 2013 several members of the Rhea Craig Chapter DAR met at Engelman Park in Sweetwater to plant shrubs at the entry monument.  This is part of our commitment to contribute to the beautification of our local communities.   Shown in the photo below, with tools in hand are Caren Lorelle, Carrie Ann Bright, Marcia Long, Faye Sliger, Susan Pluff and Jane Yates.

Constitution Week Celebration

As part of our celebration of Constitution Week, Rhea-Craig members Carrie Ann Bright, Marcia Long and Jane Yates, regent rang the bells in the Methodist Episcopal Church in Sweetwater, TN at 4:00pm on September 17, 2013.

Rhea-Craig Chapter Iris Project

The DAR strongly believes in fostering a strong bond with the local the community.   Members or the Rhea-Craig Chapter spent an afternoon digging and packaging iris rhizomes to share with visitors at the Annual Muscadine Festival in Downtown Sweetwater, TN. 

In mid-October 2013 Carrie Ann Bright, Susan Pluff and Caren Lorelle dug, separated and bagged several hundred iris rhizomes to be handed out to fair-goers.  The iris  were very popular and soon the 100 bags of rhizomes were on their way to be re-planted in gardens throughout the area, enhancing the natural beauty around us.

 

 

 

Cleaning the grave of Revolutionary War Patriot, Francis Moser at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Monroe County Tennessee

The Daughters of the American Revolution are committed to recognize the service and perpetuate the memory of the men and women who fought and sacrificed for American Independence.  One way we honor these men and women is to help maintain their grave sites and clean their old tombstones.

On Sunday, October 13, 2013 four members of the Rhea-Craig Chapter of the DAR met at St. Paul's Lutheran Cemetery in Monroe County, TN to respectfully clean the grave of Patriot Francis Moser.  Francis Moser fought in the Revolutionary War and is a direct ancestor of Carrie Ann Bright and her daughter Holly Bright.

Caren Lorelle, Carrie Ann Bright, her daughter Holly Bright and Susan Pluff are cleaning the headstone front and back (one photo shows the stone covered in soap to better define the lettering on the stone).   

Holly Bright and Carrie Ann Bright at the grave of their patriot ancestor.

 

 
 Caren, Susan, Holly and Carrie Ann




The cleaned footstone at the grave of Francis Moser

 

The badge on the back of the grave head stone was presented by the Sons of the American Revolution in recognition of Francis Moser's service. 

If you think you might have an ancestor who served in the American Revolution, consider joining us.  We will help you with the research to find and verify your patriot. We work together on activities that promote our American heritage, provide service for veterans, encourage preservation of genealogical records, commemorate events, promote conservation, provide scholarships for students and other activities sponsored by our chapter, the Tennessee Society and the National Society DAR.

Trail of Tears Memorial Dedication Ceremony at Cherokee Removal Park in Blythes Ferry, Tennessee

Sunday, October 27, 2013 marked the official ribbon cutting ceremony to dedicate the Trail of Tears Memorial at Blythes Ferry, Tennessee.   After 30 years of planning,  funding and development the Memorial Plaza and Visitor Center are now open to the public.  Today this quiet peaceful spot provides a visual reminder of the tragedy that was forced on these first Americans.   The attached photographs are from the dedication ceremony.   Members of the Rhea-Craig DAR attended the ceremony.

 

 

Members of the Rhea Craig Chapter of the DAR
joined by Meigs County, TN Mayor Garland Lankford.
Barbara McKeel, Dana Myers, Caren Lorelle, Marcia Long, Carrie Bright, Susan Pluff.
 



 

 

The history of the Trail of Tears began in 1830 when President Andrew Jackson signed into law the Indian Removal Act.  This law provided for the forcible removal of thousands of Cherokee and other Native American tribes from their homes in Eastern Tennessee to a new Cherokee Nation in Oklahoma.  The journey began in 1838 when the Cherokees were rounded up into stockades where they were kept for months before crossing the Tennessee River at Blythes Ferry.  It is estimated that between 4000 and 8000 Cherokees died before this journey ended in Oklahoma. 

 

 

One of the seven panels with names of 2,535 Cherokee households forced from their homes.  The names in all caps are their Cherokee names, the ones capitalized with lower case are English names, the numbers represent the members of the named family.

Close-up of part of a panel.