DAR's National Day of Service

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Day of Service gives members an opportunity to join together in an effort to illustrate NSDAR's collective commitment to America on the day of our founding. On October 11, 2016 members of Rhea-Craig Chapter helped to prepare and serve food to those in need hosted by a local church.

Fund Raising

A very successful yard sale on a beautiful October Saturday.

Grave Dedication Ceremony for 2 Revolutionary War Patriots

On Saturday, October 22 we joined several members of DAR and SAR chapters at Garrison Cemetery in Dayton, TN for the grave dedication ceremony honoring Revolutionary War patriot, Col. Return Jonathan Meigs. The ceremony was hosted by Colonel Benjamin Cleveland Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution. 

DAR and SAR wreaths at the grave of Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs

A dedicated Color Guard

Grave of Return Jonathan Meigs

Three volleys.

Two blasts from the canons.

Taps

Susan Pluff, Carrie Ann Bright and Barbara McKeel with the color guard.

Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs' grave with SAR medallions 

Caren Lorelle, Susan Thomas, Carrie Ann Bright, Susan Pluff, Barbara McKeel, Kathy Tyler.  

Carrie Ann Bright saluting Colonel Return Jonathan Meigs.

Following the dedication at Garrison Cemetery a second ceremony was held at David Campbell Memorial Park in the Old Washington community in Rhea County. Hosted by the Colonel Benjamin Cleveland Chapter, Tennessee SAR the dedication recognized Major David Campbell as a Revolutionary War patriot.

Carrie Ann Bright, Regent, with the Rhea-Craig wreath.

Carrie Ann Bright saluting Major David Campbell.

 DAR and SAR wreaths on the grave of David Campbell.

SAR marker on the grave of Major David Campbell.

Our Founder - Annie Rhea Clark

Laying a wreath on the grave of our founder Annie Rhea Clark on the anniversary of her death.

At the mayor's office

Members of Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR at the office of Monroe County Mayor Tim Yates to witness him signing a Certificate of Appreciation recognizing the Daughters of the American Revolution.

Vietnam Veterans at Meigs County VFW Post 7189

Rhea-Craig members presented proclamations, lapel pins, eagle tin pins and bumper stickers to 8 Vietnam Veterans at the Meigs County VFW Post 7189 monthly meeting on September 26, 2016. This group photo captures the smiles we shared with these men following the presentation.

National Muscadine Festival 2016

A very hot Muscadine Festival didn't keep Rhea-Craig members from working to raise funds for our projects of patriotic and community services, services for veterans, literacy and education (including scholarships), genealogy and historic preservation, and support for the National DAR Library and Museum. Our dedicated goal at this year's festival was to collect donations from fair-goers for the National Honor Flight Network.  We gave special recognition to Vietnam Veterans and presented them with a special lapel pin to thank them for their service and sacrifice. You can see quite a bit of emotion on their faces.

An 86 year-old Korean Veteran and his wife of 59 years contributed to the Honor Flight Network and stood with Caren Lorelle to have their picture taken.

The face says it all.  Two Vietnam Veterans receive recognition for their service and sacrifice - a special lapel pin just for Vietnam Veterans.

And, of course a parade down Main Street!

To honor Constitution Week

Carrie Ann Bright, Faye Sliger, Caren Lorelle and Susan Pluff rang the church bells 13 times to celebrate the 13 original colonies and the U. S. Constitution.

The Bill of Rights and September 11, 2001

For our September 2016 meeting program Caren Lorelle presented the Bill of Rights . Carrie Ann Bright and Jane Yates shared a remembrance of September 11, 2001.

Women's Suffrage

Exactly 94 years ago today!
Nearly one century ago, with boundless courage and relentless commitment, dedicated women who had marched, advocated, and organized for the right to cast a vote finally saw their efforts rewarded on August 26, 1920, when the 19th Amendment was certified and the right to vote was secured.

American Flags Presentation at Sweetwater Primary School

On August 11, 2016 several members of Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR visited the Sweetwater Primary School We distributed American flags to Ms. Bowers 2nd grade classroom. The children were thrilled to receive a new flag for their classroom and because they were so proud of the flags we brought, we promised we would come back and bring them each a flag of their own. They were so full of smiles and were so well-behaved. We all had a great time! Back row: Carrie Ann Bright; Jane Yates; Susan Pluff; Caren Lorelle; Holly Bright (Rhea-Craig member and teacher at the school); Ms Bowers, the delightful 2nd grade teacher.

Ms. Bowers adds the American flag to the classroom.  

Paying Respect

A coin left on the headstone of a deceased soldier is a message to the family that someone stopped by to pay their respect. Leaving a penny means you visited. A nickel means that you and the deceased soldier trained at boot camp together. If you served with the soldier, you leave a dime. A quarter is very significant because it means that you were there when that soldier died.

DAR sets Guinness World Record for Patriotism

                                                                                                                                                                     

                     DAR Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for Patriotism   

                                            Rhea-Craig Chapter Helps DAR 

           Collect 100,904 Hand-Written Letters, to Military Personnel in One Month

To celebrate the National Society’s 125^th Anniversary and the culmination of the Celebrate America! volunteer service initiative, the 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 125^th Continental Congress, held in June at DAR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, the organization set an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^TM title in patriotism for “most letters to military personnel collected in one month.”

DAR members possess an unwavering patriotic devotion that spans the organization’s 125-year history. During the past three years alone, Daughters have devoted more than 2.2 million hours of service to veterans, honored more than 288,000 Vietnam War veterans, and donated more than $250,000 in support of active duty service members and their families. The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^TM attempt served as a test: Could the membership exceed its already high standards of support for our military?

Achieving this ambitious goal required the National Society to collect and then mail at least 10,000 letters to active-duty service members. Daughters across the country rallied in support of the effort. Members of RHEA-CRAIG CHAPTER DAR in SWEETWATER, TN contributed by collecting 50 letters to add to the total. Many DAR members wrote personal messages, but because individuals could write only one letter each, they also enlisted help from their communities. Local DAR members wrote letters and cards, collected letters and cards written by local schoolchildren, coworkers, friends; by canvassing local residents outside churches or stores; by asking local officials for help; etc. as appropriate).

As dictated by the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^TM guidelines, all letters had to be handwritten, addressed to an active duty service member, placed inside a stamped, unsealed envelope, and delivered in person to one of the designated stations set up at DAR Headquarters. Chapter Regent Carrie Ann Bright collected the chapter’s letters so they could be delivered to Washington, D.C., and hand-delivered them to a collection station. Letters of appreciation filled more and more boxes as the week progressed and an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDS^TM adjudicator arrived to conduct the verification process.

The carefully tallied total was revealed at the National Defense Night ceremony on Saturday, June 18, 2016. As thousands in attendance waited to learn the outcome of the attempt, members surprised them by carrying in box after box to give a visual representation of how many letters were submitted. The adjudicator took the stage to announce the results using a number tally on the big screen. Cheers increased as soon as the number topped 10,000, but then the audience, including the night’s special guests, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and the USO President and CEO, Dr. J.D. Crouch, all went wild when the tally surpassed 100,000.  The DAR had collected 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!

“Congratulations—you are officially amazing!” the adjudicator proclaimed. 

This record-setting achievement provides the latest measure of the collective force of the DAR’s appreciation for the United States Military, while simultaneously fostering human connection between the American people and those who defend our freedom. As devoted stewards of the legacy of the Revolutionary War generation, Daughters feel equally compelled to express appreciation for the valor, sacrifice and commitment of today’s active-duty service members. Each letter represents the support of a grateful nation, and RHEA-CRAIG CHATER is humbled by the opportunity to assist in collecting these missives to the defenders of our country.

By the end of June, all 100,904 letters will be on the way to active-duty military personnel serving both at home and abroad. May their handwritten messages of gratitude and encouragement cheer the spirits of those who have raised their right hand and sworn to defend and protect the United States of America.

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About DAR

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations with nearly 183,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. These members passionately carry out the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.dar.org.

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 .