May Program - Seven Signers of the Declaration of Independence

Caren Lorelle presented a program on seven of her ancestors who signed the Declaration of Independence.  The deeds of those men gave our country freedom and lead to the Constitutionthat has survived and serves us to this day.

Rhea-Craig Chapter Awards for 2016

1.      Award for 85 years of service

2.      2016 Team Awesome for attaining 10% increase in members – Tennessee Trekker Award

3.      Vietnam War Commemorative Partner – Honorable Mention

4.      Preserving Family Collections – Recognition Award

5.      Most Print Coverage – 2^nd place Cherokee District

6.      Most Constitution Week Kits – Cherokee District

7.      Outstanding Support of the Page Committee – Supporting a Page – Special Recognition

8.      Distribution of Chaffin Scholarship – Recognition Award

9.      Community Service Awards – Outstanding Awards

10.  Credentials Form Submission – Bronze Tier

11.  DAR Magazine – 30-40% Member Subscriptions – Bronze Level

12.  Donation of School Supplies during August Workshop – DAR School Committee Participation

13.  Volunteering for Clean-up Day at Brainerd Mission Cemetery – Special Recognition

14.  Save our Members – No Dropped Members – Certificate of Excellence

15.  Most Newsletter Articles – Second Place (tie)

16.  DAR Magazine – Increase in Member Subscriptions

17.  Cherokee District – Outstanding Print Coverage

18.  Most Funds Donated for Indian Youth of America Summer Camp Program – 3^rd Place

19.  Number of Programs – American History Programs – First Place Tie

20.  Outstanding Newsletter Submission – DAR Day of Service – First Place tie

21.  Service to America - Outstanding Community Service – Individuals

22.  Outstanding Support of West TN Veterans Home – First Place tie – District

23.  Outstanding Support of Honor Air/Honor Flight – First Place District

24.  Outstanding Newsletter Submission – Vietnam War Commemoration – First Place (Overall State)

25.  Outstanding Chapter Brochure – District Award

26.  Outstanding Chapter Brochure – State-wide Award

27.  Outstanding Use of Media – District Award

28.  Outstanding use of Social Media – District Award

29.  Outstanding Electronic Coverage – District Award

30.  Outstanding PR and Media Report – District Award

31.  Outstanding PR and Media Report – State-wide Award

32.  Outstanding Publication of a Commemorative/Community Event – District Award

33.  Outstanding Electronic Media - District Award

34.  Outstanding Electronic Media – State-wide Award

35.  2016 Yearbook – Red Award

36.  Diamond Award – State Award

37.  American History Programs – Women in American History – Honorable Mention

38.  Service to America - Outstanding Community    Service – Individuals

39.  Service to America - Outstanding Community Service by Chapter 

Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR Officers

Officers of Rhea-Craig were sworn in at the May meeting.  From the left:
Faye Sliger, Chaplain; Marcia Long, Historian; Susan Pluff, Treasurer;
Caren Lorelle, Corresponding Secretary; Barbara McKeel, Recording Secretary; Jane Yates, Vice-Regent; Carrie Ann Bright, Regent.

Members of the Cherokee District DAR at the grave site of Nanyehi, beloved Cherokee woman

Members of the Cherokee District chapters gathered together at the grave site of Cherokee beloved woman Nanyehi, known in English as Nancy Ward.

Five women who are descendants of Nancy Ward were in attendance. 

Becky Hobbs, one of the "family" (in the beautiful bright-colored dress) sang "Amazing Grace" in the Cherokee language. It was really beautiful.

Revolutionary War Soldier Grave Marking, Private John Sims

On Sunday, April 30th Rhea-Craig Chapter members accepted the invitation from Mary Blount Chapter to attend a grave marking ceremony at the Mount Zion Baptist Church in Vonore. TN. Private John Sims, NC Militia, Revolutionary War was honored with a grave marker that recognized his participation in the American Revolutionary War. Dylan Moya, (far right in turquoise shirt top photo) President of the Elizabeth Paxton Houston Society C.A.R presented the wreath.

All blessings of this beautiful season.

The Yuchi Native Americans

Susan Pluff presented a wonderful program about the Yuchi Native Americans at the April 8th meeting.

We must never forget their sacrifices.

March 2017 Meeting - The Merci Train

Teresa Rimer, District Director and Chairman of the DAR Regents' Council of Chattanooga (front row, center) joined us for our March meeting. Caren Lorelle presented the program on "the Merci Train"; Carrie Ann Bright and Teresa Rimer brought refreshments. Those present received the newsletters for February and March and a copy of the new brochure. We collected items that will be sent to deployed women as part of Project Patriot.  Venita Allmond reported on the status of new members' applications.  Caren Lorelle gave bags of flower seeds to be planted or broadcast to help the bees and birds.  These are self-seeding annuals and perennials that should increase every year.

Rhea-Craig Chapter program on the American's Creed

Carrie Ann Bright presented a very interesting program on the American's Creed . This patriotic document was written by William Tyler Page in 1917 and is recited at every Rhea-Craig Chapter meeting.  

Commemorating the First World War

Faye Sliger presented an excellent program on the First World War, explaining the causes and showing the boundaries that existed at the outbreak of the war. This year is the 100 year recognition of World War I, the "war to end all wars".

The importance of bees and butterflies

Jane Yates presented a program on "Pollinators and Pollinator Gardens. She reminded us of the importance of creating a garden that is friendly to bees and butterflies that are essential in the successful fertilization of farm products and fruit trees resulting in the bounty we experience at harvest time.

Wreaths Across America - December 17, 2016

Wreaths Across America provided 8000 wreaths and members of Rhea-Craig Chapter DAR joined hundreds of others to lay wreaths on the graves at Chattanooga National Veterans Cemetery.

The heavy mist provided the perfect atmosphere in this quiet sacred place. After a solemn ceremony members of Rhea-Craig gathered armfuls of wreaths and walked from grave to grave, placing the wreaths and saying, out loud, the name of the veteran buried there.  By saying the name out loud we ensure that veteran is never forgotten.   As the wreaths began to fill large sections of the cemetery those red bows on the vibrant evergreen transformed the barren acres into a beautiful holiday memory of those men and women who so unselfishly served our country.

Bundled up and ready to lay wreaths on the graves of our veterans.

 

 

Presenting the colors

Beautiful rendition of our National Anthem

Coming to retrieve the colors

Taps

-

Special Recognition Awards

Dana Myers received the Community Service Award through NSDAR for her outstanding volunteer service through her participation with the St. Mary's Legacy Clinic which operates a mobile medical van to bring health care services to uninsured members in rural communities. The award was presented by Susan Pluff, Treasurer and Carrie Ann Bright, Regent at our December 10, 2016 meeting.

At our December 10, 2016 meeting: The Crabtree family received a Certificate of Award for the Proper Use, Correct Display and Patriotic Presentation of The Flag of the United States of America. Presented by Carrie Ann Bright, Regent.

At our December 10, 2016 meeting: Mary Hendershot was recognized for "Promotion of the Arts" in Monroe County (through the Monroe Area Council of the Arts). Jane Yates, Vice-regent presented the award.

Recognizing Vietnam Veterans

Rhea-Craig members presented proclamations signed by President Barack Obama, certificates from the DAR, lapel pins, eagle tin pins and bumper stickers to 5 Vietnam Veterans at the monthly meeting of the American Legion Post in Decatur, TN on November 14, 2016. This group photo captures the smiles we shared with these men recognizing their service during this 50 year anniversary of the end of the war.

Celebrating Cornelia Fort at our November meeting

Carrie Ann Bright, Regent presented a very informative program on Cornelia Fort, from Nashville, TN, for our November meeting.

In 1940, a year after Cornelia graduated from college, took a joyride and decided she wanted to fly airplanes. She took lessons and became a pilot.

A year later she was giving a flying lesson in Hawaii when she saw Japanese warplanes heading toward Pearl Harbor. They fired on her, but she survived. The next year she was one of a small group of women chosen to be members of the Women’s Auxiliary Flying Squadron, which took new planes from factories to military bases.

Cornelia Fort was killed in a mid-air collision in 1943, becoming the first female pilot in American history to die on active duty.

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.