Today's DAR
I found myself fortunate last weekend to be spoiled by warm southern hospitality in a whirlwind visit that took me first to Charleston, So. Carolina, and next to Stone Mountain, Georgia. Each visit was a chance to renew friendships and make new ones, to share the good news about all the exciting things that are happening within DAR and to be reminded that everywhere you find DAR, you find Daughters making a meaningful difference. I wish that I had space to mention the hundreds of courtesies and kindnesses extended to me; suffice to say how grateful I am to be a member of Today’s DAR. Thank you, ladies, for the sunshine – literally and figuratively!
Basking in the Glow of the South Carolina and Georgia Daughters
South Carolina
Approximately 200 Daughters attended the 125th State Conference of the South Carolina State Society, and hundreds more enjoyed live streaming of the events. State Regent Elizabeth Billham is leading her nearly 4,900 Daughters with a theme of “Daughters’ Hearts Unite in Service.” Her official projects include signage for the Tamassee DAR School, which has now transitioned to a Community Classroom here in South Carolina.
These Daughters are also supporting efforts to raise awareness of the Revolutionary War events that occurred in their state through a collaboration that is creating a unified path of interpretation called The Liberty Trail. The American Battlefield Trust has partnered with the South Carolina Battleground Preservation Trust on the project to increase the visibility of the more than 200 battles and skirmishes that occurred in the swamps, fields, woods and mountains of South Carolina. SC Daughters have been actively engaged in this exciting project to honor those who helped to achieve American independence in these still largely unspoiled places. Learn more here.
I particularly enjoyed the Thursday evening dinner, where South Carolina native and retired Air Force Staff Sergeant and Aerial Combat Photojournalist Stacy Pearsall discussed her Veterans Portrait Project, developed as a means of honoring her fellow Veterans following her own three tours of duty. She has so far photographed more than 7,500 of them and has captured portraits in every state. Pearsall got the idea for the project after being wounded in combat and enduring seizures, cervical spine trauma and brain injury as a result. It also ultimately connected her to Charlie, a black Labrador retriever trained as her service dog. Charlie is a celebrity in his own right, having been raised on the Today Show for 14 months before being united with Pearsall in 2017. He first appeared on the show as an 8-week-old puppy and became a regular, meeting numerous guests and celebrities.
I am particularly grateful that I was afforded the privilege of visiting the Old Exchange and Provost Dungeon during the all-too-brief visit. Completed in 1771, the Old Exchange Building is a Charleston landmark and the site of some of the most important events in South Carolina history. Over the last two and a half centuries, the structure has been a commercial exchange, custom house, post office, city hall, jail, military headquarters and museum. I had always wanted to visit this building, considered one of the most important in American history, and I am so pleased that I had the opportunity to also better appreciate the long-time involvement of local DAR Chapters in its restoration and operation. Well done, ladies!
Throughout the conference, I was impressed by the reports of officers, the caliber of award winners and the obvious dedication to DAR on display here. Leadership is paying off in South Carolina – membership has risen by a net gain of 16 percent in the last decade!
Georgia
Boarding an early flight, I landed at the Atlanta Airport midmorning on Saturday and was lucky enough to arrive in time to attend the Georgia Society’s DAR Schools and Youth Luncheon – which included recognition of outstanding essay winners, Good Citizens and educators. Representatives of the DAR Schools also provided updates on their campus activities. It was a pleasure to see our primary mission area of supporting Education so beautifully illustrated by the Georgia Chapters during this, their 123rd State Conference.
These Peach State members are capably led by State Regent O.B. Wilhout McCorkle, who selected a theme of “Anchored in Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism.” Her official projects include: ROTC and JROTC unit adoptions by chapters; care packages for service members and their families abroad; a Gate of Opportunity Scholarship at Berry College in Rome, Georgia; Georgia Day & Constitution Week Awareness at the Georgia State Capitol; and implementation of a Meadow Garden Historic Preservation and Restoration Plan. Meadow Garden is the Augusta home of George Walton, a signer of the Declaration of Independence. The historic house was built in 1791, was rescued by the Georgia DAR and is today operated by the State Society as a National Historic Landmark that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. I am immensely proud of these women for decades of support for important projects such as these that illustrate our impact on local communities and commitment to our nation.
In order to allow for social distancing, Georgia Daughters were dispersed between several banquet rooms at the hotel, and technology was used to simulcast the program to all attendees. Mrs. McCorkle took a few moments on Saturday afternoon to share some highlights of the planning for the conference and other highlights in this brief video; I hope that you will enjoy meeting her.
I was privileged to address those assembled during the Saturday evening banquet, when it was a joy to commend these Daughters for their outstanding engagement in our National Society and its mission. That joy turned to outright shock (!) when the State Society surprised me with a $30,000 check to fund an entire laylight panel in the restoration of DAR Constitution Hall. My heart overflows with gratitude for the generous spirit of the kind and committed women who give so much of their time, talent and treasure in support of our National Society. Thank you, Mrs. McCorkle, for this extremely generous support of my President General’s Project. I will be forever grateful.
In fact, I thank all of the attending South Carolina and Georgia Daughters, for so warmly welcoming me during these brief-but-thoroughly-delightful visits. Your work on behalf of DAR assures me that ours is a very bright future indeed.
