Today's DAR
Massachusetts State Regent Paula Renkas is well recognized in her state as a resourceful and upbeat leader – as well as an excellent baker, noted for her breads, cakes, cookies and other yummy baked goods. This weekend, I sampled her recipe for success as I watched her lead her Bay State Daughters during their annual Fall State Meeting in Mansfield. (Meet her yourself in this short interview.) Paula adds a dash of fun and a spoonful of kindness to her menu of mission-driven favorites, as described briefly below through a short day-by-day summary.
Massachusetts Cooks Up an Outstanding Meeting
Mrs. Renkas invited me to arrive a day early (Wednesday) so that I might visit Lexington and Concord! What a thrill to walk the famous green where the “shot heard round the world” was fired. We visited the homes and taverns that were integral in the pivotal events that occurred here in April 1775, including the National Park Service outdoor site where Paul Revere was captured. It was a special honor to walk across the (replica) North Bridge in Concord, where Minute Men faced off against British forces. Every American should walk in the footsteps of history here – this is where we first stood our ground to fight for liberty. Several Massachusetts Daughters joined us for a very special day, and I am grateful for their kindness in sharing their vast knowledge (and pride) in preserving the memory of what happened here.
On Thursday, Mrs. Renkas arranged for me to briefly visit nearby Hillside School, a DAR Approved School founded in 1901 as an orphanage. Today it offers boarding and day programs for boys in grades 4 through 9 in a structured, supportive and challenging academic environment. Last winter, the school experienced a devastating fire that destroyed its century-old working barn; plans are underway to rebuild the structure and consideration is being given to expanding the curriculum offered there. Thank you to those who support the students here.
Friday began with a moving ceremony at Old Town Cemetery in Mansfield. This small community sent 251 men to fight on the Patriot side during the American Revolution; dozens of them are laid to rest here. Mrs. Renkas and her Daughters laid a wreath in their memory to honor their heroic deeds and steadfast loyalty to our cause. The colors and a 21-gun salute volley were provided courtesy of the Massachusetts S.A.R.’s Col. Henry Knox Regimental Color Guard. The original unit was formed on May 19, 1775; six months later, Col. Henry Knox took command and held it until Dec. 27, 1776, when he was made Brigadier General and Chief of Artillery for the Continental Army.
Guests of conference were next treated to a visit to the Willard Clock and House Museum, which collects, preserves and displays time pieces by the Willard family. Joseph Willard constructed his home in the early 1700s. Four of his grandsons - Benjamin, Simon, Ephraim and Aaron Willard - would become America's preeminent early clockmakers, making their first clocks in 1766 in this small Grafton workshop. In 1802, Simon Willard obtained a patent for his Improved Timepiece, or "banjo" clock. Today the banjo is considered to be one of the most significant styles of early 19th-century American timepieces. Can you imagine the sensation of listening to dozens of clicks chime on the hour – knowing that they had been crafted during or near the American Revolution? There were no words to adequately capture the feeling of connection across the centuries.
Also on Friday, Massachusetts Daughters joined National Constitution Week Chair Holly Blair, Mrs. Renkas and I in ringing out the good news about the U.S. Constitution at 4:00 p.m., in coordination with thousands of Americans across the country. Copies of the Constitution were distributed and a large copy was on hand to which participants affixed their historic signatures. The group was excited to learn that at just that time, Mrs. Blair was notified by the White House that the national Constitution Week Proclamation she had requested was issued by President Joseph R. Biden. Read the proclamation here. Thank you, Daughters, for all that you did in your local communities to raise awareness of this immortal governance document.
On Saturday, Leadership Course graduates were recognized, an outstanding Veteran Volunteer was honored and the group Elder Service of the Merrimack Valley was commended for its work to feed local low-income seniors. Reports were provided and other business completed. I was so impressed by their enthusiasm and devotion – and it was a joy to watch the reconnect after months of separation.
To close this outstanding visit, I was invited to attend ceremonies to honor the life of Anna Davis von Rydingsvard, who founded the Boston Tea Party Chapter in 1895 and served as Massachusetts’s fourth state regent (1896-1897). Hers was a remarkable life, particularly as researched by Boston Tea Party Member Rachel Trousdale for the capstone project of her New Horizons Course. Rachel explained that once interested in Madam von Rydingsvard’s life, she was relentless in researching every potential source to piece together a better appreciation for the accomplishments of a woman she described as “a friend across the ages.” (Of course, she sent her off to the 130th Continental Congress as a cut out!)
During her term as state regent, Madam von Rydingsvard formed 25 chapters across Massachusetts as she worked to welcome new women to our mission and spread the impact of our service work. She had originally joined the Paul Revere Chapter in 1894. That chapter’s 1895 minutes noted that she “resigned in the early spring to form another chapter” when Paul Revere’s membership roster climbed above 100 members. It was a special treat to have the current regent of Paul Revere Chapter Meg Maise present Boston Tea Party Regent Margaret “Peggy” O’Connor with a commemorative lantern to pass along the shining light of DAR in honor of their unique connection and 125 years of service. The lantern reads “May this lantern illuminate the historic and ongoing good works of your chapter and serve as a reminder of the kinship between our members.” What a wonderful symbol of the torch we pass from generation to generation through our active involvement in DAR!
(P.S. Enjoy more photos of this enjoyable weekend on my DAR President General Facebook page.)
