Basking in the Warm Glow of Friends

It has been said that friends are the sunshine of life. I felt that warmth yesterday, as my chapter hosted a luncheon in my honor to celebrate my three-year term as President General. I am especially grateful to Chapter Regent Joan Miskell, Luncheon Chair Ethyl Fyffe (and her committee) and all of the Daughters and friends who came to share my joy in serving as our National Society’s highest officer.

I joined Melzingah Chapter on October 11, 1988 – and as I look back, I realize that it was one of the most important decisions of my life. I recognize now that DAR membership provided me with a platform to express my love of country, participate as an active citizen of our democracy within a republic and, of course, make wonderful friends. I often say that you will meet the most amazing women if you become actively involved in our wonderful organization, as was evident at our luncheon.

Ours is a unique chapter in that in 1954 we saved (from demolition to make way for a supermarket!) the c. 1709 home of Catheryna Rombout Brett. Widowed at a young age, Madam Brett would remain in what was then wilderness -- of what had been New Netherlands only a few decades earlier – to raise her three sons on the 28,000 acres of land she inherited from her father. Her homestead would remain in the family for seven generations, and her descendant served as quartermaster during the American Revolution. As a result, the home was visited by Washington, Lafayette and other important figures of the Revolution. Our chapter has operated it a house museum for seven decades, and it gives us a great deal of visibility and engagement in our local community of Beacon, New York.

Sadly, so many of the women who had been there during my journey are no longer with us. As I thought back on my involvement in the chapter, I realized that I had blossomed in DAR due to so many wonderful mentors who believed not only in our mission but also in me personally. I wish that they were all there to share in accomplishment of having a Melzingah Chapter member serve as our National Society’s 45^th President General. But then I realized that I carried each of them in my heart all along, and that they were, in fact, very much present.