Kansas State Visit
Rebecca Kline, Kansas State Regent

What a joy to visit Kansas and experience the warmth, dedication, and spirit of its Daughters. From the student award winners to the service project for local military families, every moment of my visit to the 127th Kansas State Conference reflected the heart of our DAR mission. I am deeply grateful for the hospitality and kindness of Kansas State Regent, Rebecca Kline, with special thanks to Pages Amanda Tindell and Kayla Roehler, and to Kathryn West & Lisa Gray for transportation.

-Pamela Wright, President General

The 127th State Conference for the Kansas Society Daughters of the American Revolution was held in Wichita April 3-6, 2025. Friday’s Celebration! Luncheon honored Chapter Regents for their leadership and recognized 78 members who graduated from Members, New Horizon, Committee Leaders, Registrar, and GEP courses. Kansas State Leadership Coordinators have “Held the Torch High” for education, and chapter leaders have demonstrated their dedication through the Kline Administration.

Historian General Suzanne Heske brought an exceptional presentation of American Independence – Victory on the Open Sea for the Friday night History Banquet in celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the Navy Marine Corps. The prestigious Historic Preservation Medal was presented to DAR member Carla Sutton for her remarkable achievement of placing a monument engraved with the names of 400 forgotten African Americans buried in the Laurel Hill Cemetery, which generated keen interest in the community.

The Kansas Society installed newly elected state officers and district directors for 2025-2028, and DAR member Jackie Aaron received special recognition for securing a Governor’s proclamation for the 100th Anniversary of the Kansas Western Meadowlark being selected as the state bird. Jackie’s great aunt conceived the idea to involve Kansas schoolchildren in selecting a state bird.

President General Pamela Rouse Wright joined the conference for the Saturday Sparkling Awards Luncheon. Recognition included the Outstanding Teacher of American History, the American History Essay Winners, grades 5-8th, and the DAR Good Citizens Award winner. State Scholarships of almost $8,000 were awarded, and the 2025 Outstanding Volunteer Genealogist was celebrated.

Kansas was honored that Mrs. Wright and Ms. Heske added their patriots to the Kansas Society Patriot Ancestor tree.

A State Conference Service Project was the coordinated by the Project Patriot, Literacy Promotion, Community Classroom, and Women’s Issues committees. Attendees filled 100 bags featuring the “Kansas Society DAR Sparkles for Military Families” logo with food stuffs, books, female products, C.A.R. information and Meadowlark bookmarks, which benefitted Stronghold Food Pantry for military families.

The final State Regent’s Ties of Service and Friendship Banquet featured Mrs. Wright as the keynote speaker with her inspiring, “Celebrating DAR Service and Friendship” message, which Kansas Daughters took to heart. All 59 chapters were recognized for their 100% giving toward the President General’s Project. The state’s second Hannah White Arnett Medal was presented to a dedicated SAR member. The new SAR State President brought greetings and distributed SAR certificates to chapters that assisted with SAR membership.

The NSDAR Conservation Award was presented to Col. Gary LaGrange (Ret) for creating Valor Honey to assist veterans transitioning out of the military as well as those with PTSD. Valor Honey will be the first beekeeping and therapy program on a military installation soon at Ft. Riley, Kansas. Col. LaGrange was also received a $5,000 grant from the State Regent’s Project to further Valor Honey’s mission.

Together, Kansas Daughters rejoiced in the ties between “Stars & Stripes Forever” and the “Legacy of Liberty” theme of our administration while celebrating sparkling new friendships and hearts full of DAR love.

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Through restoring historic properties, funding scholarships and supporting our troops, DAR makes a difference in local communities.