Indiana State Visit

I had such a wonderful time with our Indiana Daughters at their 124^th State Conference. The visit was filled with memorable events including the “Marquis de Lafayette Bicentennial Ball”, and a special visit to Indianapolis 500 Speedway with my Page, Vicki Voris, which was quite the thrill! I was so pleased to hear about the incredible projects members are completing to make a difference in their communities. A special thank you to the Indiana Daughters for the beautiful quilt and to State Regent Elaine Sholty for her most gracious hospitality. 

- Pamela Wright, President General

Celebrating a yearlong focus on Historic Preservation, Friday’s opening night dinner, “Tapestry of a New Nation”, showcased the quilting history of Indiana from the American Revolution to today, with a fabulous display of several dozen beautiful historic and new quilts from Indiana chapters. Indiana chapters also designed and created a special “Indiana” quilt, comprised of individual quilt squares representing each chapter, as a surprise gift for visiting President General Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright. Indiana Daughters celebrated their 100% participation in the President General’s Project with an additional monetary gift to Mrs. Wright for the renovation of Memorial Continental Hall. Following many America 250! and Hannah Arnett awards, all guests stepped back into history to celebrate Indiana in 1825. A SAR saber arch and 1825 fashion show of Regency period gowns launched the “Marquis de Lafayette Bicentennial Ball”, recreating the actual event held May 12, 1825, in Jeffersonville, Indiana. Guests enjoyed dancing to music from the era and closed the evening hearing an excellent and informative presentation by Chuck Schwam, Executive Director of The American Friends of Lafayette, about General Lafayette’s farewell tour to America. Dr. Patti Maclay, NSDAR National Chair of the Franco American Memorial Committee, was also a special guest at the conference and the Ball in General Lafayette’s honor.

On Friday, Indiana shared DAR and state history with our visiting DAR guests through a private tour of the home of NSDAR’s First President General Caroline Scott Harrison, wreath ceremonies at the graves of Mrs. Harrison, and NSDAR’s sixth President General, Cornelia Cole Fairbanks, and a tour of the historic, beautiful Indiana War Memorial and Museum. 

What a wonderful weekend celebration of accomplishment for Indiana! Our sincere thanks to President General Wright for her gracious inspiring visit, lighting a sparkling path before Indiana Daughters through the ties of friendship and service.