Today's DAR
For 78 years, the New Hampshire State DAR has had the honor of hosting the annual Cathedral of the Pines Weekend. Daughters from around the nation travel to attend a weekend filled with service, fellowship and camaraderie. The Cathedral Weekend began with the Patriotic Cathedral banquet on August 8 hosted by New Hampshire State Regent, Marilyn L. Higgins Huston. This year’s banquet speakers included National C.A.R. President, Reese Holmes, who spoke about the Revolutionary Valor National project and U.S. Navy Ret (Capt.) Lynne Blankenbeker who spoke on Women in the Military and her experiences across her 36 years of service to our nation. We were honored to have three Executive Officers in attendance for the weekend, Chaplain General Rev. Dr. Mernie Sams Crane from Maryland, Treasurer General Gina LeMarbe LaCroix from Michigan, and Librarian General Holly Stone Blair from Massachusetts, as well as Vice Presidents General from the classes of 2026 and 2028.
Cathedral of the Pines
Over 200 Daughters from around the nation travelled to the open-air Cathedral of the Pines in Rindge, NH. Saturday’s service, prepared by New Hampshire State Chaplain Erin Jackson, included a mix of scripture, poems by Robert Frost and Maya Angelou, and traditional hymns. The Flag of the United States and the New Hampshire DAR, SAR and C.A.R. Flags were presented by a joint DAR/SAR/C.A.R. color guard. The ceremony was held at the Altar of the Nations, which is made up of stones given from every United States President since Harry Truman, and all fifty states. There are also stones from the battlefields of Lexington, Concord, and Yorktown where the American Revolution began and ended
This weekend has traditionally honored those currently serving in the U.S. military and this year, we pay tribute to the men and women who sacrificed their lives to protect our country. This year’s keynote speaker was DAR Chaplain General, Rev. Dr. Mernie Sams Crane. Her poignant address reminded us of the importance of Serving Gracefully. The message will be posted on the Chaplain General’s webpage along with the messages of past speakers for the Cathedral of the Pines.
Nestled in the mountainous region of New Hampshire, a 128-acre property was initially purchased in 1937 by Sibyl and Douglas Sloane III with the intention of allowing the Sloane children to build their future homes. After the United States entered World War II, Sanderson “Sandy” Sloane and his brother Jack joined the United States Army Air Forces. Unfortunately, Sandy’s plane was shot down over Germany in 1944. In August of 1945, the Sloane family used the clearing that would have been his home for a memorial service that was attended by people around the community. The family then began building on that event and developed the Cathedral of the Pines as a memorial for those who have fallen in service to the nation, and as a monument to peace and understanding. The memorial is welcome to people of all faiths, and has a series of outdoor chapels, cemeteries, and other monuments now encompassing 236 acres.
It was a beautiful day with a clear view of Mount Monadnock in the distance. This land, and this altar, are steeped in history and serve as a living memorial to America’s war dead and a thank you to those currently serving in our nation’s military. There is no better place to Illuminate our Legacy than the Cathedral of the Pines.
