The Massachusetts State Conference

State Regent Carolyn Nutt and the Massachusetts Daughters remembered historic preservation, education and patriotism in the Bay State during their state conference March 16-18! Carolyn designed a conference filled with tradition and fun for all members including wild daffodils as centerpieces.

The America 250! Marker dedication at the Old Burial Ground in Sturbridge was one of the highlights of my visit! Sponsored by District 4 chapters through the America 250! Celebration Grants funded by the President General’s Project, the Executive Officers hope you will be inspired by this very meaningful and important event!

A special thank you to Richard Meyer for the most enjoyable tour of Hillside School and to Holly Blair and Peggy o’Connor for providing my transportation.

- Pamela Wright, President General

MDAR unveiled and dedicated the America 250 Patriots marker in Sturbridge at the Old Burial Ground to honor the 65 American Revolutionary Patriots buried there on March 17th, Evacuation Day, a day in Massachusetts history when the Continental Army, under the command of George Washington, fortified Dorchester Heights and drove the British troops from Boston Harbor to Nova Scotia on March 17, 1776.  Old Burial Ground is marked by the beautiful stone enclosing walls and these piers at the entrance, flags marking our honored veterans.  The present enclosing walls were erected following the American Revolution and built by veterans of that Revolution by an order of the town, 12 May 1794. The marker funds were raised by DAR Celebration Grants applied by the District IV Chapters as a collaborative grant.

Friday afternoon, Jennifer Cronin, Development, arranged a delightful PG reception for supporters of DAR. Friday night, Mrs. Wright sparkled with her dazzling Keynote Sparkle in Service presentation with the dinner theme of Celebrate Stars and Stripes Forever. Chapter Regents received their certificates for 100 % participation in the PG Project. Another America 250 award was given to Bob Briere, Sturbridge Town Historian. His friend Sylvia Buck wore her Good Citizen pin on her lapel from years ago.

MDAR installed chapter officers attending the conference for the first time and gave caucades to first time attendees including our Visiting State Regents. Mrs. Wright left on Saturday morning as the MDAR Memorial Service, Youth and Community Service awards were conducted. Good Citizen Award, Katlin Vu; American History Essay Award, Adeline Tartakoff; Bette Hook American History Award, Edmund Lowney; and Outstanding Teacher of American History Mr. Matthew Lacasse.

Mrs. Wright missed Friday’s Friendship Luncheon Speaker, Kate Kelley, the Photo Angel, as she had to return home. Kate is an Attleboro Chapter member and has a passion for uniting families and their photos. MDAR daughters generously raised $4,500 for Tom Ricardi, owner of Birds of Prey Rehabilitation Center in Conway when he lost his bird house to a fallen tree. MDAR gave the Conservation Award to Whit Bealls, New England Forestry Foundation for excellence in Conservation. The Outstanding Community Service award went to Joan Powers, a treasure to DAR and our community. She has brightened the lives of so many people in her community, in her faith, in her DAR chapter and in our DAR world, Joan sparkles bright. Massachusetts Daughters sparkled in service March 16-18, 2023 at the MDAR 129th State Conference.