The New Hampshire State Visit
Kay Sternenberg, New Hampshire State Regent

“Old New Hampshire, Grand and Great, We will sing of Old New Hampshire, Of the dear old Granite State.” I thoroughly enjoyed my visit with Kay Sternenberg, New Hampshire State Regent and the wonderful New Hampshire Daughters. The Fall colors in the Granite State were certainly showing off – and the DAR members were too! I appreciated participating in the triple crown dance and learning that literacy is the language of liberty! Special thanks to Erin Jackson who served as my personal page and transportation. Thank you New Hampshire for sharing your sparkle with me!

-Pamela Wright, President General

The leaves on the trees in Manchester, the location of our 2023 Fall Meeting, were vibrant, ranging in colors of orange, red, and yellow.  Autumn was truly upon us and the Daughters of New Hampshire traveled far and wide to Celebrate Stars and Stripes Forever with our very special guest, Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright, our President General.

On Friday, Daughters gathered to learn how to be better genealogists in a series of workshops presented by Dr. Debbie Duay at the NH Institute of Politics on the St. Anselm College campus.  Dr. Duay spoke about how to find a provable patriot in 90 minutes. Dr. Duay provided NH Chapter Registrars and others with great tips and tricks.  She showed us how to locate relatives around us and many came away with new cousins.  Quite a few Daughters were related to our fabulous presenter.

In the afternoon, we gathered at the Union Street Clubhouse of the Manchester Boys and Girls Club to dedicate the seventh Little Free Library of the State Regent’s literacy project.  The State Regent’s project is to purchase and place 25 Little Free Libraries throughout the State to support and encourage reading.  The dedication ceremony was a great cause of celebration as more than 400 children attend this facility.  They will be able to take books home to read. Madam State Regent was joined by Madam President General, visiting State Regents, Madam Chapter Regent and the Daughters of the Molly Stark Chapter.  The staff and members of the Boys and Girls Club attended and participated as well.

Friday evening, there was a welcome reception and tour for Mrs. Wright at the Manchester Millyard Museum.  Opening in 2001, the museum is located in one of the renovated mill buildings in the Amoskeag Millyard in downtown Manchester.  At one time, there were more than 40 such mills that comprised the largest manufacturing plant in the world.  The museum tells the story of Manchester from the time of the earliest settlers to the present time.  Daughters enjoyed socializing and having time to meet and greet visitors, including Pamela Edwards Rouse Wright and State Regents of Maine, Beth Calhoun; Mississippi, Cindy Mangum; and New Jersey, Diane Oliver.  Daughters were thrilled to learn that Mrs. Wright’s family once lived in Hanover, New Hampshire for a period of time.
 

Though raindrops fell, nothing could dampen our spirits as we gathered at the NH Institute of Politics for Fall Meeting on Saturday.  Members of the St. Anselm College band played John Phillip Sousa’s “Stars and Stripes Forever.”  An Exeter Chapter member, Renay Allen, presented a program about her research and book on the life of Jude Hall, one of 114 black New Hampshire soldiers of the American Revolution.  Our State Recording Secretary then announced the State Regent’s initiative to honor these soldiers with an America 250 plaque at the American Independence Museum and a marker at the Winter Street Cemetery in Exeter, New Hampshire.  With a combination of Celebration Grants from chapters throughout New Hampshire, this will be possible.  At this writing, 17 of 25 chapters will participate.

New Hampshire Daughters participated in the service project to collect and distribute food items to address food insecurity and to support food pantries at the Manchester Veterans Administration Health Clinic and Liberty House. Daughters supported the State Regent’s project by purchasing her pins and scarves.  They supported the Hillside State Scholarship fund with voices for an amazing collection of items.  They purchased President General’s sales items and enjoyed purchasing insignia from the pop-up shop.  Daughters purchased over $11,000 from the insignia store!

New Hampshire Daughters celebrated members who have graduated from Members, New Horizons and Committee Leaders trainings.  Daughters reveled with the “Triple Crown” members for those who have completed the three courses.

Mrs. Wright joined in wearing a tiara and dancing through the crowd.  Chapters who had paid the three year assessment for the President General’s project were awarded certificates and had pictures with the President General.

At lunch, 21 New Hampshire Daughters with 70, 65, 60, 50, 40, and 25 year anniversaries were presented certificates and appreciation for their service.  Mrs. Wright spoke to us about the enduring legacy of the founders and about the improvements to our House Beautiful.

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