Visiting the Magnolia State

My first state visit of 2016 began with a flight from Houston to Jackson, MS on February 17 for the 100^th Mississippi State Conference, Billie Breedlove, State Regent.   Billie’s theme is “Mounting the Challenge, Soaring like Eagles Celebrating Education, Historic Preservation and Patriotism.”  The Society has owned a historic mansion, Rosalie, in Natchez since 1938.  It was built by Peter Little in 1823 near the site of Fort Rosalie, constructed by the French in 1716.  The magnificent home has more original furnishings than in any other home in Natchez. The “Lady on the Bluff” is open for tours and special events and guests are welcome to use the genealogical library.  One of the highlights of my nearly 39 years of DAR membership was serving as a guest docent during their annual Out of State guest days.  It was such fun to borrow a gown and hoop skirt and share a bit of history of the home with visitors!

On Thursday morning Past Vice President General Polly Grimes and Montine Bond treated the conference guests, Vice President General Peggy Troxell, and State Regents Bea Fischer, GA; Bobbi McMullen, PA; Judy Ostler, TX and me, to a visit to the Mississippi Department of Archives and History to see a rare 20 star flag. On December 10, 1817, Mississippi became the nation’s twentieth state and this rare flag became the official U.S. Flag in 1818.  The flag is one of only a handful known to exist and it was the first to include 20 stars. It has been extensively conserved and will travel around the state for display. 

We drove a few blocks to the Governor’s Mansion which was completed in 1842. It is a marvelous example of the Greek Revival style in the United States.  It is the second oldest continuously occupied governor’s residence in the U.S., Virginia’s being the oldest. Only three governor’s mansions are on the National Register:  Virginia, Mississippi and Texas. I was surprised to learn that General William T. Sherman and his fellow officers celebrated their victory at Vicksburg in the State Dining Room on July 18, 1863.  Although the Governor was not available to greet us, we did enjoy cookies and punch before returning to the hotel.

The State Board Luncheon began with the presentation of the colors by the South Panola High School Air Force JROTC from Billie’s hometown of Batesville.  The female honor guard demonstrated the proper way to fold a flag which they then presented to Billie. Billie introduced each of her conference guests, including Registrar General Sharon Withers who had just arrived.

Donning hats, we drove a few blocks to Briarwood Presbyterian Church for the Memorial Service, conducted by Mary Francis Willard, State Chaplain.  The music was beautiful with memorial chimes, an organist, violinist, soloist and flautist.  It was a marvelous way to honor the deceased members.

Billie called the 110th State Conference to order at the State Officers Club Dinner and Gala Awards Ceremony Thursday evening with a gavel donated 95 years ago by the Gulf Coast Chapter and announced the theme of the conference was Patriotism. We enjoyed a musical presentation by Miss Mississippi, Hannah Roberts, a beautiful and talented violinist.  I must admit to a wee bit of crown envy… There were several outstanding presentations, including an American Heritage Award winner of a flag afghan crocheted with more than 35,000 stitches.

One of the most memorable presentations was the Distinguished Citizen Award presented to Col. Carlyle Smith (Smitty) Harris, USAF (Ret.).  Col. Smith was the third POW at the Hanoi Hilton and was held for 2,871 days.  He taught the tap code to the other POWs, and after one had been tortured, would tap “God bless you.”  The tap code consisted of placing each letter of the alphabet into a 5x5 grid. Each letter was represented by two taps. The first tap told the number going across, the second tap told the number going down. The two taps together resulted in a letter. The letter "A" was "1 tap followed by 1 tap". The letter "B" was "1 tap followed by 2 taps". New prisoners were taught the code within days of arriving at the camp. The code was credited with helping more than 300 POWs maintain a chain of command and morale, even under the most severe torture.  The award was accepted by his daughter and granddaughter, as Col. Smith was on a vacation with his wife. I regret not having the opportunity to personally thank this hero for his service.

Billie is not only an enthusiastic recruiter for DAR but she also does dozens of application papers.  Registrar General Sharon Withers presented a certificate of membership to Rebecca Brown Lambert, a Gold Star Mother, who lost her son in the Iraq War.

Friday morning began with the Heritage Club breakfast at which I had the opportunity to thank many of the generous donors, answer questions and provide some behind the scenes information.

The Mississippi Society has almost 3800 members in 78 chapters and the conference had a most impressive pre-registration of 589 pre-registered delegates, member and guests.  Representatives of three of the DAR supported schools, Kate Duncan Smith, Tamassee and Crossnore were on hand to greet the members and share information.  The busy Mississippi Daughters recorded 68,547 Celebrate America! Service hours last year. After my presentation on the Guardian Trust Campaign and the future of the National Society, Billie presented a Mississippi charm for my bracelet.  Mary Sue Douglas then presented a fabulous counted cross stitch of an eagle! 

There was a large exhibit room with committee tables and items available through a silent auction for Rosalie. It was hard not bidding on a little girl’s tea table, but the challenges of shipping it to my granddaughter discouraged me.

In the hallway were two remarkable exhibits.  The Dancing Rabbit Chapter, Martha Stennis, Regent, collected the signatures of almost 500 Veterans in Noxubee County, then transferred them onto a patriotic quilt.  The quilt was displayed at the county’s first Veterans Day at which the chapter sold hamburgers, raising over $2,000 for Wounded Warriors.

“Remembering Our Fallen” is a war memorial that consists of individual state memorials created to remember our country’s Fallen from The War on Terror. These displays are designed to travel so that more people can have the opportunity to remember our Fallen while being reminded of the tremendous cost of our freedom. Each individual state memorial includes military and personal photos of our Fallen who called that state home and died from physical wounds suffered in the war zone while wearing our country’s uniform.  With a mission to create a memorial for every state, they will help ensure those who made the ultimate sacrifice are not forgotten. www.Rememberingourfallen.org

The Patriots Luncheon followed with Dot Ward, Honorary State Regent, presiding.  She welcomed the group with a brief history of Honorary President General Adele Sullivan’s visit to Vietnam in January 1968 just prior to the Tet offensive.  Billie’s son, Dr. Vince Smith, a Baptist minister, offered the invocation followed by a magnificent rendition of the National Anthem by Lester Senter Wilson, Mezzo Soprano and member.

The luncheon speaker was John Rice, a Vietnam veteran and docent at the National WWII Museum in New Orleans.  The Museum has expanded since it’s opening in 2000 and I am eager for a return visit. Dot recognized almost 50 veterans, mostly from Vietnam.

Two genealogical forums were held in the afternoon.  Sharon Withers presented “Diggin’ up Grandpa without a Shovel; DNA and Genealogy”. It is a delightful and informative presentation on using DNA in genealogy.  Unfortunately, Darryn Lickliter, DAR’s Director of Library and Genealogy, was not feeling well, so Sharon presented his workshop on “Five Steps to a Concise, Successful Analysis.”

The Conference Celebration Banquet was held Friday night and each of the conference guests had an opportunity to greet the assembly. Sara Martin Fox, Senior State President of C.A.R. presented six lovely debutantes, all C.A.R. members, carrying yellow roses as she read brief biographies of each.   

Several years ago the Mississippi Society established the Rosalie Rose contest in which chapters may nominate a member for the honor. Members may vote as often as they wish, but each vote costs $1.  The nominees, each in antebellum gowns, were presented. The 2016 Rosalie Rose, Rebecca Rhinehart, was crowned and her court of Rosebuds was named. I was amazed that $30,000 was raised for the State Regents’ project at Rosalie. Did I mention that Rebecca’s crown was even bigger than Miss Mississippi’s? 

Each Chapter regent was recognized and I had the privilege of presenting certificates for the chapters achieving 100% participation in the President General’s Project. Amelia Langford lead the chorus in several delightful patriotic songs and the Yellow Rose of Texas.  The evening concluded with a delicious dessert reception in an adjoining room.

Regrettably, I was unable to stay for the final business session Saturday morning but enjoyed attending the breakfast in which Anna Royston encouraged the members to join the bus tour to D.C. for Congress.  Vince Smith was kind enough to drive Bobbi McMullen and me to the airport. He is a devoted son, husband, father and grandfather and truly a friend to DAR. 

Under Billie’s leadership, the Mississippi Daughters are truly soaring like eagles!