Submitted by ADeFrancesco on

Visiting the Silver State

Lynn Young, President General

On Friday, February 27, 2015, I flew from Houston to Las Vegas to attend the 90th Nevada state conference, Lynda Morrison-Rader, State Regent. As Nevada has two major metropolitan areas, Las Vegas and Reno/Lake Tahoe, their meetings alternate annually in the north and south.  There are over 700 members in 15 chapters in the state.

Upon arrival at the hotel, the conference guests received marvelous custom Celebrate 125! tote bags full of goodies.  The most unique item in my bag was a Celebrate 125! goose egg, hand painted by Alison Abella.  Also in the large tote was a copy of the 100 year history of Nevada DAR and recently mined turquoise and silver. Marcia Baldwin, State Treasurer, made jewelry for each guest from rock of their home state.  I was unfamiliar with fossilized palmwood, and learned from Marcia that it was the official Texas state stone, created from trees that petrified over 100 million years ago. 

Lynda selected the treble clef as her emblem and the conference was full of music including many of our favorite patriotic songs.  One of the interesting projects of Lynda’s administration is a time capsule in Goldfield in honor of state’s sesquicentennial. The first chapter in Nevada was organized in Goldfield and each chapter was invited to donate items to the time capsule.  Lynda added a Kindle with an extra battery.  State Chaplain Dr. Lynn Kinsell presented a quilt to be added to the box. The capsule will be opened in 50 years for the state’s bicentennial.

The first event was the 10th anniversary dinner of the Cameo Club at which Ann Dillon, First Vice President General, gave a delightful presentation on Cameos, including history and photos of many unusual ones.  Cameo Club President Cindy Bell presented a check to the Fisher House Foundation and a very unique gift to Ann and me.  

The Saturday morning business session featured reports of officers, chairs and chapter regents.  Highlights include support of our military, veterans, C.A.R. and Native Americans. Additionally, members donated over 1,000 items for the Wounded Warrior Ballgown Project. The Ft. Churchill Chapter averaged 516 Celebrate America! hours per member.  The Battle Born Chapter has 120% magazine subscriptions and makes Quilts of Honor for Honor Flights.  The Silver State Chapter reported that a Boulder TV station played DAR videos, including Today’s DAR, hundreds of times last year.  The 16 member Ruby Mountain Chapter distributed over 1,913 flags last year. 

The award luncheon opened with a brief video on “Always Lost:  Meditation on War.”  This project began with Western Nevada College professor Don Carlson who was shocked by The New York Times Roster of the Dead which featured photographs of the 4,000 American military who had perished in Iraq. Realizing that this was one of the most impersonal wars ever fought, he approached English professor Marilee Swirczek and they created an art/humanities exhibition that would personalize the wars--Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom--through poems, prose and photographs.  The name of the project was selected by retired Marine Major Kevin Burns from an observation by American writer Gertrude Stein: "War is never fatal but always lost. Always lost."

The exhibit features individual photographs with names of the more than 6,500 U.S. military war casualties in Iraq and Afghanistan since Sept. 11, 2001. Support of Always Lost is a large component of Lynda’s State Regent’s project. http://www.wnc.edu/always_lost/

Mona Crandell Hook, State Historian, shared a book she compiled of stories and photos from Vietnam veterans whom she and other volunteers invited to participate.  Mona shared a very touching story of her brother’s experience when he returned from Vietnam during one of his three tours as a combat medic in order to attend the funeral of their father.  Upon arrival in the States, he was pelted with rotten eggs by demonstrators and so stunned by the vehement response to his uniform that he kept this secret from his family for 40 years.  One veteran in the audience remarked that he did not realize others had been treated as poorly as he had upon returning home. The book is a touching, meaningful tribute to those who answered the nation’s call.

Nevada DAR has a strong history of supporting our military and it was most impressive to learn that every chapter is a commemorative partner with the Vietnam 50th Commemoration. Lynda also showed this brief, powerful video from the Vietnam War 50th website:  http://www.vietnamwar50th.com/videos/thank_you_for_your_service/

Cindy Bell, State Chair DAR Service for Veterans, honored 14 Vietnam veterans with certificates of appreciation and pocket flags as the audience applauded their service.  Drawings were held for our new DAR Challenge coins and a Vietnam Veteran flag.  Among the veterans honored was DAR member Linda Knapton.  

Everyone enjoyed congratulating Lily Mayo who was recognized for winning the National 1st place award for the 3rd grade JAC poster contest. 

One of my favorite events was the Heritage Club tea in which I had the opportunity to share news and answer questions from the more than 30 generous donors and to thank them for their gifts.  As these are more intimate settings, it is always fun to share insights and information.  These ladies were the first to hear about our new partnership with AncestryK12, and I can assure you they were enthusiastic!

After speaking at the Conference Banquet that evening, Lynda presented a check for the President General’s Project from Nevada DAR and a turquoise and silver charm.  SAR State President, Lt. Col Frank Anthony Gagliardi, USMC (Ret), surprised me with the Daughters of Liberty Medal and a check to the President General’s Project.

On Sunday morning, I spoke at the 49th annual State Officers Club Breakfast on Dazzling Daughters – some of the notable women who have been DAR members.  Club President and Honorary State Regent Rebecca Eisenman presented a check for the President General’s Project and a turquoise necklace with an eagle and a great deal of bling. Helen Stewart Chapter member Dr. Linda Miller generously gave me with a large book on Women in Congress which featured several of our DAR members.

The last event I attended before returning home was the Memorial service conducted by State Chaplain Dr. Lynn Kinsell in which chapter regents carried candles and shared memories of the departed chapter members.  Visiting State Regents Rebecca Bowen-Odom of Idaho and Kathy Ocasio of Nebraska were as impressed as I was by the lovely program containing color photos and brief bios of the deceased members.

We all left the conference with warm memories of new and renewed friendships and I’ll look forward to greeting many of the Nevada Daughters at Congress.