At our March chapter meeting, Sage Tousey, California State Children of the American Revolution President, enlightened us with information about the CAR and her State President’s project to promote literacy for children and make sure all children have access to books.

Sage is an eighth grader at Heritage Christian school. She has been on her school’s cheerleading squad for two years and student council. She began her journey with CAR about four years ago. It blended perfectly with her love of American history and passion for patriotic education. Serving as California state president this year has been wonderful as she has had the opportunity to meet people throughout the state and engage around topics closest to her heart, including C.A.R., early American history, and literacy.

At the meeting we awarded Sage the DAR Youth Citizenship Medal which is intended to “foster among schoolchildren a greater appreciation of the qualities of citizenship that Americans must possess if our country is to remain sovereign and independent. These medals are presented to children in grades 5-11 (male or female) who are dedicated to honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. The medal may also be awarded to youth service and patriotic organizations or members who fulfill these qualities (such as scouts, police cadets and other community service organizations). There may only be one medal awarded per grade per school.”

Registrar Renee Neale, Vice Regent Joy Schumacher and Regent Jenn Halter, who attended State Conference, presented the award to Sage in person.

Mission Viejo Chapter celebrated the 100th Birthday of one of our own chapter members. Betty Ruth Gajdos was a World War II Navy Veteran. She enlisted November 22, 1943. Betty volunteered to become a WAVE and she was on the first ship to dock on Ford Island, Oahu. Her job was to salvage parts from aircraft damaged during battles. Every little screw and nut were removed, steam-cleaned, bagged, and labeled from what part of the aircraft the parts came. The parts were then shipped to the States where sailors learned how to work on airplanes.

Betty was discharged on October 22, 1945, and she received an Honorable Discharge and was decorated with the American Campaign Medal and WWII Victory Medal. She joined DAR on February 5, 2005 with the Aliso Canyon Chapter and served as registrar and 2nd Vice Regent. The Aliso Canyon Chapter later merged with the Mission Viejo Chapter.

The chapter celebrated Betty’s birthday with a classic car parade rally, reading certificates from the California State Society, and the VFW raised a flag in her honor. Thank you Betty Gajdos for your service.

Desert Palm Chapter was privileged to host the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit Saturday, March 4, 2023. Not only were we able to share the WAA Mission with 94 visitors and several Vietnam Vets but ONE of the visitors was our own member, 99 year old Geraldine Kempton!

As our California Mid Winter Fair had just begun across the highway, we joked that Geri was enjoying her own roller coaster ride with the hydraulic lift! We were also honored to have the Reps4Vets group join us in the photo antics! What a special day that was!

There was one very proud mother at the February 2023 Meeting of the Anne Loucks Chapter in Martinez. Past Regent Diane McLean had three of her daughters installed as new members: Rachel White, Rebecca Kleeman, and Anna Montero.

Diane is pictured with her crown, sash, and roses and standing beside a photo of her with her four daughters. Rebecca and Anna were unable to attend the ceremony. Diane’s oldest daughter, Sarah, who is also a Past Regent of Anne Loucks, used Facetime to help her sister Anna participate in the ceremony. Diane represented Rebecca who lives in New York.

Anne Loucks Chapter now has five members of the McLean family as members and as her blue sash states, Diane is a DAR Mom of four! All are descendants of Israel Dodge.

At the February Rincon del Diablo chapter meeting, the Excellence in Historic Preservation Medal was awarded to David Marshall, architect of the highly respected firm of Heritage Architecture & Planning in San Diego. Heritage specializes in the restoration and adaptive reuse of historic structures. David has worked on many significant buildings, including the Western Metal Supply Company building at PETCO Park, Organ Pavilion, Balboa Theatre, Top Gun House, and Hotel del Coronado. David is past president of SOHO, was on the city’s Historical Resources Board, served on the board of Forever Balboa Park, and was president of the California Preservation Foundation. David authored the book San Diego’s Balboa Park and is currently working on his second book, Forgotten San Diego.

From the DAR website: “the Excellence in Historic Preservation Medal recognizes outstanding individuals and organizations that promote historic preservation in a myriad of ways. The recognition honors individuals in groups that have saved and/or preserved their local history, including restoration of buildings, collections, significant objects, monuments, cemeteries, and other important artifacts. It may be presented to a group of businesses that rescues a historic structure in order to establish it as their headquarters.”

David shared the details of Heritage Architecture and Planning’s remodel of the Hotel del Coronado with us for our February program.

Pictured: David Marshall, Regent Jenn Halter, Registrar Renee Neale

At the February 14, 2023 meeting of the Mt. Diablo Chapter, awards were presented to the American History Essay and the DAR Good Citizens award winners. Past Regent and American History Chairperson Geri Willinger presented an award to Andrew Lin, a 7th grader from Visions in Education Charter School, for his entry in the American History Essay contest.

Past Regent and DAR Good Citizens Chairperson Stephanie Brown-Myers presented awards to our Chapter winner Julia Connelly from San Ramon Valley High School and runner up Prakriti Sexna from Monte Vista High School. The students were introduced by their counselors Rebecca West and Dave Solomon. Julia Connelly read her outstanding essay that has been entered in the DAR Good CItizens Scholarship Contest. Julia and Prakriti received a monetary award, a DAR Good Citizens pin, a certificate and a flag flown over the U. S. Capitol building in Washington, DC.

Attendees enjoyed a wonderful potluck lunch followed by a celebratory cake. Congratulations to these outstanding students.

Members of the Santa Lucia and Gabilan Chapters met recently at the First Mayor’s House in Salinas. Guests included members of the local chapter of SAR. Ken Hess, a pioneer in the field of online genealogical/family search software, presented a fascinating presentation on the genesis of the movement. Mr. Hess described how discovering that people were using his organizational chart software to create family trees spurred the idea of creating Family Tree Maker, which led to a whole new world in the area of family history research and organization.

Photo shows some of the participants. Ken Hess is on the back row red sweater.

Aurantia Chapter celebrated Valentines’ Day in style. Many of our members wore historical costumes and some wore gorgeous hats. A member wore a Revolutionary War outfit!

The tables were artistically decorated with Victorian style. Our dessert table was a confectioner’s delight.

Our speaker, MK Coovert, District XI Director, presented the “History of Wedding Gowns.” We were delighted!

Our Ladies brought in their own unique tea cups to share. Some were new, some antiques, some tea cups were china, and all had intricate and beautiful artwork. It was fun to talk about them with each other.

“There’s more to life than just being a passenger”

Those prophetic words were spoken by famed aviator and poet, Amelia Earhart, the subject of a highly entertaining and riveting program that was the centerpiece of the recent District II meeting hosted by the Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter at the Marriott hotel in Rancho Cordova on January 23, 2023 with 136 members and guests attending. Also attending were State Regent Sharon Maas, First Vice Regent Christina Ramos, and Honorary State Regents Susan Broderick and Beverly Moncrieff, joined District II Director Carol Ann Nolan (it was also her birthday!) for the meeting.

New York Times best-selling author, historian, and journalist, Susan Wels, was the keynote speaker. Her program followed the life of Amelia Earhart, the focus of her best-selling book, Amelia Earhart: The Thrill of It. A nationally acclaimed author and editor, Wels has worked on assignment around the world and served as correspondent on the Titanic Research and Recovery Expedition, reporting daily from the site of the Titanic in the north Atlantic.

The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic and Pacific oceans, Amelia Earhart was also a photographer, hospital worker, fashion designer, social worker and student of chemistry, physics, and medicine – before she mysteriously vanished in an airplane over the Pacific Ocean in July 1937, while trying to be the first person to circumnavigate the equator.

Earhart’s zest for life, her bravery, and everything that made her the icon she became was an inspiration for everyone at this successful District II meeting.

Photo: Charlotte Parkhurst Chapter had a great turnout for the District II meeting in January. Photo Courtesy of Jay Lensch.

Cahuilla Chapter commemorated its 75-year history with a special luncheon celebration on January 20, 2023, at Mission Hills Country Club located in Rancho Mirage, California. The Cahuilla Chapter was organized January 31, 1948 by a group of twenty-six dedicated women when Palm Springs was just a small village. Today’s members are still dedicated and engaged in service to God, Home, and Country.

Cahuilla Chapter was honored to have State Regent Sharon Maas bring greetings to the attendees. Other state officers in attendance were Recording Secretary Phyllis Lynes, Organizing Secretary Emily Boling, Treasurer Diane Dales, and District XI Director Mary Katherine Coovert. Four past Cahuilla Chapter regents were present for the luncheon celebration including Cynthia Parnell, Joanne Hardy, Peg Ellington, and Noma Bruton who each shared highlights from their tenure as chapter regent. Current chapter regent Alice Barnhart shared a brief history of the chapter. The original chapter charter and memory books on display added to the historical significance of the occasion. A specially decorated cake, chapter history booklet, and right-side anniversary pins given to each attendee helped make the celebration a festive event.

Cahuilla members are confident that they will accomplish as much in the next 75 years as they have to date supporting education, historic preservation, and patriotism in the community!

Photo L to R: Past Regents Joanne Hardy, Cynthia Parnell, Noma Bruton, Peg Ellington, and current Regent Alice Barnhart

The Rincon del Diablo Chapter was honored to be able to host the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit in Poway, CA. Throughout the day, 80 guests were welcomed to learn more about Wreaths Across America; 25of those guests were Vietnam Veterans who received a special “Welcome Home” pinning ceremony. The veterans were overwhelmed, some brought to tears, and all were appreciative of the long overdue “thank you” given to them.

The Sons of the America Revolution Color Guard helped with the Opening Ceremony, and Rincon del Diablo was honored to have Mayor Steve Vaus as our speaker. The WAA Ambassadors, Deborah and DeLane Kellogg were professional, informative, and kind to our San Diego veterans. KUSI Allie Wagner interviewed Regent Jenn Halter, and the veterans who attended prior to the Opening Ceremony. Many San Diegans saw the segment and came to learn more about WAA.

A very, very special THANK YOU to Traci Merrill, our Committee Chair, and the entire WAA MEE Committee!!! It took a great number of people to make this happen and it was more successful than we could have imagined! We are already planning for a repeat next year!

Photo: DAR members, SAR Color Guard and veterans at the Opening Ceremony.

The Mt. Diablo Chapter held its monthly meeting on January 10, 2023, to celebrate the 62nd anniversary of its founding on January 18, 1961. A plaque was shared which listed the names of the founding members of the chapter.

The meeting’s program was presented by Aaron Negherbon, founder and CEO of Troops Direct, a non-profit organization that provides, free of charge, much needed supplies to active-duty military, at home and abroad, bypassing governmental red tape and delivery delays. These supplies include medical supplies, helmets, uniforms, protective eye gear, boots and much, much more.

Following the meeting pictures were taken of all past Mt. Diablo Regents in attendance along with the current Regent Denise Lytle Bray. Shown from left to right are Janet O’Connell-Mangham, Virginia Rood, Gay Scott, Denise Lytle Bray (holding plaque), Stephanie Brown-Myers, Kate Hare and Geri Willinger.