California Daughters,It is my pleasure to announce our Southwest Division and National award winning chapters in the following Commemorative Events. All the listed chapters were First place in the State. Their reports went on to be judged at the Southwest Divisional level. First place winners in the Southwest Division went on to be judged at the National level.    

• 4th OF JULY PARADE: Gold Trail Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division.

• 50th ANNIVERSARY OF THE VIETNAM WAR

• Best Chapter Publication: Arrowhead Valley Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division and First Place in the Nation.

• Best Single Chapter Event: Lake Tahoe Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division.

• Largest number of Vietnam Vets honored in a single event: Gold Trail Chapter. Second place in the Southwest Division.  

• Best Chapter Display: Mojave Chapter. Second Place in the Southwest Division.

• Best Multiple Events: Arrowhead Valley Chapter. First place in the State.

• Outstanding State Member Honoring Vietnam Vets: Gail Patrice Belmont, Turlock Chapter.  

• 400th ANNIVERSARY OF THE MAYFLOWER: Martin Severance Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division and Third place in the Nation. 

• 100th ANNIVERSARY OF WOMEN’S SUFFRAGE: Eel River Valley Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division.

• 75th ANNIVERSARY OF THE END OF WWII: Presidio Chapter. First place in the State.

• 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE TOMB OF THE UNKNOWN SOLDIER: Letitia Coxe Shelby Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division and Third place in the Nation.  

• 250th ANNIVERSARY OF THE COMMITTEES OF CORRESPONDENCE: Eel River Valley Chapter. First place in the Southwest Division and 3rd Place in the Nation.

• 200th ANNIVERSARY OF THE SANTA FE TRAIL: Eel River Valley Chapter. Honorable Mention in the Southwest Division.

• OUTSTANDING CHAPTER REPORT: Letitia Coxe Shelby Chapter. First Place in the Southwest Division and 1st Place in the Nation.

• STATE AWARDS: Sherrie Stein for her 50 year DAR Marker at Torrey Pines celebration and her 911 Remembrance Program. Carole Curran for her 400th Anniversary of the Mayflower First Thanksgiving Program, and Christine McMahan for the State Wreath Laying ceremony in Sonoma.

Congratulations to all of our winners. Outstanding job. Love it that California Daughters won so many awards at the State, Divisional and National level. We had winning chapters in every category this Chair submitted. A huge thank you to all chapters that celebrated and reported their chapter Commemorative Events for 2021. So proud of all of you. You truly represent DAR in all that you do. National award winners will be recognized at Continental Congress at the awards ceremony on Friday, July 1st at 2:00 p.m. in the National Officer’s Club Meeting Room.  

Laurie Smotherman
State Commemorative Events Chair
lauriesmotherman@gmail.com