Chapter members, along with State Regent Gale Markley, participated in a workshop. Those attending were treated to a releasing of chrysalises of monarch butterflies, provided a Find a Grave tutorial, and also cleaned headstones.
National Wreaths Across America Day On Saturday, December 17, 2022, we will help fulfil the Wreaths Across America mission to Remember, Honor and Teach. The Opening Ceremony will begin at 11:00 am at each participating cemetery. Please join us as we lay live balsam wreaths on the graves of our heroes, our fallen Veterans, in cemeteries across AR. As you lay the wreath, please honor that hero by saying out loud his or her name. This is one way we can REMEMBER their sacrifices, HONOR their service to our country, and TEACH our children and grandchildren the cost of freedom.
Several members of Little Rock-Centennial Chapter had a fantastic time watching the Historic Opening Night Virtual 129th DAR Continental Congress online, as well as the Saturday evening presentation. Part of the program Saturday night included Kathy Balkman, chapter registrar, accept the National 2020 DAR Service for Veterans Outstanding DAR Service Award. It was such an honor to have Arkansas State Regent Junelle Mongno attend both of these events with us.
It was wonderful to see the amazing award winning speakers on opening night: DAR Media and Entertainment Award Winner Henry Louis Gates, Jr., who has the PBS program “Finding Your Roots” (he is also a member of SAR, Sons of The American Revolution), DAR History Award Medal Winner Lonnie G. Bunch, NSDAR Excellence in American History Book Award winner, and Pulitzer Prize winning author Rick Atkinson. It was wonderful to hear the NSDAR President General speak and introduce everyone. We are looking forward to more events during this historic 129th Virtual Continental Congress as we Rise and Shine for America in Today’s DAR!
A few members of Little Rock-Centennial Chapter ASDAR, served cookies, coffee and handed out Valentine cards to veterans at Towbin Healthcare Center at Ft. Roots in NLR, AR., as part of National Salute to Veteran Patients Week. The Valentine cards were hand written by local elementary school students. National Salute to Veteran Patients week takes place all across the United States. Thank you to Central Arkansas Veteran Healthcare System, Voluntary Services Office Chief Micheal Dobbs for inviting us to attend.
Some of our members also enjoyed a wonderful evening hosting Bingo, serving snacks and visiting with veterans at Towbin Healthcare Center at Ft. Roots. The husband of one of our Chapter members also attended. We always look forward to this evening.
Thank you to all the wonderful organizations and individuals that participated in the 2019 Veterans Shoe Box Drive. Eighteen hundred boxes were collected in total. In December, the boxes were distributed to Veterans at VA Hospitals in Little Rock, North Little Rock and Hot Springs.
The Veteran Shoe Box Drive is organized by the Little Rock-Centennial Chapter DAR and is sanctioned by the Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare System Voluntary Services office. Chief of Voluntary Services, Mr. Micheal Dobbs, and staff coordinated the delivery of boxes to veterans. We were thrilled to have NSDAR Arkansas State Regent Junelle Mongno join us for the delivery. We were able to hand deliver some boxes to veterans at the VA and many were left for veteran patients on each floor of the VA hospitals. Little Rock-Centennial Chapter DAR prepared 145 shoe boxes for women veterans.
Thank you to Publishing Concepts Inc. in Little Rock for storing the boxes and publishing the shoe box flyer in the Life in Chenal Magazine. It was truly an honor to deliver boxes to veteran patients and thank them for their service. Thank a Veteran today and everyday.
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