Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution held its annual spring luncheon and chapter awards ceremony at St. John’s Episcopal Church in Minden on May 30, 2024. Lunch was provided by Hugh Woods Catering and by this month’s hostesses: Cara Beth Buie, Margaret Evans, Nancy Procell, Donna Sutton, and Cindy Walker.
Our guest speaker was DAR State Regent Cheryl Gott. Her State Project is called “Remember Gertsner Field”. Gertsner Field was a World War I military airfield near Lake Charles. It was one of thirty-two military flight training camps in the nation. It is now on private property, and a small portion of the airstrip is all that still exists. Mrs. Gott has been raising funds to help build a memorial for Gertsner Field at Veterans Memorial Park in Lake Charles. The memorial will be dedicated on November 8, 2024.
We are excited to welcome Mrs. Harol Thompson as a new member of our chapter! She was installed by State Regent Cheryl Gott and Chapter Vice Regent and Registrar Donna Sutton. Harol is a descendant of Revolutionary War patriot Charles Sansing who was born around 1756 in North Carolina. His father was James Sansing who emigrated from Germany and received a land grant of 400 acres in North Carolina from Lord Granville. Charles supported the Revolution by donating supplies to the local troops. He died in 1831 in Henry County, GA. Many of his descendants migrated to Claiborne Parish.
Chapter Regent Cindy Madden recognized our membership anniversaries. Linnye Wimberly Daily and Margaret Baird Evans have been DAR members for 50 years. They were each presented with a 50 Year pin and framed certificate from National. Lisa Jackson Campbell, Jane Wylie Sistrunk, and Libbey Moseley Watkins are 30 year members, Kathleen Wilson Johnson is a 20 year member, and Shirley Royce Aaron Cobb, Nancy Stewart Craig, Linda Dunn Wood, and Rachel Wood Harrington are 10 year members. Each of these members received flowers, and a certificate from National. Their total number of years in DAR was 255.
Our chapter and individual members received dozens of awards from the Louisiana Society Daughters of the American Revolution for outstanding participation in numerous projects. Our Project Patriot Committee received First Place at the State level for sending 1,870 birthday and holiday cards to veterans and active duty service members in 2023. Our chapter also received a DAR National award for 22% increase in membership in 2023. They received an award for participating in the 250th anniversary of the Boston Tea Party by sending tea to be part of the reenactment of the Tea Party in December 2023. Our chapter was awarded 1st Place National Defense for “setting the bar of Patriotic Excellence through schools, and community.” Our chapter also won 1st Place Outstanding Chapter Project – First Armed Forces Celebration and 1-20 Highway Vietnam Veterans Memorial Marker. The chapter was awarded a Certificate of Recognition in Literacy for donating enough materials for 47 Literacy Bags, 95 books, and other items to the Minden and Springhill Libraries. Our chapter regent Cindy Madden was awarded Excellent Chapter Monthly Magazine and is the first Louisiana DAR member to receive the Sons of the American Revolution Gold Medal for Outstanding Service to Veterans. This award was approved by the SAR National President.
One of our Junior members, Ashln Benamati, crocheted 50 poppy pins in remembrance of service men and women who have passed away. Members of our chapter made small donations for the pins, which will be used for chapter veterans’ outreach programs. Members also donated packages of socks to Spencer Creech for his Eagle Project, which will provide supply kits in duffle bags to local homeless veterans. Spencer is a member of Fort Jesup Society Children of the American Revolution. Mrs. Mary Beth Edwards awarded 4 seniors from the various high schools the NSDAR Good Citizen Award and Mrs. Madden awarded the JROTC medal to a local student. The chapter also awarded their two-chapter winners from Glenbrook School with the Louisiana Society DAR medal which they won over other essays all over the state.
Any woman aged 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence from Great Britain during the Revolutionary War (1775-1783) is eligible to join DAR. For more information, contact Cindy Madden at cindymaddendar@gmail.com.