Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution celebrate 85th birthday

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Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated their 85^th birthday recently at St. John’s Episcopal Parish Hall. The luncheon, catered by Hugh Wood Meats, was honored by the attendance of Mrs. Cheryl Gott, Louisiana State Society DAR Regent from Lake Charles.

The luncheon/meeting began with the ritual which included the recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance led by Mrs. Nancy Procell, The Preamble to the Constitution; led by Mrs. Linda Wood, the American’s Creed led by Mrs. Libbey Watkins and the singing of America the Beautiful led by Regent Cindy Madden and Chaplain Kathy Johnson.  The program included the welcome and installation of new members, Shannon Wright and Ashln Benamati-Thompson with Past Chapter Regent Kathy Johnson serving as chaplain for the installation.   

New officers were elected for the 2025-2028 term.  Those officers include Mrs. Donna Sutton; Chapter Regent, Mrs. Kathy Johnson; Chaplain, Mrs. Jessica Gorman; Corresponding Secretary, Mrs. Nancy Procell; Treasurer, Mrs. Cindy Madden; Registrar, Mrs. Ashln Benamati-Thompson; Historian and Mrs. Libbey Watkins, Parliamentarian. 

Three members received membership anniversary certificates for their many years with the Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter.  Those ladies are Mrs. Nancy Procell, 20 years membership, Mrs. Dinah Davis, 30 years membership and Mrs. Jane Sistruck, 35 years membership. Ironically, the years of service of these three ladies add up to 85 years, the same number as our chapter anniversary.  

State Regent Gott, Regent Cindy Madden and Vice Regent Donna Sutton presented 29 awards that Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter received for 2024 which included 1^st Place for Louisiana Outstanding Flag of the United States activities, 1^st Place for Cindy Walker for the Louisiana American Indians Committee and 1^st Place Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter for Creating the first Big Free Library/Flag retirement location. Other outstanding awards include 1^st Place Chapter Achievement award, and 33% Increase in New Members for one year (Dorcheat-Bistineau double their membership during the Madden administration, 2022-2025.)

Dorcheat-Bistineau was nationally awarded 1^st Place in National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for their program given by Karen Guice on Senior Scams. Regent Cindy Madden was awarded the Sons of American Revolution Medal of Appreciation for Outstanding Service for the SAR. Vice Regent Donna Sutton presented Mrs. Madden with a Certificate of Appreciation for Outstanding Service to Our Chapter and Our Community by Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter DAR with flowers and gifts. Spencer Creech was awarded the Louisiana Outstanding Service for Veterans Youth Volunteer Award.  Past SAR Chapter President Jerry Madden was awarded the Best HODAR award for all his service for the past three years for the chapter.

Vice Regent Donna Sutton presented a summary of the founding of the Dorcheat chapter, which was organized on April 13, 1940, before the 13^th hour of that day, with 13 charter members. It was named after Dorcheat Bayou. The chapter was organized by Martha Willis Campbell. She died a year or two after organizing the chapter. 

All of the 13 original members were descended from 2 Revolutionary War patriots: 

• a German immigrant named Lewis Heiner who served as a soldier in Georgia and received a land grant for his service, and 
• John Winston of Virginia paid the 1783 supply tax which helped fund the local militia.

Dorcheat chapter did many volunteer projects in the past such as shipping boxes full of clothes and Christmas gifts to DAR Schools and DAR Indian Schools and sending a box of clothes to Leeds Memorial Indian Station at Elton, Louisiana. It is believed that this was a trading post for the Coushatta Indian Tribe.  When America celebrated its Bicentennial in 1976, our chapter’s Bicentennial Project was to raise money for the restoration of Germantown and voted to obtain a marker for Germantown Colony and for the old Military Road. 

Fun fact: in 1995, our chapter minutes say, “The Germantown Marker has been replaced after its overnight stay in Turner’s Pond.” 

Interesting chapter members, found in the records by Donna Sutton, included Lucille Perryman who joined Dorcheat Chapter in January of 1955. In 1978, she turned 103 years old, and the chapter held a birthday party for her.  Mrs. Thomas Campbell was Queen of the Germantown Festival in 1992 and was the chapter Registrar at the time. Past chapter regent Betsy Moreland served as State Regent from 2001-2004 and as National Vice-President General from 2004-2007. Her husband’s family, ancestors of Regent Cindy Madden, own the Moreland House in Claiborne Parish, which has been restored by Dr. John Moreland and Sara McDaniel. The chapter took a tour of the house last year in April. Past Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter Regent Judy Greer created the first state newsletter, the Louisiana Premier, in the 1990s. It was mailed to all members in the state 4 times each year. Many current members have had relatives in the chapter over the years and are mentioned in the records contributing to the community by their activities. 

Bistineau Chapter in Ringgold was organized on February 27, 1955, with 12 charter members. The chapter was named after Lake Bistineau. The chapter’s organizing Regent was Mrs. Raphael Bloch. In 1989, the 23 members of Bistineau Chapter in Ringgold merged with the 66 members of Dorcheat Chapter, and the names were combined. This gave a total membership of 89 members. This chapter also helped form the Claiborne Parish Chapter. Two members of the current Claiborne Chapter; Kaylon French and Camille Wise, attended the anniversary luncheon and brought greetings. 

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Mayor Nick Cox designated with a proclamation May 31, 2025, as the Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Day in the City of Minden, Louisiana.  

City of Minden

Proclamation

Office of the Mayor

WHEREAS, The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was founded on

October 11, 1890, during a time marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the

beginnings of the United States of America. Women felt the desire to express their patriotic

feelings but were excluded from men’s organizations formed to perpetuate the memory of

ancestors who fought to make the USA free and independent. This group of pioneering

women in the nation’s capital formed their own organization and the Daughters of the

American Revolution has carried the torch of patriotism ever since; and

WHEREAS, the objective of the NSDAR is historical – to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and

women who achieved American Independence; educational – to carry out the injunction of

Washington in his farewell address to the American people, to promote, as an object of

primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an

enlightened public opinion, and patriotic – to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions

of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for

mankind all the blessings of liberty; and

WHEREAS, the Dorcheat Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution was organized on April 13,

1940, by thirteen members who were descendants of two Revolutionary War soldiers: Major

John Winston, Jr. and Lewis Hyner. Credit for the Dorcheat Chapter’s formation goes to

Martha (Polly) Willis Campbell. The Dorcheat Chapter was named for Bayou Dorcheat based

on the national requirement to use a name designated in the 1800s; and

WHEREAS, some members of the Dorcheat Chapter joined together to form the Claiborne Chapter DAR

in April 1975. The Dorcheat Chapter also merged with the Bistineau Chapter in 1989 to form

the Dorcheat-Bistineau Chapter; and

WHEREAS, the Dorcheat Chapter DAR is celebrating 85 years of service to the community by 

promoting the ideals of patriotism, historic preservation, and education. The current officers are 

Mrs. Cindy Madden, Regent and Curator; Mrs. Donna Sutton, Vice Regent, Registrar, and 

Historian; Mrs. Kathy Johnson, Past Chapter Regent and Chaplain; Mrs. Mary Beth Edwards, 

Recording Secretary; Mrs. Linda Wood, Corresponding Secretary; Mrs. Nancy Procell, 

Treasurer; and Mrs. Libbey Watkins, Parliamentarian. The Dorcheat Chapter DAR’s membership 

consists of60 members from across the country.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, Nicholas A. Cox, Mayor of the City of Minden, hereby proclaim May 31, 2025, as

DORCHEAT CHAPTER NATIONAL SOCIETY

DAUGHTERS OF THE AMERICAN REVOLUTION DAY

in the City of Minden, Louisiana.

Nicholas A. Cox, Mayor

City of Minden, Louisiana  

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New officers of the chapter were installed by State Regent Cheryl Gott. Members and guests enjoyed an anniversary cake at the conclusion of the meeting.