Washita Chapter NSDAR (National Society of The Daughters of the American Revolution) met on May 13, 2024 at the Café Clinton with the Regent Kay Hagerman opened with the DAR ritual assisted by Chaplain Robetha Farris. The group participated in unison with the Pledge of Allegiance, American’s Creed and the Oklahoma Flag Salute.
The President General’s Message was given by Ellena Womack with the noting that in June it will ark the 80th anniversary of the D-D landings. It was the largest seaborne invasion in history and the turning point of World War II. There will be DAR members participating in activities honoring those Veterans across our Nation.
National Defense report given by Phillis Stevenson noted that in many areas there is observed a remembrance of Peace Officers on May 15 which is in conjunction with Police Week. This was introduced by Congress October 1, 1961 signed into law to honor law enforcement officers, by President Kennedy October 1 1962.
The program was given by Tim Miller, Director of the Western Plains Library System. There are eight branches in the system serving over 9,000 card holders with a staff of 42. He mentioned that the genealogical sites, Ancestry and Heritage Quest, were free to all patrons of WPLS. Some areas are served by a Bookmobile and in 2026 a new one will be servicing those patrons.
Committees giving reports were: DAR Service for Veterans- Marci Grant noted that there will be Quilts of Valor given in June in Elk at the American Legion. American Indians-Virginia Reid gave dates of In-Lon-Schka Dances to be held June 2-5 . Osage from the districts of Grayhorse, Hominy and Pawhuska will unite for these dances at Grayhorse. Commemorative Events- Doris Minor reported on the biography of John Philip Sousa who was born in 1854. He was proficient on the violin and it was his first love, but at the age of 13 his father( a musician in the Marine Band) enlisted him as an apprentice musician in the Marine Band. He was offered leadership of the Marine Band and became the 17th Leader in 1880.
From his changes he made and requirements he had, he shaped his musicians into the country’s premier military band. He received acclaim in 1886 for his writing of the march “The Gladiator”, in 1888, he wrote “Semper Fidelis traditionally known as the “official” march of the Marine Corps. From his composition of the “Washington Post”, a British band journalist remarked that since Johnn Strauss, Jr. was called the “Waltz Kind” that Sousa should be called the “March King”.
Patriot Records Project-LuAnn Eilser reported that she working on a National Committee certifying Revolutionary War Records from Rhode Island (and only has 325 more pages to go before this group is completed…..). Doris Minor also is working on indexing Revolutionary records.
Installation of Officers for the 2024-2026 as follows: Regent- Kay Hagerman; Vice Regent-Marci Grant Chaplain- Robetha Farris Treasurer- April Miller Registrar- Linda Stewart Historian-Carol Ann Batterton Librarian- Lu Eisler Secretary Kathryn Harrison.
The meeting was closed with the reading of the Daughter’s Pledge.
Members attending were: Carol Ann Batterton, Luanne Eisler, Robetha Farris, Ann Graham, Marci Grant, Kay Hagerman, April Miller, Doris Minor Virginia Reid, Phyllis Stevenson, Linda Stewart, Judy Tracy, Vera Williamson, Marilyn Wilson and Ellena Womack.