Judge David Campbell DAR - A Year Of Giving And Service

  • Friday, November 25, 2016
  • Susan V. Lindsey

As December approaches, Judge David Campbell Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution looks back on their year. The year opened with the Executive Board meeting to finalize plans for the winter and spring monthly meetings. 

The February meeting was held at Red Bank Cumberland Presbyterian Church and included a silent auction and a talk about the Smoky Mountain Dog program for wounded warriors. Lunch was a homecooked meal prepared by the Chapter’s Executive Board. After the silent auction, items not sold were donated to the Northside Neighborhood House. 

March’s guest speaker was Jo Hill, DAR Museum Correspondent Docent, who entertained the members with the scripted side show ‘Tour of DAR Period Rooms.’ Also, in March, members took books into schools across the area to read Dr.

Seuss and other stories to first graders, reading to over 700 students in a one week period. At the end of the month the Service to Veterans committee and other members joined with other DAR Chapters in the areas at the Hamilton Place Mall to present lapel pins and certificates to Vietnam veterans visiting the TN Vietnam War Wall honoring TN veterans killed in action. 

April’s guest speaker was Helen Moore, a graduate of the Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant, Alabama. She spoke about her experiences at the school and showed paraphernalia from her school days, including her megaphone. During April, members traveled to Franklin, TN, for the 2016 Annual TNDAR Conference. JDC chapter received over 100 awards and certificates for the chapter and members. At the State conference, the State Public Relations Chair Susan Walker announced that the Times Free Press received the Tennessee Daughters of the American Revolution Public Relations and Media Award 2016, nominated by the Judge David Campbell Chapter of Chattanooga, TN.

May’s meeting welcome Retired Navy Captain Patty Parks who spoke on the role of military women in Vietnam. On May 21, 2016, JDC members joined with the descendants of Captain Alexander Kelly to mark his grave in Marion County, TN. Captain Kelly enlisted in the 9th Virginia Regiment as a private on July 9, 1776., just five days after the signing of the Declaration of Independence. May also saw donation of books for the summer reading program to the Northside Neighborhood House.

June’s meeting included the installation of new Executive Board members for the offices of Chaplain, Corresponding and Recording Secretaries, Treasurer and Registrar. Mr. James Ogden, III, Park Ranger and Historian for the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park, was the guest speaker, He spoke about the significance of Moccasin Bend Archeological District and the Trail of Tears, and the role Brainerd Mission and Brown’s Ferry played in the western expansion of our nation. After the meeting members joined with other DAR Chapters in the area for the annual Flag Raising at Brainerd Mission. Members also traveled to Washington, DC, for the 125th Continental Congress, where our own Susan Thomas was elected as Vice President General for 2016-2019.

Although JDC does not meet in the summer, chapter activity does not cease. July 13th found members participating in the Naturalization ceremony at the Joel P. Solomon Federal Courthouse for both the 10:30 am and 1:30 pm sessions. During the week of July 17th, members again joined with other area chapters to host meals for the UTC/Veterans Entrepreneurial Program.

In August members traveled to Maryville and Lebanon, TN, for the annual August workshops and the Executive Board met at the Chattanooga Golf and Country Club to discuss the plans for the rest of the calendar year.

At the September meeting, members gathered pillows, linens, flatware, cleaning products and other items for veterans who were moving into permanent housing. These items were given to Heather Huffman, Chattanooga’s Homeless Program coordinator, who spoke about ‘Chattanooga’s Battle to End Veteran Homelessness.’ September also found members attending DAR After Dark. DAR after Dark is open to all chapters with the intent of involving those who are members but are involved during the day with the option to gather with fellow daughters in a social atmosphere, regardless of chapter affiliation. DAR After Dark meets quarterly at various locations in the Chattanooga area.

October was a busy month for the chapter. Members traveled to Grant, AL, for the Founder’s Day celebration at the KDS DAR School and presented Heather Green, Executive Director, with $460.00 in gift cards for the school and student’s use. The gift card money was a result of the generosity of chapter members. The monthly meeting was held at the Northside Neighborhood House and Rachel Gamon, Executive Director of NNH, present an enlightening program about the history and purpose of NNH. Members took home green schoolhouse banks to fill with loose change and return to NNH. Additionally, the first of the Flag Etiquette lessons by JDC were presented to first graders. The Flag lesson includes vocabulary words so the young learners can understand the Pledge of Allegiance, the reading of a story book about the Flag’s origin, flag coloring sheets, a US Flag for each student, and instructions on how to show respect for the Flag. Flag Etiquette lessons are offered to various schools throughout the area by the DAR chapters.

November’s meeting was a joint meeting of area chapters. Guests included TN DAR State Regent Charlotte Reynolds along with state officers and committee chairs from across the state, representatives from the KDS DAR School and the John Sevier Chapter of the Sons of the Revolution. JDC members also participated in Veterans Day activities at the Chattanooga National Cemetery.

As December approaches, members are preparing to serve dinner and present scarves, gloves, knitted hats and socks at the Chattanooga Community Kitchen. Our guest speaker will be DAR Museum Correspondent Docent Jo Hill, who will present a slide show on ‘The Seven Deadly Sins,’ a unique look at the DAR Museum’s collection through the themes of envy, gluttony, greed, lust, pride, sloth, wrath. The meeting will be followed by a luncheon and our Merry Membership program.

To learn more about the work of the Judge David Campbell Chapter of the DAR in the Chattanooga area, email www.judgedavidcampbell@tndar.org. 


  


 

 


Happenings
Vintage Base Ball Opening Day For Chattanooga Clubs Is April 6
Vintage Base Ball Opening Day For Chattanooga Clubs Is April 6
  • 3/28/2024

The Lightfoot Club of Chattanooga and the Mountain City Club of Chattanooga will begin the 2024 season of vintage base ball (yep, two words) on the historic 6th Calvary polo field (6 Barnhardt ... more

4 Bridges Arts Festival Returns April 20-21
  • 3/28/2024

The Association for Visual Arts will present the 24th Annual 4 Bridges Arts Festival at the First Horizon Pavilion on the southside of downtown Chattanooga this April. The festival will take ... more

Volunteers Needed for American Battlefield Trust Park Day
  • 3/28/2024

Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park is seeking volunteers for American Battlefield Trust Park Day. Sign-up will begin at 9 a.m. on Saturday, April 6 at the intersection of Woodland ... more