From left, Michele Wollert, regent; James H. Ogden, III, historian and speaker; and Carolyn B. Caulkins, first vice regent
From left, Nikki Bailey, Lookout Valley Elementary principal; Natalie Moore, representative for fifth grade; and Susan M. Dailey, treasurer and former regent Moccasin Bend Chapter NSDAR
Former Chapter Regent, Pam Randolph on left, presented the state poem to John Atkinson of the Signal Mountain Library
The Moccasin Bend Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their monthly meeting at the Mountain Creek Church of Christ. The speaker for this meeting was Jim Ogden, historian of the Chickamauga and Chattanooga National Military Park and Moccasin Bend National Archeological District.
Members enjoyed his informative presentation entitled “Revolutionary Intersections: Virginia, North Carolina, and Cherokee in the Shadow of Lookout Mountain.
DAR members also presented framed copies of the Tennessee state poem to a local school and library. Former Chapter Regent, Pamela R. Randolph presented a copy of the state poem to the Signal Mountain Library, and Treasurer and Former Chapter Regent, Susan M. Dailey presented a copy of the state poem to Lookout Valley Elementary School.
The state poem was written by Naval Admiral William Porter Lawrence while imprisoned in Hoa Lo Prison during the Vietnam War. The poem “Oh Tennessee, My Tennessee” describes the love and longing Lawrence felt for his home state and was adopted as Tennessee’s official state poem in 1973. Both recipients were delighted to receive this wonderful poem, said officials.