Were you as inspired by the women of DAR as I was last evening? When the hall was built in the swamp lands of DC the press questioned our leadership, but over 100 years later the wisdom of that investment can be seen worldwide by our beautiful set of buildings in DC. I can’t wait until I am able to enjoy an evening under the stars in our hall and be with daughters from all across the world once again. If you missed last night’s big reveal, I encourage you to visit the virtual hub and learn more about this tremendous restoration project that we undertook to refresh and modernize our hall.
Yesterday during the Commemorative Events Committee Awards Presentation, we learned that Tennessee had nationally won second place for our amazing virtual suffrage celebration, Perfect 36 Co-Chairs Emily Robinson and Sallie Norton, and that Cavett Station, Regent Holly Matthews, won first place nationally for their chapter suffrage celebration project. Along with the awards for our work promoting Tennessee’s role as the Perfect 36, Colonel Hardy Murphy received a second-place award for their Santa Fe Trail interactive program for 4th graders, and Old Glory Chapter received third place for most Vietnam Veterans honored in a single event. Finally, we also learned that Jackie Utley, Jackson Madison Chapter, was honored for her individual work for commemorating our veterans. Please join me in congratulating these women and chapters for their outstanding work.
Today we will also have the Junior Membership Luncheon and the American Indians Luncheon along with national committee reports, a business session and of course voting. If you are a delegate please remember to cast your votes today before 2pm Eastern. Links and instructions on how to cast your votes should have been sent to your registered delegate email a few weeks ago. If you have not had a chance to learn about our candidates I encourage you to look through the profiles here before voting opens this morning.
This evening we will celebrate National Defense Night with guests including Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin, who will be receiving the DAR Patriot Award, and a special presentation regarding the Centennial Commemoration of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. Additionally, tonight we will honor our National Outstanding Veteran Volunteers. Tennessee’s Mary Blount Chapter was excited to be able to sponsor Eden Carnes for the National Outstanding Youth Volunteer for 2021.
To hear more about Eden’s work and the award please join via the virtual hub, and for more information on the evening’s program or to see all the events for Saturday please see the Congress Program for scheduling details.
In Service, Cecile
