Sunday, March 17, 2024

March Brunswick Town DAR Meeting

 


The chapter registrar shared how the Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR is compiling a research book that will illuminate as many of the Patriots who participated in the Revolution in and/or from Brunswick County as the country was during that time period. The county THEN stretched into modern-day New Hanover, Columbus, Bladen, and even Horry County, SC. We are asking for as many of you as possible to volunteer your service hours by writing or sharing or researching even your own family or those of friends. Whatever help you can provide will go far in this gargantuan America250 project!


A beautiful presentation was given to the woman who worked to make sure everything was in order for saving the WWI artillery range in Caswell Beach.





 Fellow DAR daughter and friend, NC Court of Appeals Judge April  C. Wood delighted her audience on March 13th at the Brunswick Town Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution with her wit and wisdom on topics of North Carolina history and the court system. Thank you, April for such an inspiring program.
                                                   
Thanking a veteran, in this case, his wife. This award was given for a Vietnam Veteran who wasn't properly thanked previously. We truly thank him for his service, albeit decades later. We just learned about it and wanted to step up and make sure he knows we care.

Thursday, March 14, 2024

Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit in Brunswick County

 

We were very privileged to host the Wreaths Across America Mobile Education Exhibit in Brunswick County for 5 events from Thursday 3/7 thru Monday 3/11/24. 

WAA sponsorship groups that hosted the MEE included:

Oak Island Elks Lodge Veterans Committee NC0514P

Cape Fear Blue Star Mothers of America  NC0431P

Brunswick Town Chapter DAR  NC0009P

VFW Auxiliary Oak Island Post 10226  NC0542P


The weather cooperated every day except Saturday morning but the rain cleared and we had many visitors that day. 

The count from the WAA Ambassadors of visitors was approximately 380.

-77 Vietnam Era Veterans signed the Honor Wall and received the Vietnam Veteran Lapel Pin if not previously received.

 Many of us were honored to be asked to pin a Vietnam Veteran. 

 All 77 were presented with a beautiful challenge coin from Wreaths Across America on behalf of the Sponsorship Group hosting. 

-12 Surviving Spouses of Vietnam Veterans also received the Deceased Vietnam Veteran Surviving Spouse Lapel Pins. 

-3 children participated in the pinning ceremonies and helped write the thank you cards for Veterans going on the Honor Flight. 

-75 Thank you notes were written for the Veteran Mail call on the Honor Flight with many more promised to be sent to us. 


We also added a new WAA Sponsorship group-American Legion Auxiliary Unit 454 Oak Island  NC0575P after the event.


We were lucky to meet all 4 of the MEE Ambassadors during the time that the exhibit was here.  There is only one of these traveling exhibits that goes all over the country.  We were thrilled to have the opportunity to host them and look forward to hosting again in the future with interested sponsorship groups from Wilmington and Myrtle Beach that attended our events. 


We received news coverage announcing the events on WWAY TV and WRNN Radio station 99.5 out of Myrtle Beach. 

Eliot Duke, from the State Port Pilot attended the event most days taking pictures and interviewing many people.

Savanna Tenenoff from The Brunswick Beacon took pictures on 3/8. We did make the front page of the 3/14 edition. 

Continued outreach to Vietnam Veterans who were unable to attend and receive their pin include 2 at the Brunswick Veterans Coalition Meeting, 5 delivered to the Oak Island VFW Post 10226 for presentation at their next meeting and an undefined number to be presented at the Shallotte American Legion Post 550 at their meeting in April.  We have been entrusted with additional pins, certificates and commendation letters to be distributed to organizations for presentation to Vietnam Veterans. Please let us know if you need these.


The mission of Wreaths Across America, To Remember, Honor and Teach was met in many ways while the MEE was here. 

Quite a number of wreaths were sponsored to Remember those who have passed. Many Veterans and their families were Honored and thanked for their service. Many visitors scanned the QR code for the Teach program available for educators. A personal goal to have children participate in the exhibit was met as well as educating the general public about the WAA mission.


If you would like the individual numbers for your event, please let us know and we will get them to you.  


With thanks and gratitude for all of your help and support,

Mary Jo Schnepf 

Cape Fear Blue Star Mothers, Oak Island Elks Lodge #2769 Veterans Committee

Carl Schnepf

Oak Island Elks Lodge #2769 Veterans Committee 





Vietnam Veteran received a pin and certificate shown below from our Blue Star Mother who arranged the entire 5 day event in Brunswick Town, NC.





Inside the Mobile Education Unit is a movie theater seating approximately 24 people. There are 3 videos shown about Wreaths Across America, and how the wreaths are made by Morril Worcester who is the WAA founder. 
                                          


                   









The rain didn’t dampen the spirits of those who turned out for the Wreaths Across America event at Southport today. So thankful for the veterans who showed up, especially men like Tom who was given a special Vietnam veteran pin. Thanks to our Gold Star families and our Blue Star families who also participated. You make all the difference! And of course, our DAR daughters who are always so faithful.





Photos below of our Brunswick Town DAR members who helped on Saturday when the truck was at Walmart from 10:00 until 4:00 and our Blue Star Mother in the center top photo who arranged the wonderful event.



On the right side of this slide you will see a QR Reader code. If you open up your QR Reader code on your phone you will be able to view all of the movies that were shown in the movie theater.


DAR blog manager is holding a tablet for WAA that is available at the online store.

                                         
The beautiful Christmas ornament and also be purchased on the online WAA store.



The two gentlemen in the photo above have the pleasure of driving the Wreaths Across America Mobile unit around the United States.

Information


Wednesday, February 21, 2024

Brunswick Town DAR Chapter Held Their February Meeting on Valentine's Day

 

Brunswick Town Chapter celebrates Valentine’s Day on this 14th day of February, as well as the fact that February is National Heart Awareness Month where all women are encouraged to wear red!


                                              Lt. Col. Ronald Edward Storz

It was the height of the Vietnam War. Every day we would all turn on the nightly news to hear Walter Cronkite give the rundown of what was happening a world away as our own boys were fighting in the rice fields far from home in a war none of us truly understood. One of those brave young men was Ronald Storz. Born in South Ozone Park, NY in 1933, he was an O3 in the United States Air Force. He was flying on April 28, 1965 and was shot down. He was captured by the North Vietnamese and placed into a prison camp known as the Hanoi Hilton and later into the worst section - Alcatraz. Other cell mates like John McCain and Brigadier General Robinson Risner were cell mates. Storz was the only one who didn’t make it home alive. He lapsed into a coma in April of 1970 after five years in captivity as a Prisoner of War and subsequently died. His remains were returned home to his wife, Sandra, and daughter, Monica, on March 6, 1974. Ronald Storz was awarded the Air Force Cross, The Legion of Merit and The Prisoner of War Medal posthumously. His daughter Monica has been fighting ever since to make sure he receives the Medal of Honor. The others have. He didn’t live to tell his story. They did. Monica Storz, who lives in Leland with her husband Henry Lovell, another Vietnam veteran, will share the story of her dad and what it was like to grow up being a member of a Gold Star family from the Vietnam era. And how the fight for his freedom still continues to this day. In the book, THE PASSING OF THE NIGHT, by BGEN Robinson Risner, who shared a cell next to Storz, summed up the last days of his life in one paragraph. “When making their report on the POWs in 1973, the North Vietnamese said that Ron Stortz "died in captivity." Ron Stortz died as he lived - a brave American fighting man who considered his principles more valuable than his life.” Copyright 1973 Ballentine Books, pages 63-71 A Hero Left Behind 2 Brunswick T Monica Storz, who lives in Leland with her husband Henry Lovell, another Vietnam veteran, shared the story of her dad and what it was like to grow up being a member of a Gold Star family from the Vietnam era. And how the fight for his freedom still continues to this day. In the book, THE PASSING OF THE NIGHT, by BGEN Robinson Risner, who shared a cell next to Storz, summed up the last days of his life in one paragraph. “When making their report on the POWs in 1973, the North Vietnamese said that Ron Stortz "died in captivity." Ron Stortz died as he lived - a brave American fighting man who considered his principles more valuable than his life.”


               Information provided by the Brunswick Town DAR                     public relations chair


The Wreaths Across America 2 for 1 Sale was a huge success for our DAR chapter. We were able to purchase 87 wreaths which turned into 174 wreaths. Some additional checks have been processed and our chapter has 214 wreaths as of February 15th. There still are a few wreath orders to be processed. We also have some outstanding checks that I was able to get from my neighborhood. That means we will have more wreaths to add to the total when they are processed. So, we can take a breather for a few months and not worry about purchasing wreaths. In September, when we get back to DAR meetings we will see where we are with the wreath purchasing and go back to trying to get enough wreaths to put a wreath on the grave of each Veteran. We need 5,126 wreaths. Our group is in the Number 1 position on the website for purchasing wreaths. The 1812 Commissioner Charles Gause Chapter is in the number 2 position. They have 90 wreaths. They also have a few checks that need to be processed. So, the number will be a little higher. If anyone is so inclined to purchase a wreath just click  There are directions to purchase a wreath by calling the main number. Don’t forget that you can just give our treasurer, a check made out to Brunswick Town DAR Chapter, who will order wreaths with her debit card. Thank you so much for all of your support this year for our December 14, 2024 Wreaths Across America event. I highly encourage you to purchase a wreath by credit card either online or by phone. Ask your WAA coordinator to assist you. She is your blog manager.






Tuesday, February 20, 2024

Presidents Day

Presidents Day is celebrated in the U.S. on the third Monday of February, a day set aside to commemorate the birthdays of both President George Washington and President Abraham Lincoln.

Saturday, February 10, 2024

Moores Creek National Battlefield to hold 248th Anniversary Event. It is a two-day event on February 24th and February 25th and is free to the public.






Moores Creek National Battlefield to hold 248th Anniversary Event. It is a two-day event on February 24th and February 25th and is free to the public.

On Saturday, February 24, and Sunday, February 15, Moores Creek National Battlefield will be commemorating the 248th Anniversary of the Battle of Moores Creek Bridge, Park staff, park partners, volunteers, and other living historians will be offering a variety of programs and demonstrations throughout the weekend.

The event will begin with a Wreath Laying Ceremony at 10 a.m. on Saturday. Demonstrations and programs will include battle commemoration programs at 12 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Saturday and 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.

Performances by the Tryon Palace Fife and Drum Corps will also be on Saturday and the Wilmington Police Pipes and Drums on Sunday, as well as playing 18th-century toy and games, blacksmithing, candle making, Loyalist and Patriot programs, guest speakers, guided tours, and more!
The park will also be hosting the 2nd Division Marine Corps Band for a special performance on Saturday at 2 p.m.

A full listing of events can be found on the park website at nps.gov/mocr or on Facebook at facebook.com/moorescreeknps.


This is also the month we celebrate our victory at
Moore’s Creek Battlefield on the 24th. This will be a
fun day with re-enactors, displays and Daughters
from around the state. We need to be there by 9:30
am to check in and line up. Please ride-share if you
can.
Message is from our regent.


Let's try to get as many DAR members as possible to attend this event. Also, if you have a Colonial dress please wear it. Let's carpool. 
Your blog manager is planning to go. 

Brunswick Town Liberty Daughters Book Club met on January 27th

 

Seven members of the Liberty Daughters Book Club met at the Harper Library in Southport on Saturday, January 27.

"Confounding Father  Thomas Jefferson's Image in His Own Time" by Robert M.S. McDonald was discussed. Visit the Book Club tab on the right side of the blog.