Wreaths Across America 2022

  Our  Brunswick Town Daughters of the American Revolution chapter has supported Wreaths Across America for over thirteen years. Our publicity committee and chairman plus our treasurer worked very hard this year to achieve the number of wreaths that were purchased for our chapter. Our chapter donated 154 wreaths which were placed on Veterans graves on December 17, 2022. Over 26 other groups sponsored WAA and were able to assist with the donations. Plus many people just ordered wreaths through the Wreaths Across America website. We are so happy that there was a Wreath on every grave. There were 5,312 wreaths sponsored for Wilmington National Cemetery which was exceeded by 140 wreaths.

Brunswick Town DAR Members pose for a snapshot at the Wreaths Across America Ceremony on December 17, 2022 at Wilmington National Cemetery.

Brunswick Town DAR member poses for a photo after placing a wreath on a grave of a Veteran.

Brunswick Town DAR members pose for a photo with a SAR member in uniform.

National Wreaths Across America Day has a simple mission: “Remember fallen U.S. veterans; honor those who serve; and teach your children the value of freedom.” This important day is an annual event that takes place every third Saturday in December at Arlington National Cemetery, as well as other cemeteries in the U.S., at sea, and abroad. Wreaths are laid as family and friends remember both those who made the ultimate sacrifice and those who currently serve in the armed forces. 

NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY TIMELINE

1992

Surplus holiday wreaths launched a patriotic tradition

When Karen and Morrill Worcester of Harrington, Maine discovered a 5,000-wreath surplus at their Worcester Wreath Company, they enlisted their senator's help to place the wreaths at Arlington National Cemetery as a patriotic gesture.

December 13, 2008

Congress recognized National Wreaths Across America Day

National Wreaths Across America Day came to life with a unanimous congressional vote.

2011

Major battle sites honored

Wreaths Across America coordinated a series of wreath-laying ceremonies at 750 cemeteries and major battle sites — including the Pearl Harbor Memorial, Bunker Hill, Valley Forge, and 9/11 sites.

2012

Wreaths Across America hit a milestone

Wreaths Across America laid its one-millionth wreath at Arlington National Cemetery.

April 21, 2018

Honorary Patriot Award

During a gala evening, the founders of Wreaths Across America received the Congressional Medal of Honor Society’s Patriot Award — the highest award the organization can bestow on an individual during a special ceremony.

1.It remembers those who died for our freedom

Placing wreaths on the graves of fallen military members is an amazing gift of remembrance. On Wreaths Across America (WAA) Day, there’s an annual wreath-laying at Arlington National Cemetery — where friends and family can pay a special tribute to the lives of the people who are buried there. Plus, there’s a Remembrance Tree program affiliated with WAA's Museum in Harrington, Maine. Gold Star families come together for fellowship — as well as to harvest balsam tips that are later turned into wreaths.

2.It honors those who currently serve

National Wreaths Across America Day picks an annual theme that inspires various activities. This year’s theme is “Be Their Witness” — reminding us of the importance of telling the stories of those who have died. The theme is based on the inspirational story of Michael Strobl, a Marine who served in the Iraq War. When one of his comrades fell to enemy fire, Lt. Colonel Strobl demonstrated amazing loyalty by escorting the body back to Marine's hometown in Wyoming after the war.

3.It teaches young people the value of freedom

Wreaths Across America Day reminds children that freedom is precious. It's also important to pay homage to those who died protecting this country. WAA offers learning tools, and interactive media projects, and provides opportunities for schools and youth groups to participate in a wide variety of informational and patriotic activities. Go to this site for more information:

https://nationaltoday.com/national-wreaths-across-america-day/  Thank You National Today for providing all this information for our Brunswick Town DAR blog on Wreaths Across America.

NATIONAL WREATHS ACROSS AMERICA DAY DATES

Year Date Day

2021 December 18 Saturday

2022 December 17 Saturday

2023 December 16 Saturday

2024 December 21 Saturday

2025 December 20 Saturday

Wreaths Across America December 17, 2022

 We look forward to attending the Wreaths Across America program at Wilmington National Cemetery on December 17th. Please come to help by 11:00. The program starts promptly at 12:00 and will be over by 12:30 then the wreath laying begins. There should be a wreath available for every participant to place on a grave. Be sure to say a little prayer at each grave while placing the wreath. Also, be sure if you are coming to look for our group so we can get a group picture. See you all tomorrow. Dress warmly.

Your blog manager.

Look for me tomorrow at the wreath-laying ceremony. I might have a black coat on if it is very cold.

December 14, 2022 Brunswick Town DAR Meeting

The Brunswick Town vice-regent introduced the program for the meeting, a performance by the Coastal Harmonizers.  Accompanying and performing with the group was Barbara Berry, the group’s musical director, and the only female accepted into the all-male group.  A smaller quartet was performing for members at the meeting; they referred to themselves as the “Carolina Mix” because they had both male and female voices, and two of the four were from South Carolina and two from North Carolina.  They performed beautifully and thoroughly entertained the members present with familiar Christmas music.  

Constitutional Minute: Brunswick Town DAR librarian answered the Constitution Minute question correctly and received a beautiful gift shown in the photo with the chapter's librarian. 

The question posed to members this month: How long did it take to create the U. S. Constitution?

Answer:  The Constitutional Convention met for nearly four months, from May 25 – September 17, 1787.  After numerous attempts by those in attendance, our librarian offered the correct response.  Congratulations!

DAR State Cordon Street Scholarship Available

We are accepting applications for the DAR State Cordon Street Scholarship, available to all senior students in Brunswick County.  Please share this awesome opportunity for scholarship money with your children, grandchildren and neighbors.

Generous scholarships of $1,500 are available to two worthy students entering or enrolled in academically accredited technical schools, community colleges, colleges, or universities.  The simple process includes a brief letter expressing academic & career goals, an official transcript of high school grades, a list of extracurricular activities, a list of academic achievements and awards and letter of reference from a community leader or teacher.  There is no GPA requirement.  Deadline is January 31, 2023.  Please call Scholarship chairperson for more details at pjsteele70@gmail.com

There are additional National DAR Scholarships available on line at https://www.dar.org/national-society/scholarships/general-info

Reading Opportunities November 21, 2022

DAR National Book Club (DAR Library Book Club) first meeting…Dec 13 Zoom…A Conversation with the Author Stacy Schiff…Cynthia McNamara, Librarian General

Book: The Revolutionary: Samuel Adams by Stacy Schiff

The first meeting of the National DAR Book Club will be held via zoom webinar featuring the author of the above book.  If anyone wishes to attend the live interview and discussion, you must use the Eventbrite link to register.

Please use the link below to register for this FREE event https://www.eventbrite.com/e/a-conversation-with-stacy-schifftickets-468667636517

DAR State Book Club (Evergreen Readers Book Club)…Jan 26 …7 pm Zoom with Mary Aker, State Librarian

Books: 

1. Women Heroes of the American Revolution: 20 Stories of Espionage, Sabotage, Defiance and Rescue by Susan Casey &

2. American Jezebel: The Uncommon Life of Anne Hutchinson, the Woman Who Defied the Puritans by Eve LaPlante

DAR Brunswick Chapter (Liberty Daughters)…Jan 28…11 am at the home of Lynn Young

Book: A Place Called Freedom by Ken Follett

Info contributed by Brunswick Town DAR Librarian.

Brunswick Town Chapter Book Club Liberty Daughters

On Saturday, November 18,  eight members of the Liberty Daughters met at the beautiful Lockwood Folly Country Club for a discussion of the book “The Cause, The American Revolution and its Discontents, 1773-1783” by Joseph J Ellis.  Led by Harriette Bode, there was a lively discussion with mixed feelings of likes and dislikes.  “The Cause” is a lengthy, detailed history book of “surprising relevance” of behind-the-scene political events and mismanagement of the military system of the Revolutionary War.  Per the jacket summary, “The Cause” interweaves action-packed tales of North American military campaigns with parlor room schemes and chicanery, creating a thrilling narrative that brings together a cast of familiar and long-forgotten characters.”  Because of the wide variance of likes and dislikes, the individual ratings were between 7 and 9 concluding with a group rating of 8.5 for “The Cause.”  Lunch followed at the onsite Oak and Anchor Restaurant.  The next book club meeting is Saturday, January 28th (2023) "A Place Called Freedom" by Ken Follett.

Info contributed by DAR Brunswick Town Librarian

Site of First Official Thanksgiving in America on December 4, 1619 at Berkeley Plantation in Virginia

 

It was 2 years before the Pilgrims Thanksgiving! Also, in 1565 a Spanish explorer Pedro Menendez de Vile’ celebrated Thanksgiving in St. Augustine, Fl. with the local Ticumua tribe. It was President Lincoln who declared the November Holiday for Thanksgiving.

On October 3, 1863, with this victory in mind, as well as its cost, President Lincoln issued a proclamation: I do therefore invite my fellow citizens in every part of the United States, …to set apart and observe the last Thursday of November next, as a day of Thanksgiving

In Remembrance of Connie Hendrix of Oak Island

Connie Hendrix dear friend Pat Steele gives her eulogy at the November DAR meeting.

Connie Hendrix of Oak Island passed away at the age of 90 years at Novant Health Brunswick Medical Center on Sunday, October 23, 2022. Her son and granddaughter were by her side. Born in High Point, NC on March 13, 1932, Connie attended college in Greensboro before moving to Tampa, Fl for a brief period with her husband Robert Glenn Hendrix Jr.  In 1972, Connie and her husband completed their home on Long Beach (Oak Island) where she resided for over 50 years until her death. Connie was very involved with Moore's Creek National Battleground, as well as the Brunswick Town Chapter of the Daughters of the America Revolution (DAR.) Connie was preceded in death by her husband and her brother Thomas Kaneer. She is survived by son James Matthew Hendrix and wife Elizabeth of Alexandria, VA, granddaughter Alison Samsone of Greenville, SC, nephew Kirk Kaneer of Locust Grove, VA, and niece Krista Garnder of Seaside, NC.

A profile of Connie's long illustrious life was published in our Brunswick Town newsletter called The Brunswick Town Bulletin in the March edition.

 file:///C:/Users/Phyllis%20Wilson/Downloads/March%202022%20Newsletter%20(5).pdf

Funeral services for Connie Hendrix were held on Saturday, December 3 at Peacock, Newnam & White Funeral and Cremation Service located at  Southport, NC. 

November 9, 2022 Brunswick Town DAR Meeting

 

New DAR member signed acceptance papers with Chapter regent and secretary witnessed the event.

Brunswick Town DAR treasurer answered the Constitution Week question correctly and received a gift.

The question posed to members: What does the 26th Amendment, ratified in 1971, provide?

Answer: The 26th Amendment lowered the voting age for all elections to 18 years. Congratulations to

chapter treasurer, who gave the correct response!

Kaplan's Canine Angels and How it all Began - November 9th DAR Meeting

 

Rick Kaplan "Canine Angels"

Rick Kaplan was flying with his service dog, King, when the dog got close to him and signaled that he sensed something wrong. Kaplan has a seizure disorder caused by an accident, and the dog is able to sense when Kaplan is about to have a seizure. In this case, the dog backed away and shook his head. “What he was saying to me was that there’s a seizure going on here, but it’s not you. I told the flight attendant. We marched King down the aisle. He came to a lady and put his foot on her seat and his nose close to her face.” When asked if she had seizures, she answered “yes.” While the flight attendant located a doctor among the passengers, the woman took her medication. “Within ten minutes, she had a big seizure,” Kaplan said, “but because she had taken her medication, it wasn’t the end of the world.” King is the leader of the pack at Kaplan’s house which doubles as his kennel and primary training facility for 12 to 20 service dogs at any given time. The founder of Canine Angels, Kaplan has been training dogs since he was a child. It was a gift he had by the age of six, he said. A retired New York City jeweler, Kaplan said he views this effort as his way of giving back. Health issues kept him from serving with his friends in Vietnam, so he focuses on veterans now. “I had a series of injuries and allergies, and nobody would take me. I had a lot of friends who served in Vietnam. I always said that when I was able, I would serve as an old man. It’s a total give back.” Since moving south and establishing Canine Angels as a 501 (c) 3, he’s rescued and trained hundreds of dogs. All of the dogs are from Brunswick and Horry Counties, and almost all were on death row, some minutes from being euthanized. Those that make it through service training are generally paired with military veterans. Those that can’t quite make it as service dogs go into the therapy dog division where they’re paired with a forever home and an individual who donates time and energy to visit hospitals, hospice, nursing homes, and the children’s reading program. (More on that in a bit). Most recently, Kaplan has been training dogs to assist autistic children. The fourth dog is in training now. As service dogs for veterans, the animals may be called upon to do a myriad of tasks. Part of Kaplan’s challenge is to evaluate exactly what the veteran needs and match those needs to the perfect dog. Sometimes the matches don’t work because the chemistry isn’t there, he said. The dog and veteran spend 24 hours a day together. It’s not like a marriage where there are hours apart. It’s total togetherness. “The chemistry has to be right. I had a marine who came, and I thought I had the perfect dog for him. The dog wasn’t interested in him. He started to tell me about the loss of his mother, and he welled up in tears. A new dog who wasn’t trained ran to him and put his head in his lap.” The dog was at the beginning of his basic training and was going through heart worm treatment. Nonetheless, the veteran felt the connection and asked to have the dog. The only way to make it work was for Kaplan to train the veteran to train the dog. That’s exactly what they did, and the two have been together for four years. The veteran and his wife and children have reunited (they had separated because of his PTSD), and he holds down a job. PTSD training for dogs is only one of the specialties in the dogs may excel in. Veterans with physical limitations need dogs that can pick up things, turn on lights, pull food from the refrigerator, or simply be strong enough to allow the person to hold onto them in order to move from a wheelchair to a stationary chair. In the children’s reading program where therapy dogs are used, second-grade children in Brunswick County schools read to dogs. “First graders are too young and third graders know the dog doesn’t know what they’re saying. Second graders are right there. I have the dogs trained to pop their head up on an imperceptible signal. If a child misses a word, I’ll give the signal and say ‘I don’t think the dog understood that word,’ so the child tries again. It’s great fun. That’s a total community give back.” All of the therapy dogs went through the service training program but proved better for living with a family. “They found a great home and a better life.”

The above story was written by the Brunswick Town Public Relations Chair and appeared in the November 2022 Newsletter. Click on the website below to view the November 2022 Newsletter

Go to: file:///C:/Users/Phyllis%20Wilson/Downloads/n-Nov2022final.pdf  

The dogs showed the DAR members at their November meeting how they are trained to accept donations and place the donation in the bucket. Very tricky.

Veteran's Days is the Best Day to Honor our Veterans By Buying Wreaths

Veterans Day is November 11th

Let’s Order Some Wreaths For Wreaths Across America – Put a wreath on every Veterans Grave at Wilmington National Cemetery on December 17th, 2022

E-mail Phyllis Wilson at par4wilson@gmail.com who will send you a form to fill out to order wreaths. You can mail the form yourself. Just be sure on your check that you put the NC0009P in case the check should get separated from the form. You can also click on the Wreaths Across America tab and order your wreaths online or you can call the number listed and order over the phone. This is the perfect time to honor our Veterans. Hope you will think so too. If you order online be sure to e-mail Phyllis your receipt. If you order by check e-mail Phyllis your check number. She can check wreath orders electronically.

The Friends of the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range (FFCRR) and the Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR announce their joint program for Friday/ Rain Date Monday, November 14th

Photo of WWI Rifle Range taken November 2019 with  DAR Brunswick Town Chapter members. present.

The Friends of the 1918 Fort Caswell Rifle Range (FFCRR) and the Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR announce their joint program for Friday, Veterans Day, November 11, 2022, at 11:00am beside the rifle range in Caswell Beach. The public is encouraged to attend.

After a 2 year delay caused by the pandemic, they will resume the Roll Call of the names of the 718 men and women from Brunswick County who served in the Great War. FFCRR president Norma Eckard said, "We are excited to continue the program of honoring the men and women who served by calling their names. We also have a historic program to offer folks."

Following the Roll Call, the cannon Thor, donated to the Southport Historical Society, will be fired by their crew members.

Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR member Caron Myers will portray World War I Navy Nurse Susan Adkins Williams, who was raised in Southport.

Caron will also sing "God Bless America." The words and music were written by Irving Berlin during the Great War but the musical piece was not used until 1938.

Taps will be played by Richard Slease at the end of the program.

FFCRR's recently published book Brunswick County in the Great War will be available for sale after the program.

Those attending may park in condo parking lots but not on the grass. Please bring a folding chair to sit on.

The next Roll Call is tentatively scheduled for Tuesday, April 6th, 2023, to commemorate the date the US entered World War I in 1917.

Brunswick Town DAR Chapter presents an American flag to a new Homeowner in Southport

 

New homeowner standing next to the American flag that was presented to her by Brunswick Town Regent and Vice-Regent

Brunswick Town Chapter NSDAR participated in the dedication of a new home in Southport in October with the presentation of an American flag to the homeowner.

Brunswick Town Chapter Regent presented the flag on behalf of the chapter and wished the family much happiness in her new home. “DAR believes that all Americans deserve a safe happy place to live,” Our regent said. “We’re proud of our country and are happy to be able to give a flag to each of Brunswick County’s new Habitat for Humanity homeowners.”

NSDAR is a volunteer service organization whose membership promotes patriotism, education and historic preservation. Membership is open to any woman age 18 or older who can prove direct lineal bloodline descent from an individual who contributed to American independence.

The Brunswick Town chapter has more than 180 members who descend from more than 700 proven Patriots of the American Revolution.

October 12, 2022 Brunswick Town DAR Meeting

Our Brunswick Town DAR librarian gave a wonderful slideshow presentation at our October 12th DAR meeting. She showed very informative slides of the DAR library in Washington DC. She illustrated how to use different websites to obtain valuable information on researching your ancestors and finding new supplementals.

Our DAR Spirit Magazine chair held up 2 of the magazines you will receive with your subscription. You can also take out a 2-year subscription, which a lot of members do. She mentioned in the magazine called Daughters of the American Revolution Newsletter that there is a lot of information from chapters in the United States informing the reader about what their chapters are doing. Our chairman also mentioned if you open the magazine up to the center there will be a list of new ancestors. So be sure to check this out. Let's try to have 100% membership this year.

                 New members sworn in by the Brunswick Town DAR chaplain. There are 182 members.

                                          

               New DAR member excitedly looking through her patriotic gift bag.