PALATINATE CHAPTER
PROJECTS
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The Palatinate Chapter participates in a Memorial Day wreath
laying ceremony at the St. Avold Cemetery in France. |
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We support DAR schools with funding for the purchase of
library and classroom books. |
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- DAR Schools
- Kate Duncan Smith (KDS) DAR School
Tamassee DAR
School, Inc.
- DAR Approved Schools
- Hillside School, Inc.
Hindman Settlement School,
Inc.
Berry College, Inc.
Crossnore School, Inc.
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We provide funding the the German American Library in
Frankfurt and the Deutsche American Institute (DAI)
library's party in Heidelberg for their annual
4th of July celebrations for
children and their families.
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We support a Girl Scout of America troop also in
Heidelberg by providing funds to purchase food and drinks
for their annual camporee.
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We provide financial support for the renovation of NSDAR
historical buildings in Washington. |
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We are supporting the efforts of the German government to
provide the high number of war refugees currently seeking
asylum in the country with financial help (German Red
Cross) and donated goods from our members at a first
arrival station in Heidelberg (previously a US military
installation).
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JROTC Medals are
presented at the American High Schools on US Military Bases
in Germany. |
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Entries each year into the
American History and Christopher Columbus essay contests are encouraged and
promoted. |
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Chapter members
attend the international ceremony in Hochfelden, France and
lay a wreath at the monument marking the gravesite of WWII
veteran Lt.
John Grant Rahill. The town of Hochfelden established and maintains
this
monument
in memory of all who died in the battles of the
area. The ceremony takes place near the date of our Memorial
Day each year.
The
ceremony dates back to 7 June 1953 when the monument to
American soldiers lost in France was dedicated at the site of
the Hochfelden cemetery at the grave of LT John Rahill. LT
Rahill was killed during a German mortar attack on Dec 2, 1944
when he was just 20 years old. At the conclusion of the war,
Lt Rahill's mother, Mrs Clara Rahill sent a letter simply
addressed to "The Mayor of Hochfleden, France" in the hopes of
learning any details of her son's grave site. Mrs Lilly Haag,
the wife of the mayor of Hochfelden, responded and ensured Mrs
Rahill that her son was being well cared for by grateful
Alsatians at a beautiful site on the outskirts of Hochfelden.
In 1949, the US
government planned to close the Hochfelden Military Cemetery
and transfer the remains of the 1,000 soldiers buried there to
either a nearby permanent cemetery in St Avold or return them
to the United States. Mrs Rahill and Mrs Haag once again
worked together to ensure LT Rahill's remains would not be
disturbed.
They began
a letter writing campaign that involved some of the most
powerful men in France and the US, including General Dwight D
Eisenhower and French General Maurice Force. With the support
of these two men, both governments agreed to turn over the
responsibility of caring for the remains of LT Rahill in
perpetuity to the town of Hochfelden.
A civic organization, Alsace Reconnaissante a'lAmerique
(Alsace is Grateful to America) raised funds for a special
monument. June 7th, 1953 the monument to American soldiers
lost in France was dedicated at the site of Hochfelden
Cemetery and the grave of LT John Rahill.
A Memorial Ceremony has been held every year since then and
commemorates all American sacrifices for the liberation of
France from Nazi Germany in WWII.
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The second Fisher House is larger than the first, with 11 bedrooms and a manager's office, plus a children's playroom. It is situated at the junction of Munson Circle and Gorgas Avenue across the street from the first Fisher House. Families are asked to pay $10 per day to stay at the facility. The approximate yearly costs for both houses are $180,000.
