Blennerhassett Chapter Projects
 
BLENNERHASSETT CHAPTER
PROJECTS AND ACTIVITIES
  • TAMASSEE DAR SCHOOL. Promotion of education is one of the three primary objectives adopted in the original Bylaws of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. The Blennerhassett Chapter supports the Tamassee DAR School, Inc. Tamassee DAR School is a private 501(c)(3) non-profit children�s home and family services organization offering multi-faceted programs to serve children and families with a variety of needs.

    We collect Campbell Soup Labels and Box Tops for Education for the benefit of the Tamassee School. We also make monetary contributions to its scholarship fund. Click here to learn more about Tamassee School.


  • LOCAL VETERANS. Blennerhassett Chapter supports Parkersburg area veterans in a couple of ways. At our monthly meetings, we "pass the mug" and collect donations to supply the Parkersburg Veterans Clinic with coffee. Our chapter also provides cookies and other snacks for the clinic when requested. We also support our local veterans by donating crocheted lap quilts or blankets.


  • CEMETERY RESTORATION/PRESERVATION. Blennerhassett Chapter member Karlie Lowers chaired a committee that was involved with the dedication of the newly installed entrance archway at the Dils Cemetery in Parkersburg. On May 22, 2011, the dedication was held in conjunction with a service honoring Revolutionary War patriot James Foley (1737-1808) for his work as a civil juror in August 1783 in Prince William County, Virginia.

    Foley's great-great-great granddaughter, Rosemary Foley Nay, a member of the Blennerhassett Chapter NSDAR, her two cousins, Ada Joy Boyer Thompson, also a member of the Blennerhassett Chapter NSDAR, and Virginia Ann Boyer Belser were present for the commemoration at the Dils Cemetery.

    Wreaths were laid at the Foley gravesite by the patriotic organizations present and a twenty-one gun salute was conducted. Members of Carlin's Battery "D" Civil War re-enactment group participated in the cannon salute. Following the ceremony, a reception was held at the Henry Cooper Log Cabin in the City Park, where the Blennerhassett Chapter provided refreshments.

    The Blennerhassett Chapter also placed a plaque in honor of James Foley on the Dils Cemetery Arch.


  • MCKINLEY ELEMENTARY SCHOOL. Blennerhassett Chapter supports our local schools as well. Our chapter collects school supplies for distribution at the McKinley Elementary School. The supplies are delivered to the school periodically throughout the school year.


  • THE "I PLEDGE" PROJECT. The "I Pledge" Project involves kindergarten students from both public and private schools in Wood County, West Virginia. When kindergarten students can properly recite the Pledge of Allegiance our chapter presents them with a flag, flag code, and a certificate.


  • ST. JUDE'S RANCH FOR CHILDREN. We collect greeting cards (front panels only, with no writing on them) and send them to St. Jude's Ranch for Children. St Jude's Ranch for Children is an organization that cares for children who have been neglected, abandoned, or abused. According to its web site, the Recycled Card Program is "Operated by Kids' Corp.," a program for the children at St. Jude�s Ranch to learn entrepreneurship skills. The children participate in making the new cards by removing the front and attaching a new back. The result is a beautiful new card made by the children and volunteers. The benefits are two-fold: customers receive "green" holiday cards for use and the children receive payment for their work and learn the benefits and importance of "going green."

    Blennerhassett Chapter would be happy to accept your donation of greeting cards, or you can click here to find out how you or your organization can contribute directly to this very worthwhile program.


  • VETERANS DEDICATION CEREMONIES. Our chapter partnered with the James Neal Chapter SAR to hold three Veterans Dedication Ceremonies in 2012. Our first ceremony was at Burnt Hill Cemetery in Williamstown, WV. We honored three Revolutionary War patriots; John Gard, Thomas Douglas, and James Athey. The second ceremony was at Neale Cemetery in Vienna, WV, where we honored all veterans. Neale Cemetery contains the graves of 33 veterans who represent eight wars. The third ceremony in 2012 was a wreath laying ceremony at Spencer Cemetery in Vienna, WV, on December 10th.


  • THE GOOD CITIZENSHIP AWARD. The Blennerhassett Chapter awarded the Good Citizenship Medal in 2010. These fifth grade students represented five schools in Wood County, West Virginia. The medals are awarded based on honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. In addition to the Good Citizenship Medal, a certificate with the winner's name and a book,"Let Freedom Ring," with the winner's name and chapter name inscribed on the inside page, were given to each medal recipient. Janet Lockhart and Karlyn Lowers presented the awards.


  • DAR PROJECT PATRIOT. The DAR Project Patriot Committee is the official Daughters of the American Revolution committee that supports America�s service personnel in current conflicts abroad. At the national level, DAR support is focused on two groups: women serving in the military and the wounded military personnel at the Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Landstuhl, Germany. Individual members and chapters are encouraged to support the men and women serving in conflicts abroad in any way appropriate. Activities could range from adopting a platoon to sending care packages to relatives of chapter members or even providing boots and books for ground troops.

    At our National Defense luncheon held on November, 2012, our chapter participated in this project by collecting items to be sent overseas. Due to such a tremendous response to this project, we gathered enough items to send fourteen care packages to show our support for our troops in Afghanistan. This is an ongoing project.


  • PARKERSBURG SOUTH HIGH SCHOOL ROTC. Blennerhassett chapter presents the Bronze ROTC Medal at Parkersburg South High School.


  • ESSAY CONTESTS. The Blennerhassett Chapter also sponsors essay contests for local students.


  • THE VETERANS MUSEUM OF MID-OHIO VALLEY. The Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley was founded by a small number of local veterans in Parkersburg, West Virginia. Their mission statement reads as follows: "First and most importantly, our purpose is to honor and preserve the memory of veterans through a museum for their contributions to create and protect the American freedoms we enjoy. Our second purpose is to serve as an educational resource about our military involvement throughout the world. The third purpose is to provide a unique tourist resource in the Mid-Ohio Valley."

    Our chapter makes monetary donations to the Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley Association. Click here to learn more about the Veterans Museum of Mid-Ohio Valley Association.


  • KROGER CARES PROGRAM. Blennerhassett Chapter recently began participating in the Kroger Cares Program. Purchasing a renewable Kroger Cares card and using it while shopping at Kroger (food or gas) earns cash for our chapter. Click here to learn more about the Kroger Cares Program.


  • MEMORIAL DAY SERVICE. Blennerhassett Chapter performs a Memorial Day service at the City Park in Parkersburg annually. A wreath is placed at the monument and the names of the patriots associated with our members are called one at a time while a flower is placed in the wreath in their honor.


  • PARKERSBURG & WOOD COUNTY LIBRARY. Members of the Blennerhassett Chapter are present at the Parkersburg & Wood County Library on the first Wednesday of each month to assist patrons with genealogical research and to promote the DAR. Click here to learn more about the Parkersburg & Wood County Library.


  • HENDERSON HALL. One of the few plantations left in the state of West Virginia is Henderson Hall in Williamstown. Built in 1836 overlooking the Ohio River, this three-story, 29-room Italianate mansion was the focal point of social and political life for almost two centuries.

    Blennerhassett Chapter members serve as docents at Henderson Hall. Click here to learn more about Henderson Hall.


  • BLENNERHASSETT MANSION. Blennerhassett Island is just down river from Parkersburg, West Virginia. Blennerhassett is a West Virginia State Park and is home to the Blennerhassett Mansion.

    Blennerhassett Chapter members serve as docents for the Blennerhassett Mansion. Click here to learn more about Blennerhassett State Park.


  • NATURALIZATION CEREMONIES. As early as 1910, DAR members pioneered a program to assist immigrants become naturalized citizens. Since 1921 the DAR has compiled and published the DAR Manual for Citizenship. Over 12 million copies of this book have been given free to immigrants seeking American citizenship.

    The Blennerhassett Chapter has participated in naturalization ceremonies held at the Federal Courthouse in Charleston, West Virginia.


  • TREES OF OUR HERITAGE EXHIBIT. The Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History in Parkersburg is home to the annual �Trees of Our Heritage� exhibit. This is a six-week exhibit of Christmas trees decorated to represent various countries from around the world. The trees will be on display throughout the holiday season for family and friends to enjoy. The museum also features three floors of historical artifacts and exhibits, a video about the Blennerhassetts and their island, the Stahl Collection (ancient archeological artifacts), and a large gift shop. The Blennerhassett Chapter provides refreshments for the Trees of Our Heritage event. Click here to learn more about the Blennerhassett Museum of Regional History.


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