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Daughters of the American Revloution
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I am a member of the National Society Daughters of the American
Revolution (NSDAR), a member of the Ohio Society Daughters of the Americal Revolution (OSDAR), a Past Regent of the
Western Reserve - Lakewood Chapter NSDAR and am currently the chapter's Historian.
The DAR is a patriotic organization rooted
in the very foundation of this country. I am a direct descendent (4th generation granddaughter) of Peter McKinney,
a Revolutionary War fifer from Pennsylvania. I began as a member of the Lakewood Chapter, NSDAR here in
northeastern Ohio. In 1999 the Western Reserve Chapter, NSDAR asked to merge with our chapter to form
an even stronger chapter which (as of June 12, 1999) is known as the
Western Reserve - Lakewood Chapter, NDSAR.
The society, founded on October 11, 1890 was incorporated by an Act of Congress in 1896. We currently have
members in all 50 states plus the District of Columbia, Canada, Mexico, Australia, France and the United
Kingdom. The objectives of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) are historic
preservation, education, and patriotic endeavors.
In the area of historic preservation the DAR has the Americana Collection which is manuscripts and imprint
materials about life in Colonial America, the Revolutionary War era and the early years of our country. The DAR
Museum houses collections of art from the period of 1700-1860. Both of these collections are maintained at the
NSDAR headquarters in Washington, D.C. The state DAR chapters are raising funds to restore the statues
known as the Madonna of the Trail. These
statues are a tribute to the American pioneer woman who helped forge this country. The Ohio DAR are currently
working on a project to restore our Madonna of the Trail back to her former glory and she has been returned to the original pink granite color
instead of the tan-brown color seen below. Plantings have been redone around the monument which will keep
her in prairie colors year round. On July 4, 2003 there was a rededication of this monument in Springfield, Ohio,
on the 75th anniversary of her original dedication.
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The Ohio statue (#1 of the trail) was carved by sculptor
August Leimbach. The statues depict a heroic pioneer woman in mid-stride holding a baby in her left arm
with a young boy clinging to her right leg. |
Our National Motto is "God, Home and Country", the three things we must cherish greatly
and some of the beliefs on which this country was founded. To me this means that one needs to follow the
love of God, a devotion to Home and an unwavering support of the Country. The current President General
Linda Gist Calvin has chosen her National Theme as "The Spirit of Hospitality Opens
Doors of Opportunity" and her
National Symbol as the Pineapple, a symbol of hospitality. Her
President General's Project is the restoration and improvements to our national headquarters.
To follow along with the National themes, the State of Ohio's Theme is "One God-One Country-One Flag United", which I think
speaks for itself. Our State Scripture is "Behold, how good and how pleasant it is when God's people dwell together in unity"
Psalm 133:1. Patsy Johnson Gaines is our current Ohio State Regent.
The DAR isn't just for "blue haired little old ladies"
anymore. A younger group has become interested in maintaining their family and country history and lineage. Even past
First Lady Laura Bush joined the DAR. It is wonderful to see so many younger
individuals wanting to commit to God, Home & Country. To me the importance of the DAR is the maintenance of history, and by this I mean history has it happened
and not the "revisionist" history so often seen and heard today in the media and our children's textbooks. I
believe that we must remember history as it was, good or bad, or else we are doomed to repeat the "bad" again
and again.
Click
HERE
to go to my page dedicated to my ancestor Peter McKinney. The information was gathered from family records
and books from the last century. |
POWs & MIAs
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A cause for which I have been involved with for almost 40 years is the issue of the POW/MIA's lost in Vietnam and
other places over the years. When I was only 14 years old I got my first POW/MIA bracelet, and recently
found out that he had returned to the U.S. after 6 years of captivity. Memorial Weekend of 2000 I adopted
another serviceman who is missing in action. I believe that it is very important for we as Americans to honor
our dead and to continue the search for answers to those who are still missing. Operation Just Cause
is a fine organization that
can help you find the answers to questions you may have. If you have time, visit the virtual Wall and search
for the names of loved ones and friends who gave their lives in Vietnam. |
| Click
HERE
to go to our page dedicated to
my returned POW Naval Lt. Cmdr. Charles Stackhouse and my MIA Marine Corps Major Eugene Wheeler.
The information was gathered various POW publications, public, family and government records.
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Order of the Eastern Star
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Another of my affiliations is again related to my family history. For many, many generations we have had
Master Masons (Scottish and York rites) in the family. This has led to other family members belonging to the
Order of the Eastern Star, the White Shrine of Jerusalem, the International Order of Job's Daughters, the Rainbow
Girls, the DeMolay, and the Shriners. Following in the family tradition I joined the International Order of Job's
Daughters when I was 12. Job's Daughters is a fraternal organization for girls between the ages of 11 and 20
who are relatives of Master Masons. This organization taught me leadership, cooperation, and public speaking
skills which were very handy later in life. I spent five years active in my chapter primarily as the chaplain (yes,
the one who says the prayers) until I went to college.
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At age 22 I joined the
Order of the Eastern Star
. According to the General Grand Chapter the "Eastern Star is a social order
comprised of persons with spiritual values but it is not a religion. Its appeal rests in the true beauty of the
refreshing and character-building lessions that are so sincerely portrayed in its ritualisitc work. While this is
an Order composed of people of deep spiritual convictions, it is open to all faiths, except no faith." |
My maternal grandmother
and grandfather were Worthy Matron and Worthy Patron of the Strongsville Chapter in 1965. I can remember
as a child my mother and grandmother going off to their meetings in their long formal chapter gowns. Mom was
the chaplain (now you see where I got it from) for my grandparents term as Worthy Patrons. That time was
special to my grandmother who died the following year at the young age of 57.
Throughout the years other members of my family became active in their areas - my great uncle Joe was the
Worthy High Priest of his White Shrine chapter, cousin Mary Jane became Worthy Advisor of her Rainbow Girls
chapter, my cousin Jeff became Master Councilor of his DeMolay chapter, and their father, my Uncle Hap became
Worshipful Master of his Lodge. We lost Uncle Hap in February of 2000, and the beautiful masonic service was
attended by almost 70 members from chapters throughout the area.
Alpha Sigma Alpha
I am an alumni of Alpha Sigma Alpha Sorority, Alpha Alpha Chapter which was located at Miami Univeristy in Oxford, Ohio. The sorority was
founded in 1901 by
five women: Virginia Lee Boyd (Noell), Juliette Jefferson Hundley (Gilliam),
Calva Hamlet Watson (Wooton), Louise Burks Cox (Carper), and Mary Williamson Hundley at The State
Female Normal School (now known as Longwood College), in Farmville, Virginia.
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According to our history, by 1913 although they had installed 13 chapters, only the Alpha
Chapter was still active. Under the guidance of Ida Shaw Martin, Alpha Sigma Alpha was brought together
with a local sorority at Miami Univeristy known as Pi Alpha Tau. This local sorority was installed as the
Alpha Alpha Chapter and on Thanksgiving weekend of 1914 they held what was to later be called the Miami
Convention. At this convention they adopted the consitution, developed rituals, made changes in symbols
and customs and developed a publication called The Phoenix. |
According to the organizing charter, "The purpose of the association shall be to cultivate friendship among
its members, and in every way to create pure and elevating sentiments, to perform such deeds and to mould
such opinions as will tend to elevate and ennoble womanhood in the world". I don't know if we had pure and
elevating sentiments in the early 1970's, but we did work to cultivate friendships among the members. My
freshman roommate was also a sorority sister (and also a Westlake HS grad). And, I can remember that
from 12-1pm no-one ate, spoke, or moved in the sorority suite - - All My Children was on. It is funny
to think back on all those members crowded around the 19" TV not making a sound. I've never understood
the fascination with soaps, so it confused me. But, I was there with my sisters none the less.
From June of 2000 through Founders' Day (November 15) of 2001 the sorority celebrated it centennial. There is no telling what the 21st
century has in store. About that time I learned that my chapter, one of the "original four" was
closed in December, 2000 due to declining membership at the university. The current member sisters were made
alumni of the sorority and there is always the hope that the chapter will be able to re-open some time in the future. It
was a shame to see one of the Alpha Chapters go dark.
The Creed of Alpha Sigma Alpha
To fill my days with satisfying activity,
To find dominant beauty in art, literature,
nature, and friendships.
To know the peace and serenity
of a divine faith,
To love life and joyously live each day
to its ultimate good - -
This is my creed in Alpha Sigma Alpha.
Wilma Wilson Sharp, Zeta Zeta
President Emerta (1899-1988)
Sign Our Guestbook
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Animated Book Courtesy of:
Harry The Cat
Homebutton Courtesy of:
Pat's Web Graphics
Background & divider by Laurie
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