MENDOTA – The Fort du Rocher Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met Sept. 14 at the Mendota Museum & Historical Society.
Vice Regent Bev Richardson presided over the meeting. She welcomed program speaker, Sally Corrigan. Her program was on how to properly clean gravestones. The number one rule is do no harm. One should not do rubbings, use shaving cream or stiff brushes that will harm the stone. When trying to read the inscription, a strong flashlight held at different angles can help show dents and letters.
Corrigan took a class online. In her class, she learned about the different kinds of stones and their meanings. Stones are much like museums, preserving a part of our history. First, the stone must be solid to avoid damage. She sprays the stone with clear water, lets it set, followed by a D2 Biological Solution, which kills the algae. Next, she uses a natural soft bristle brush to lightly scrub stone. One can use shims or cuticle sticks to clean indentations, then rinse thoroughly. This should not be done more than once every 10 years. An interlocking gravel should be used when resetting stones.
Richardson announced she and Ruth Meinhardt attended DAR Days. Positions were explained and members were strongly urged to enter their volunteer hours. Hours are behind past years’ numbers. Volunteering is not limited to DAR projects, can include church, community, sending notes to vets, emergency personnel, etc.
Richardson reminded members to start collecting 2025 calendars for women’s prison, but without spirals. The October service project will be making treat bags for the residents. It was agreed to have the chapter buy the supplies to make sure there is enough. Diane McCully will make the cards to be included. Members were reminded that dues are due on or before Nov. 1.
Meinhardt stated there are currently 41 members. She will be setting up a time for a workshop for persons wishing to do supplemental memberships. She announced that this is the fifth anniversary of the local chapter.
McCully noted that she and Amanda Simpson had done the display for Constitution Week in the library.
Simpson has contacted the schools and they are getting started on the Good Citizen Award contest. Alice Giberson reported on the American Spirit, several especially enjoyed the article on the Ghost Army.
Janet Koch gave the American Indian Minute on Eloise Cobel, 1945-2011. She challenged the mismanagement of the trust fund for Native Americans. She and her husband were active in agriculture and the environment. Posthumously, she received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Giberson reported she had a collection of flags and displayed her 13 star flag, which she flies on certain holidays. She gave tips on flag care.
McCully’s patriot minute was on Mary Gaston McClure. Her sons melted pewter dishes to make bullets. She resisted when the British tried to burn the family Bible and was struck by the flat of a sword. The British then burned down her home. When The British took her sons captive, she sent her daughter to Sumpter’s Camp, who came and routed the Redcoats. One of her sons was killed in a battle and another was crippled for life.
Richardson told about the Women in Trucking Association. Currently about 7.8% of over road truckers are women.
Lonnie Shaefer read the National Defender. The article was about Constitution Day, which had been pushed by DAR until finally it was made a federal holiday.
Leslie Althaus reported on the recent article on Lake Kakusha. It was built as a flood control project. The last flood through downtown Mendota was in 1978. The lake has been a success.
Richardson reminded members to look for a flag that needs replacing in the community. A grant is available.
New business: At DAR days, the local chapter received the following national certificates of award:
The District II fall meeting is Oct. 18 at the Mendota Civic Center. Members are encouraged to get in their reservations. Deadline is Oct. 11.
The next meeting will be at 10 a.m. Saturday, Oct. 12 at the Veterans’ Home in LaSalle. The program is about the service project making goodie bags for the veterans. The Fort du Rocher web page may be viewed at http://www.fortdurocherchapternsdar.com. Any woman over 18 years of age whose lineage traces back to a Revolutionary War patriot, who wishes to learn more about Daughters of the American Revolution is invited to attend the next meeting or go online to www.dar.org
After the meeting, members enjoyed birthday cake for the chapter’s fifth anniversary.
