James Harlan Chapter of DAR meets

James Harlan Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution met Saturday morning, April 30, at the Pizza Ranch in Mt. Pleasant. Nineteen members and guests attended. Regent Sylvia Blaesing presided; Registrar Carol Klopfenstein and Jean Brombaugh were hostesses for this month?s meeting.

Adra Coghlan introduced special guest, Marjorie McKim. The National Society of DAR Certificate of Award was presented to McKim, for Excellence in Community Service.

At the Iowa Society DAR State Conference in Ames, the Chapter was recognized by the National Society and a Certificate of Award presented to Patricia Brown for Indexing 21 books for the Genealogical Records. A total of 204 attended; Chapter members attending - Maria Whetsler, Carol Messer, and Sylvia Blaesing.

The DAR Lineage books collected by Wilma Lewis-Witham were delivered to the Genealogical Library in Cedar Rapids by Chapter Regent Sylvia Blaesing and Cathy Gethmann.

This month?s program was a report on Cokie Roberts? book ?Founding Mothers: the Women Who Raised Our Nation.? Adra Coghlan gave an interesting and informative report of the wives of Benjamin Franklin, George Washington and Alexander Hamilton. These wives held together their families and businesses, while their husbands were establishing our Nation. It was an interesting account and certainly enticed many to read the book.

Others attending the April meeting: Patricia Brown, Secretary, Sylvia Ridinger, Treasurer, JoAnn Stout, Chaplain, Maria Whetsler, Mary Savage, Martha Allen, Martha Hayes, Margaret Carlson, Dianna Klaus, Helen See, Wilma Lewis-Whitham, Janet Mills, Carol Messer and Gayle Olsen.

The next meeting will be Thursday, May 26, at 4 p.m. at Park Place, with Frances Asher, who will be celebrating her 108th birthday the next day. Members and guests will then reconvene at Forest Home Cemetery to decorate the Revolutionary War Monument of Charles Shepherd.

All members of DAR descend from a patriot who fought in the American Revolution. The objectives of DAR are historical preservation and the promotion of education and patriotic endeavors. For information on joining DAR, contact Carol Klopfenstein, 319-257-6987.