Craig Valley Chapter DAR closed out their year with a Christmas luncheon and meeting at the Old Brick Hotel in New Castle. Bountiful food and seasonal decorations by New Castle Garden Club made for a festive event.
The highlight of the meeting was the presentation of the 2017 Good Citizen award to Lynsey Taylor, a senior at Craig County High School. This award is given annually by DAR chapters across the country to high school seniors who exhibit traits of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism.
Past Good Citizen winners from Craig County High School include: Cody Rader, Jordan Labiosa, Caitlin Reynolds, Dana Brown Steffy, Emily Ross, Alexxa Forrester, Teanna Sowers and Courtney Ashley.
Taylor plans to attend Bridgewater College next fall and pursue her cross-country career. She was accompanied by parents Rodney and Patty Taylor and grandparents Norman and Patty Taylor.
Additional guests were Jackie Taylor and Lynn Watson, members of Piney Creek Chapter in Colorado. Lynn’s mother, Connie Watson, a retired Craig County teacher, was also present.
Guest speaker for this occasion was Melissa Whiting, a Craig County Middle School teacher. Mrs. Whiting told stories from her teaching experiences which reminded us “never assume anything, we all make mistakes, and teachers often learn important lessons from their students.”
In later chapter business, Margaret Hines was selected delegate to the VADAR State Conference March 16-18, 2018. Members were invited to hear Roanoke Symphony conductor David Stewart Wiley on January 5 and learned about a stamp-collecting project to benefit veterans.
DAR is a women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. Membership is open to any woman, 18 years of age or older, who can document her lineage to an ancestor who aided the cause of American independence in the 1770s.
Membership is a way to honor and preserve family history. Currently, applications of three prospective Craig Valley members are being reviewed by genealogists at DAR headquarters.
For complete information, visit www.dar.org or call Craig Valley members Diane Givens at 540-580-3745 or Margaret Hines, 540-864-8447.
-submitted by Craig Valley DAR