By Rebecca Hold
Regent and Publicity Chairman
Rebecca Hold was hostess for the last meeting of the year May 28 of the Okemah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Pepino’s Restaurant in Okemah.
Regent Rebecca Hold opened the meeting and led the opening ritual, flag salute, The American’s Creed, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the National Anthem.
June YaholaMember June Yahola of Cromwell gave a most interesting and entertaining program, “A Salute to American History.”
Many informative and amusing facts were given about famous statesmen. Our Founding Fathers were more interesting and more human than we might believe. Did you know that George Washington raised mules, and that he was the first and only president unanimously elected, receiving sixty-nine of sixty-nine electoral votes cast. Before becoming President and while serving as Commander-in-Chief of the army, an attempt was made to kidnap and kill him. Involved in the conspiracy were Tory governor of New York, William Tryon, Tory mayor of New York City, Daniel Matthews, and others, including Thomas Hickey, one of Washington's own bodyguards. Hickey was tried before a court-martial, found guilty, and on June 28, 1776, was hanged in a field near the Bowery Lane in the presence of 20,000 people. One of Washington’s favorite menus, including his favorite claret wine, was Cream of Peanut Soup, Mashed Sweet Potatoes with Coconut, String Beans with Mushrooms, and Martha’s Whiskey Cake. And no, he did not have wooden teeth! They were the best hi-tech dentures of the eighteenth century. Many other interesting anecdotes about our forefathers were also noted.
Chapter members are proud that their chapter was awarded the following certificates and awards at the State Conference held in Norman May 2-5:
Certificate of Distinguished Service for Veterans
Certificate for Outstanding Use in 2018 of Electronic Communication for Chapter Newsletter, Chapter Website and Chapter Facebook Page
Certificate for Outstanding Use of emembership in 2018 by the Chapter Regent, Chapter Vice Regent, Chapter Treasurer and Chapter Registrar
2016-2019 Team Awesome – Trailblazer Level for attaining the required 25 percentor greater increase in New Members during the Dillon Administration
First Place, Category II Newsletter
First Place, Category II Electronic Coverage Use
First Place Category II, Print Coverage
Membership Committee for Trekker Level Chapter
Hostess Hold conducted the door prize drawing, and gifts were won by June Yahola, Thelma Shields, Velda Bradley, and Geneva Bertges.
The meeting was adjourned by Regent Hold, and the following were in attendance: Ann Jackson, Dorothy Haynes, June Yahola, Sherrie Case, Geneva Bertges, Judith Drennan, Rebecca Hold, Thelma Shields, Velda Jo Bradley, Mary June Cashman, Lucretia Harkey, Carole Musick, Joy Hlavaty, and Dorothy Burden.
The next meeting of the new year will be Sept. 10 at Pepino’s Restaurant in Okemah. Prospective members welcome to attend. If anyone is interested in membership and proving an ancestor for a Revolutionary Patriot, call Regent Hold at 918-650-5466 or Registrar Velda Bradley at 918-623-8850 for assistance.
The chapter is not for just Okemah ladies. Okemah DAR is a regional chapter with members from Okmulgee, Henryetta, Okemah, Weleetka, Seminole, Paden, and Cromwell. Other members are from Edmond, Bixby, Wagoner, and Oklahoma City and love to drive to the meetings and then visit their relatives who live in the area.