By Rebecca Hold,
Okemah Chapter of DAR Regent and Publicity Chairman
Sherri Case and Joy Hlavaty were hostesses for the March 19 meeting of the Okemah Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution at Pepino’s Restaurant in Okemah. The tables were beautifully decorated with patriotic symbols and arrangements.
dar programAfter Regent Rebecca Hold led the opening ritual, flag salute, The American’s Creed, the Preamble to the Constitution, and the National Anthem. Judith Drennan gave a most interesting program, “Margaret Corbin’s Legacy Lives On.”
Margaret Corbin followed her soldier husband during his Revolutionary War service, and when he was mortally wounded took up his duty and fought, firing cannons and suffering herself for the rest of her life from wounds she received. She became known as Captain Molly Pitcher. She was the first woman awarded a pension from the U. S. government for military service.
In 1926 DAR sought to confirm her historical significance, locate her unmarked grave, and reinter her at West Point with full military honors and a monument commemorating her contributions to the nation.
After an unexpected disturbance at the gravesite during a West Point Cemetery crypt installation project in the fall of 2016, a thorough forensic study was conducted by the U.S. Army and concluded that the remains were of an unidentified man. DAR is assembling a task force to research and explore ways to continue to search for Corbin’s remains.
In the meantime, hundreds will gather May 1 to join with the DAR to celebrate Corbin’s lasting legacy and inspiration she provides, particularly to women in the military.
Hostesses Case and Hlavaty conducted the drawing for the door prizes which were won by Lucretia Harkey, Rebecca Hold, Angela Polk, and Sherry Case.
The next meeting will be at 11:30 a.m. April 16 at Pepino’s Restaurant in Okemah. Kiamichi District Director, Dana Boyd from Ardmore, present the program, and hostesses will be Dorothy Burden and Susan Barnett.
The meeting was adjourned by Regent Hold, and the following were in attendance: June Yahola, Geneva Bertges, Rebecca Hold, Velda Bradley, Judi Drennan, Patricia Funchess, Angela Polk, Ann Jackson, Janie Harkey, Sheldon Starr, Thelma Shields, guest Susan Gilchrist, and the hostesses Sherrie Case and Joy Hlavaty.