Author: Gigi Hickey

Alvin Donahoo, 101-year-old veteran of the Normandy invasion during WWII, was recently honored by the Lake Minnetonka Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution.

Chapter Regent Gigi Hickey awarded Donahoo with a Quilt of Valor at the Lake Minnetonka Shores (LMS) senior residence where he lives. The presentation took place during an LMS Veterans meeting during which the group signed 200+ holiday cards for patients at the VA Medical Center.

On D-Day, Navy Lieutenant JG Donahoo was assigned to a 36-vessel flotilla as supply officer. After landing on Utah Beach, he and 15 seamen were responsible for salvaging the flotilla’s damaged landing craft and returning them to service as quickly as possible. Donahoo and his men remained on duty on Utah Beach for six months, continuously bringing ashore huge volumes of supplies needed by the Army for battles around the beachhead and then for the rapid advance across France.

Donahoo and another WWII D-Day veteran, Roger Pickering, were both recognized at the Lake Minnetonka DAR’s Veterans Day program on November 10, but Donahoo was unable to attend.

Community service has been at the heart of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution for more than one hundred years. The organization nationwide has contributed over 550,296 hours in Service to America this year alone.

Minneapolis/St. Paul currently ranks as the #1 city in America for volunteering, according to research done by the Corporation for National and Community Service. The Lake Minnetonka Chapter NSDAR members are strong contributors to the Twin Cities’ proud tradition of volunteerism, logging over 5,000 volunteer hours in the past year.

The NSDAR celebrates its founding on October 11, 1890 with a Day of Service each year on October 11. This year, the Lake Minnetonka Chapter NSDAR will celebrate by cleaning a stretch of Highway 7 through the Adopt-a-Highway program.

Members of the Lake Minnetonka Chapter NSDAR have volunteered to serve some of the most important needs in our community:

• At Risk Women: The Chapter collects personal care products and toys for the clients of the Home Free Women’s Shelter which supports women leaving abusive situations.
• Education: The Chapter supports the advanced education of accomplished high school seniors with scholarships, recognizes the budding writing talents of middle school students through essay competitions, and educates elementary school students on American government during Constitution Week each September. One member serves as an English Language Learner tutor to immigrant students and another member visits classrooms to promote reading.
• Veterans: Each November, the Chapter hosts its celebratory Veterans Day Salute to honor veterans and their service to our country. Throughout the year, members sew a quilt to honor a veteran impacted by war and knit scarves and hats for veterans.
• Hunger: Chapter members volunteer their time with numerous organizations committed to addressing hunger in our community, such as the Interfaith Outreach and Community Service food shelf, the Sheridan Story weekend food pack program, and the Fare For All affordable healthy food program.
• Seniors: Chapter members serve community seniors by volunteering in senior living facilities. One member entertains seniors by playing the piano and another member cares for senior’s health by volunteering to take blood pressures.
• Environment: Through the Adopt-a-Highway program, Chapter volunteers clean a stretch of Highway 7 twice a year. Additionally, members have volunteered to beautify the grounds of the Sibley House, plant a pollinator garden at Golden Valley Hall, and engage in extensive recycling activities.
• Historic Preservation: The Chapter published a compilation of stories remembering the experiences of Minnesota pioneer women and placed a historic marker at Minnesota’s historic Sibley House. Several members educate community residents about local history by volunteering with their historical societies.

News of the Lake Minnetonka Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and our scholarship recipient, Madison LaRoche, appeared in the August 22nd edition of Lakeshore Weekly News. LaRoche, a 2019 Minnetonka High School graduate, was awarded the $500 scholarship in recognition of her accomplishments as a student and a community leader.

Read the full story here, courtesy of newspaper editor Melissa Turtinen, used with permission:

https://www.swnewsmedia.com/lakeshore_weekly/news/education/minnetonka-graduate-recieves-dar-scholarship/article_a1bb5a9a-ba3a-5e16-aaac-87bec74de1dc.html

“When I was little,” says 2019 Minnetonka High School graduate, Madison LaRoche, “I knew that I wanted to do something extraordinary.” The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution endeavors to support young women with extraordinary aspirations like Madison’s and is proud to award her a $500.00 college scholarship to help her achieve her goals.

Madison already has many “extraordinary things” to her credit as a high school student. Her accomplishments as a school and community leader are impressive. In addition to being on the A honor roll and an International Baccalaureate student, she is a decorated Model United Nations Club leader and DECA business organization member. She has been a member of the sailing team for the past three years where she enthusiastically mentored new teammates. In recognition of her leadership skills, she was chosen to be a representative on the Principal’s Advisory Council. Madison also found time to serve her community as a volunteer with the ICA Food Shelf, the Backpack Tutoring program, and Many Hands Many Meals organization. She earned back to back Presidential Service Awards for her body of volunteer work.

Having graduated from high school, this remarkable student now has even more extraordinary goals in mind. She will attend Virginia Tech this fall where she plans to study neuroscience and then hopes to follow in her father’s footsteps to become a United States Naval Officer. Madison has learned first-hand from her father that military service is reserved for those who are committed to selflessness and bravery. According to Madison, she wants “to devote her life to something bigger than myself and serve those who cannot serve themselves.” She adds, “I feel that serving my country in the United States Navy is one of the most noble ways I can achieve this.”

The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution congratulates Madison on this well-deserved scholarship and wishes her well as she pursues her collegiate career. We are confident this accomplished, patriotic leader’s future will be nothing short of extraordinary!

by Lorrie Ham, Westonka Public Schools; used with permission

Fifth-grade social studies students at Grandview Middle School were treated to a special presentation to wrap up their unit on the American Revolution last week.

Fifth-grader James Glassman’s grandpa, Craig Whiting, is a member of the Sons of the Revolution. Whiting organized a group of both Sons and Daughters of the Revolution to put together a 70-minute presentation for the students on May 16. The group shared the presentation three times so that all of the fifth-graders had an opportunity to see it.

“This wonderful group shared stories of what it was like to be involved in the Revolution,” said Heidi Knudsen, fifth-grade social studies and science teacher. “They were able to show us various flags, tools and uniforms, and students even learned the history of ‘Huzzah!’ a famous revolution chant.”

The Sons of the Revolution was organized on April 30, 1889, the 100th anniversary of the inauguration of the nation’s first president, George Washington. The Daughters of the Revolution was founded just one year later. The objectives of both groups are historical, educational and patriotic.

“We appreciated them taking their time to visit Grandview and share their knowledge and expertise,” added Knudsen.

See the full story here: https://www.westonka.k12.mn.us//site/default.aspx?PageType=3&DomainID=4&ModuleInstanceID=20&ViewID=6446EE88-D30C-497E-9316-3F8874B3E108&RenderLoc=0&FlexDataID=5498&PageID=1

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

When the residents at Lake Minnetonka Shores retirement community gathered to commemorate Memorial Day on the traditional May 30th date, Lake Minnetonka DAR chapter members were on hand to assist.

Early in the day they placed hundreds of American flags along the walkways to the outdoors program. Other members escorted residents in wheelchairs from their rooms to shady spots under tents. After the patriotic program of music and speeches, DAR members helped with serving picnic lunches to those unable to stand in line.

The volunteer coordinator praised them in her email message, “All went so smoothly because we had so many volunteers on deck. You have a great organization. Please let them know how thankful we were today for their help.”