Meghan Flannery Selected as Chapter Outstanding Junior
Long Lake resident and Orono High School graduate, Meghan Flannery, has been selected as the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Outstanding Junior by her Lake Minnetonka Chapter. Flannery earned this honor for her outstanding leadership, community service, and dedication to the preservation of local history.
Flannery’s extraordinary community and DAR service stems from her history-centered life mission. “It is my mission to educate the public about history and share our common heritage,” says Flannery. Her deep love of American history goes back to her childhood when she and her mother took historic trips together. The pair enjoyed many historical adventures, exploring such places as the Lewis and Clark Trail and Revolutionary War sites. Flannery has fond memories of a trip to Mount Vernon where she began a life-long interest in the career of George Washington. After graduating from Orono High School in 2011, she attended the College of St. Benedict and St. John’s University where she pursued her love of history by earning a B.A. in History with a minor in Communications. She chose George Washington as the subject of her senior thesis. “I admire his strong moral code and the importance he placed on civic responsibilities of all citizens in a republic,” reflects Flannery.
Inspired by Washington as her role model, Flannery takes her civic responsibilities seriously. She is currently Curatorial Assistant at the Edina Historical Society where she undertook the multi-year task of completing an exhaustive collections and archives inventory. She catalogued and photographed objects and archival documents for future generations to enjoy and study. She acquired the talents necessary for this extensive undertaking from experience in impressive prior positions at the College of St. Benedict Archives, Stearns History Museum, Rethos, and the Carver County Historical Society.
Flannery’s commitment to civic responsibly extends to her volunteer community work as well. She has held several important leadership positions on the Board of the Lake Minnetonka DAR. She serves on the Membership Committee, assists prospective members in researching their lineage to Revolutionary patriots, and serves as a colonial costumed reenactor portraying Revolutionary heroine, Sarah Osborne Benjamin, who courageously brought much needed food and supplies to the front lines of George Washington’s Army. And, of course, Flannery serves as Chapter Historian, caring for the organization’s archives. Of her DAR work, Flannery says, “I enjoy all the different ways I can promote American history in the local community.”
Flannery became interested in the DAR when she discovered that she has patriot ancestors on her father’s side of the family. She is descended from Bartholomew “Long Bart” Somers who is her 5th great grandfather. Somers marched from his home in Rygate, Vermont to New York to participate in the famous American victory at the Battle of Saratoga. The Ryegate town records hold the story of how Somers courageously volunteered to swim across the Hudson River to steal the first of several critical British supply boats. Flannery says with understandable pride, “I like to think that without these vital supplies, British General Burgoyne could not hold out much longer and was forced to surrender.”
Flannery also brings her historical talents to the work of her parish, the Church of St. George in Long Lake. She meticulously researched and drafted the parish’s history in preparation for the its centennial celebrations in 2016. “I am fascinated by how St. George has changed and grown though its 100-year history,” says Flannery. She also enjoys serving as the publicity chair for the parish’s annual Corn Days Festival. “I love spreading the word about Corn Days, a festival that has always been a fun hometown party,” declares Flannery.
Despite the already impressive accomplishments in her historical career, Flannery has even higher aspirations. This fall, she will attend the University of Loyola in Chicago to pursue a master’s degree in Public History. This deserving and dedicated young lady declares, “I am enthusiastic to continue developing my abilities as a public historian and museum professional.” Reflecting on her life mission, she states, “I strive to use my academic and professional talents to preserve precious historical resources and encourage everyone to be involved in the pursuit of history by telling and sharing their stories.”
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution congratulates Meghan on her selection as Outstanding Junior and wish her future success as she embarks on new historical adventures and writes the next chapter of her own historical story.
Lake Minnetonka DAR Chapter Donates Face Masks to Minneapolis VA Medical Center
As a reaction to the COVID-19 crisis and national face mask shortage, hospitals throughout the country have issued pleas for home sewers to donate masks made from fabric. A local organization requesting help was the Minneapolis Veterans Administration (VA) Medical Center, where the Lake Minnetonka DAR Chapter has already been donating hand-knitted/crocheted scarves for veterans.
Several of our members immediately responded to the VA request, turned to their fabric stashes and began sewing masks.
Below are photos of the first face mask shipments mailed off to the VA Medical Center.
According to the Center for Disease Control (CDC), fabric masks are a crisis response option. Ideally the masks are used by health care professionals in combination with a face shield or by hospital staff not directly involved with patient care. However the shortage may grow so severe that a fabric mask is the only protection between medical personnel and patients tested positive for the virus.
CDC guidelines now state Americans should consider wearing face masks to prevent the spread of the virus, not necessarily to protect the wearer but to prevent transmission from infected people who still are not showing symptoms.
A variety of face mask patterns are available online. The one pictured here was the type specified by the VA: tightly-woven cotton rectangles, backed in flannel, with thin elastic straps to circle the ears. An unfortunate result of all the DIY masks being sewn was a skyrocketing demand for elastic, which quickly came to be in short supply. Sewers responded by creating masks with long ties.
Local DAR members have joined Daughters across the country to “put the pedal to the metal” on their sewing machines and donate thousands of face masks. Thank you to all who’ve participated!
We continue to be deeply grateful to all medical personnel and first-responders who are risking their health to serve the public during the coronavirus epidemic. We pray the homemade face masks will make a difference.
Accomplished Wayzata Students Win Top Honors from Lake Minnetonka DAR
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution is proud to announce the deserving winners of its 2020 student competitions. Each year the DAR honors students with awards that recognize their enthusiasm for American history as writers, their academic accomplishments as students, and their passion for community service as young leaders.
Middle school students were invited to compose essays related to “The Voyage of the Mayflower,” in honor of the event’s 400th anniversary. This year’s sixth-grade winner is Spencer Wang who chose to write about the passengers bound for the new world aboard the ship, Speedwell. The Speedwell was forced to return to England after developing leaks 300 miles into its journey after which some of its determined passengers ultimately joined those on the already crowded Mayflower instead. The seventh-grade winner is Yuv Magan who chose to write about the social aspects of the Mayflower’s voyage. Yuv discussed the problems of illness and boredom experienced by the ship’s passengers during the voyage, as well as their experience meeting and interacting with indigenous people upon their arrival. Emmaline Wang is this year’s eighth-grade winner. Emmaline chose to write from the perspective of a passenger keeping a diary aboard the Mayflower. She described the jubilant emotions her diary-keeper must have felt when arriving at the new world on November 9, 1620. These three essay competition winners all attend Wayzata Middle School.
Wayzata High School’s Alice Cerney is the 2020 winner of the prestigious DAR Good Citizenship Award. This special recognition is given to an academically accomplished student who is recognized by her teachers as a leader, a hard worker, and a generous community volunteer. Candidates for this award must submit their grades, document their extra-curricular activities, and write a short perspective on the meaning of the DAR’s values of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. Additionally, students were given two hours to write a 550-word response to the essay prompt, “How would you energize America’s youth to fully engage as effective citizens?” Based on her experience helping to plan and execute an event that provided healthy meals for families in need, Alice’s essay focused on the importance of engaging young leaders through meaningful community service. Already a licensed pilot, Alice plans to take her leadership skills to the University of North Dakota where she will study commercial aviation.
Wayzata High School senior, Rhynn Paulsen, is the recipient of the Lake Minnetonka Chapter DAR scholarship award. Winners of this award are chosen for their academic achievement, leadership in extra-curricular activities, and the student’s intention to pursue a career that benefits society. Rhynn has developed an empathy for people experiencing chronic pain based on her personal experience with a loved one. She intends to go into the medical field and says that she hopes to become the kind of doctor who “really listens to her patients” and “doesn’t stop looking for a cure” for the pain they experience.
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter DAR congratulates each of these students on their accomplishments and wishes them well in their future leadership pursuits.
Proud Commemorative Partner of National Vietnam War Veterans Day
America is poised to honor the brave men and women who served in the Vietnam War during the observance of National Vietnam War Veterans Day on March 29. The purpose of the observance is to express our deep gratitude for those who courageously served and sacrificed during the Vietnam War. This special day was first observed as a one-time event in 2012 to launch The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration, a 13-year-long celebration honoring these veterans across the 50th anniversary milestones of the war. The day has since been officially designated as an annual observance through the Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017. The Lake Minnetonka Chapter National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a proud partner of the Commemoration and encourages the public to honor the men and women who served.
America’s involvement in the Vietnam war spanned twenty years, from 1955 to 1975, and six United States presidents, from Truman to Ford. As part of his foreign policy of Communist containment, President Truman sparked America’s involvement with a promise of support to the South Vietnamese government against Communist North Vietnamese attack. Subsequently, President Eisenhower sent military advisors and CIA operatives in 1955, President Kennedy followed by sending the first American troops, and President Johnson ordered the first combat involving U.S. soldiers. President Nixon signed the cease fire ending formal hostilities in 1973 and President Ford announced the close of America’s official involvement in the war in 1975. Communist forces ultimately overtook South Vietnam later that year.
The Vietnam War was, and continues to be, a particularly grueling one for its veterans. According to the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, 2,700,000 men and women served in the war. Nearly 60,000 gave their lives in service to their country. These veterans served under extremely difficult conditions characterized by a hostile climate conducive to tropical diseases and by ambush attacks from an unconventional enemy who blended in with the civilian population. Despite strong initial support by Congress and the public, skepticism and opposition erupted as Americans watched the realities of the war in graphic television coverage. As a result, Vietnam veterans did not return home to a hero’s welcome.
This tragedy is compounded by the fact that many veterans continue to suffer from the after-effects of their service. In addition to post traumatic stress that can accompany combat experience, many have developed health issues as a result of their exposure to Agent Orange and other chemicals sprayed to demolish the jungle foliage that hid the enemy. Following studies commissioned by the United States Congress and released in 1996, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs now recognizes no fewer than eight medical conditions directly related to veterans’ exposure to Agent Orange and other herbicides used during the Vietnam War.
The United States of America Vietnam War Commemoration of 2012 and Vietnam War Veterans Recognition Act of 2017 are both intended to give these veterans the belated honor, respect, and gratitude they deserve. Beginning in 2012, the Lake Minnetonka Chapter has hosted a Veterans Day Celebration each November and has decorated Wayzata’s Heritage Park with flags. Vietnam veterans have received special recognition at this event, including a lapel pin designed as part of the 2012 Commemoration efforts. Two Vietnam Veterans have been awarded hand crafted Quilts of Valor to recognize their contributions. The Chapter provides ongoing support to veterans by contributing special items identified as needs by the V.A. Medical Center and the Minnesota Veterans Home. Chapter members continue to donate hand-knit scarves and hats to the V.A. Medical Center as part of the National WWII Museum’s “Knit Your Bit” project.
“Many in our chapter have family members who served in the military,” says Lake Minnetonka Chapter Regent, Gigi Hickey. “It’s very important to us to remember and honor their sacrifices.” One of those chapter members is Vice Regent, Michelle White, whose father is a Vietnam War veteran and served in the United States Air Force as a crew chief on a B-52 bomber. Michelle says, “I am delighted to have an official way to celebrate his service on March 29th every year.” She adds, “I am pleased to be part of an organization like the Daughters of the American Revolution that has patriotism as one of its pillars. To me, honoring veterans is the essence of patriotism.”
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution invites you to join them in flying an American flag on March 29 to honor our Vietnam War veterans. If you’d like to learn more about the Vietnam War Commemoration, please visit their website at https://www.vietnamwar50th.com.
Lake Minnetonka DAR Honors Wayzata American Legion Post
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution has proudly presented the DAR Community Service Award to the Wayzata American Legion Post 118. The DAR award was designed to recognize individuals and groups who have contributed to their communities in an outstanding voluntary, heroic, civil or benevolent manner.
The American Legion’s community service pillars include veterans’ affairs, national security, patriotism and youth. To those ends, the Wayzata American Legion quietly serves and supports its local veterans living in assisted living homes and sponsors local youth programs. Regent Gigi Hickey was on hand to present the award to Noel “Buck” Doran, Post Commander and 50-year member of the Wayzata American Legion, at the organization’s 100th anniversary celebration.
D-Day Veteran Alvin Donahoo Awarded Quilt of Valor
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.
Veterans Honored at Lake Minnetonka DAR Chapter Event
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution presented its annual Veterans Day program on Sunday, November 10, 2019 at Trinity Lutheran Church in Long Lake, Minnesota. The 75th Anniversary of D-Day was commemorated in speeches given by Major General Maureen Banavige, and Vietnam Veteran Gary Nash, who inspired over 100 attendees with their patriotic tributes. Quilts of Valor were also presented to World War II Veterans Roger Pickering and Alvin Donahoo.
75th Anniversary of D-Day to be Commemorated at Lake Minnetonka DAR Veterans Day Event
The Lake Minnetonka Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will honor veterans and mark the 75th anniversary of the D-Day Invasion of Normandy during World War II at its annual Veterans Day Salute. The program will feature patriotic music and inspirational speakers including Bronze Star Medal recipient, U.S. Air Force Major General Maureen Banavige and Vietnam Veteran, Gary Nash, who will share thoughts on the D-Day anniversary. Two Minnesota veterans who served in the D-Day Invasion will be honored.
Join Us
Sunday, November 10, 2019
Program Begins at 2:30 p.m.
Trinity Lutheran Church, 2060 County Road 6, Long Lake, MN
Veterans and Public of All Ages Welcome
No Charge for Admission
About the Speakers
U.S. Air Force Major General Maureen Banavige was awarded the Bronze Star Medal for her actions during the Global War on Terrorism. She was commissioned in 1991 through the Air Force ROTC program at the Worcester Polytechnic Institute, Massachusetts, and has served on active duty in various logistics roles both overseas and stateside. She currently serves as Mobilization Assistant to the Commander, Air Force Materiel Command, Wright-Patterson Air Force Base, Ohio. The command employs some 80,000 people and manages $60 billion annually, executing the critical mission of warfighter support through leading-edge science and technology.
Gary Nash grew up in Minneapolis and attended the University of Minnesota. Upon graduation, he joined the U.S. Marine Corps. He served in Vietnam from May of 1967 through February 1969, with four months spent in Hong Kong as the Recruitment & Retention Liaison Officer. Gary left the Marine Corps in 1970 as a combat-decorated infantry captain. A history buff with special interest in the military and World War II, Gary and his presentations have been well-received by Veterans Day audiences in the Twin Cities. Gary and his wife, Margie, live in Chanhassen.
Lake Minnetonka Chapter Contributes over 5000 Hours of Volunteer Service
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.