News Release

WARSAW — The Agnes Pryun Chapman Chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution met at noon Tuesday, Nov. 26, at Pizza Hut in Warsaw.

Following lunch, regent Kathy Gawthrop opened the meeting with the DAR opening rituals, the pledge to the flag and the recitation of the American’s Creed and the preamble to the Constitution.

Gawthrop read the president general’s message and gave the National Defense Report on Lafayette. The Marquis de Lafayette was a French nobleman with a large inheritance, who at age 19, came to America in 1777 to join the Continental Army during the Revolution. He and George Washington developed a lifelong bond. Some years after returning to France, he was caught up in the French Revolution and imprisoned for five years. When he was 66, he came back to America for his “Farewell to America Tour” from 1824-1825. He visited all 24 states at that time and traveled 6,000 miles. He was met with cheering crowds and celebrations everywhere on this tour. The DAR is celebrating the 200th anniversary of his farewell tour with planned events in those same cities.

Susan Creamer read the secretary’s report, and Janice Cox gave the treasurer’s report.

The local chapter is applying for a national grant that will be used to purchase and place children’s books about the American Revolution in all grade school libraries in the county. Jennifer Simpson volunteered to work on the grant application along with Cox.

Gawthrop also talked about a project to place a DAR marker on the grave of any Revolutionary patriot buried in the county. Paulene Holderman and Gawthrop will get some more information about this to be shared at the next meeting.

Gawthrop reported on the many ribbons and certificates the chapter earned this last year from the state and also read a couple of thank you notes received.

Gawthrop gave a “Native American Minute” fact and handed out information about avoiding scams.

The next meeting will be in the spring on March 25, 2025, at Pizza Hut. The program will be the DAR Good Citizens.

Membership in DAR is open to any woman who has an ancestor who fought in or aided the patriot cause during the American Revolution. More information is available at dar.org.