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L'est we forget those families of military members who have made the ultimate sacrifice.
"Today and always, we honor the families of American service members who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect our lives and our liberties. Let us remember the heroes they lost, share in their grief, and support them as they navigate life without their loved ones by their sides." - From The American Presidency Project, Proclamation 10455-Gold Star Mother's and Family's Day, 2022.
The United States Senate passed a bipartisan resolution last night to designate September 24th through the 30th as Gold Star Families Remembrance Week. The resolution was introduced by Senator Cindy Hyde-Smith and Georgia Senator Raphael Warnock. The Senate approved it unanimously and provides the nation a specific time to honor the sacrifices made by military service members who lost their lives in service to the nation.
Camp Pendleton United Service Organizations (USO) Jamboree is the largest Camp Pendleton USO event of the year. It takes a lot of volunteers to put this all together. There was music and comedic entertainment, BBQ, ice cream, lots of games and prizes, pony rides and a petting zoo. Camp Pendleton families went home with their bellies full and their arms full of prizes. Everything was provided by donations and the USO. Zero cost to our Active-Duty service members and their families.
Santa Margarita Chapter volunteers assisted with registration, setting up, running, and breakdown of the activity boots, and more. It was a hot summer day and we were tired at the end of our shift. But we had a great time and left with smiles on our faces.
USO Camp Pendleton and Santa Margarita Chapter Daughters celebrated National S’mores Day in the USO Camp Pendleton center, providing 113 families with s’mores kits! Yummy messy s’mores for all! Santa Margarita Chapter Daughters provided 60 of our S’mores kits!
Santa Margarita Chapter Husband of DAR (HODAR), William Collier, with Ross Schwalm and John Patterson, all compatriots of the Col. William Grayson Chapter of the SAR, conducted mid-summer (Aug 2023) cleanup at the DAR Penny Pines Memorial site along US 29 near Gainesville, Virginia in the Conway Robinson State Forest. The land is a part of the larger Conway-Robinson Memorial State Forest, located south of the Manassas Battleground. This portion of the Forest has been designated as a long-term growth pine forest for educating college level forestry students. There is a bronze marker with a slate path and patio surrounding the marker. The marker was dedicated by District of Columbia DAR in 1939.
This summer (2023), Daughters of the Santa Margarita Chapter took home cards with instructions to write them specifically for Honor Flight veterans and then to return the cards at our September meeting. Ready to mail are 100 cards for the upcoming San Diego Fall Honor Flight.
As DAR Project Patriot/USO Camp Pendleton Volunteers, we are making a difference for active-duty soldiers and their families. Members of Santa Margarita and Linares Chapters supported the "Out and About Carlsbad Village" event this past weekend. Stations were spread out to multiple locations in Carlsbad Village. Volunteers were stationed at the designated locations to sign the participants map and hand out a sample or help with a craft. Samples included pizza from Pizza Port, chips and salsa from Senor Grubby's, chocolate bars from the Carlsbad Chamber of Commerce, and ice cream from Handles. There were also three selfie spots at the murals in town. The weather was great and the families all seemed to have a great time going around the village to gather signatures.
Santa Margarita Chapter supports the three local JROTC units, Army Navy Academy, Oceanside High School and El Camino High School. JROTC Medals with bar to wear on uniform, a certificate, and a monetary award are presented each year to a cadet chosen by their respective school.
Army Navy Academy, Oceanside High School Cadet.
El Camino High School Cadet.
Oceanside celebrated military families on May 20 at the Oceanside Pier amphitheater. Santa Margarita supported through America 250 by passing out cookies from San Luis Bakery.
Santa Margarita’s daughters were privileged to volunteer at Camp Pendleton, with the United Service Organizations (USO), for the assembling of 350 Sendoff snack bags and 443 Welcome Home bags. Look at the photo that was taken after we had filled all the bags. These are the marines who came to take the bags to their destination. Much of what we packed had been donated by DAR chapters and members from the Amazon Wish lists. Look at the two shelving units, on the right, behind us. Those are all items donated by DAR, minus what we used to pack the bags. In addition, there are boxes of food items that are stored in a separate location, away from the mice.
Photos Courtesy of Chapter Members
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution
California State Society Daughters of the American Revolution