The Jonathan Hardin Chapter, NSDAR met for their regular monthly meeting on March 9, 2022 at the Gibbs Memorial Library. The meeting was called to order by Regent, Nancy McSwane. Invocation was given by Honorary Regent Aleece McBay, standing in for Chaplain Marsha Black. The DAR Ritual was led by Regent McSwane. The pledge to the American flag was led by Beth Harrison and the pledge to the Texas flag was led by Nancy Rula. Honorary Regent Aleece McBay led the American Creed and member, Julia Morton led the Preamble to the Constitution. Nancy McSwane read the message from President General, Denise Doring Van Buren which was titled, “Spring Brings New Life to DAR”. Committee reports were given by members Nancy Rula, American Indian Moment; Carol Ann Biggars, Conservation Moment; Gayle Carpenter, Service to America.

Jeannie Deakyne and Nancy McSwane

Registrar, Patti Gauntt gave the Patriot Moment on Patriot William Nobel who was born in Scotland in 1756. He later came to the United States and fought in the Revolutionary War.  After the war, he re-enlisted in early 1791 when President George Washington requested soldiers to fight against the Indians in the Northwest Territory. William served as sergeant in the 2nd regiment under the command of Colonel George Gibson. He was mortally wounded at the Battle of Wabash, also known as St. Claires defeat on Nov 4, 1791. His widow, Elizabeth received bounty land of 200 acres in 1813 for his Revolutionary War service. She also received a widow’s pension. A new grave marker was donated in 2019 by Fort Greenville Chapter, NSDAR and the VFW post 7262.

Regent McSwane introduced guests and first-time members as well as our guest speaker, Jeannie Deakyne, State Curator. Jonathan Hardin Chapter welcomed Carla Robison as a new member. Registrar, Patti Gauntt performed the ceremony inducting her as member. Other new members include Pam Grissett, Ginger Mayo, Melissa Slauson, Bonnie Simon, Brandi Hatley, Brooke Horton, Brittney Simon and Chris Hatley; all who will be inducted at a later date.

As the Jonathan Hardin Chapter reaches its 100th anniversary, Regent McSwane has at each meeting been reading excerpts from previous meetings from its early years as a chapter. During this week’s meeting, the minutes from March 2, 1948 were read. Kay Alston spoke briefly about the upcoming Centennial Tea in celebration of the chapter’s anniversary.

Kay Alston, Carla Robison, Nancy McSwane and Patti Gauntt

Regent Nancy McSwane introduced guest speaker, Jeannie Deakyne, TxDAR’s State Curator. Mrs Deakyne is a 4th generation DAR member, having joined as a junior in 2009. She has held leadership roles at the national, state and local levels. Mrs Deakyne served as the Vice President of Operations for the National Medal of Honor Museum Foundation. She served as a United States Army officer for 12 years and was twice deployed with the First Cavalry Division in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.

Mrs Deakyne presented her program about the National Medal of Honor Museum; On a Mission to Inspire America. The Medal of Honor was established by President Abraham Lincoln on December 21, 1861. It is the only medal awarded by the president, in the name of congress, to those who have gone beyond the call of duty and is the nation’s highest medal for valor in combat. The total Medal of Honor medals awarded are 3,526 total to date with 66 of those going to living recipients and 19 of those were awarded twice. Only one Medal of Honor has been awarded to a woman, Mary Edwards Walker, MD. The very first Medal of Honor was awarded to Private Jacob Parrot on March 25, 1863 for his actions as a part of Company K, 33rd Ohio Infantry. The youngest recipient was Willie Johnston, a musician during the Civil War who was only 13 years old. Willie received the Medal of Honor for gallantry in the Seven Days Battle in the Peninsula Campaign. He remains to this day as the Medal’s youngest recipient. There are only two sets of fathers and sons who share the extremely rare and heroic honor of being both Medal of Honor recipients. The first father and son pair to be awarded the Medal of Honor began with First Lieutenant Arthur MacArthur during the Civil War and later his son General Douglas Macarthur during World War II. The second father and son Medal of Honor duo are President Theodore Roosevelt and his son Brigadier General Theodore Roosevelt, Jr.. President Roosevelt was the only president to be awarded the medal for his actions during the war with Spain; however, he never knew he received the Medal of Honor as it was awarded posthumously. Almost fifty years later, his son Theodore Roosevelt, Jr. was awarded the medal of honor for his actions during World War II. Of the over 3500 recipients of the Medal of Honor, 653 of them have been awarded posthumously.

The mission of the National Medal of Honor Foundation is to focus on building a home for the legacies of the National Medal of Honor recipients to teach current and future generations about the valor and the voices of these recipients. This mission is what led to the construction of the National Medal of Honor Museum which is located in Arlington, Texas. Arlington was chosen to be the permanent location for the museum for a number of reasons, one being that Arlington receives over 14 million visitors a year and is just a few miles from two international airports.

Groundbreaking for the museum will begin this month. It will take approximately two years to construct the museum with the projected date of opening to be in the fall of 2024.

The next meeting of the Jonathan Hardin Chapter will be held on April 13, 2022 at the Gibbs Memorial Library. The program, CASA “Help a Child in Need” will be presented by Cynthia Gage.

Benediction was given by Honorary Regent Aleece McBay.

Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American Independence is eligible for membership. For more information about joining the Jonathan Hardin Chapter, NSDAR please contact Regent Nancy McSwane at 254-359-4620 or Registrar Patti Gauntt at 903-388-5677.