December 2012 – Utah State Society, Daughters of the American Revolution

Dear Daughters: I wish you a Merry Christmas with your families and friends this holiday season. During the past two months, I have been busy attending Chapter Meetings, honoring our Veterans, and enjoying several Christmas celebrations.

Princess Timpanogos honored their adopted active military serviceman, Reese Hansen, serving in Afghanistan with the Utah Army National Guard. Reese repairs helicopters. His wife, Laura Hansen, little daughter, Blakley, and parents Lynn and Linda Hansen, were in attendance on November 19, 2012, at the monthly meeting of Princess Timpanogos. They were honored with gift cards and a special General’s Coin from featured speaker, General Peter Cook. Many neighbors and family members attended this special Veteran’s Program hosted by Harriet Rasmussen, Regent Princess Timpanogos.

Laura Hansen receiving General’s Coin from General Peter Cook

State Regent, Shirley Nelson, General Peter Cook, Princess Timpanogos Regent, Harriet Rasmussen

Dec. 8, 2012, was our annual Christmas Party at the Lion House sponsored by the Utah State Officer’s Club. Serving with Christine Schultz, President are Jane Nelson Comp, Treasurer, and Lu Fischer, Secretary. We ate a delicious luncheon, listened to professional pianist, Kelsie Call, and sang Christmas Carols, accompanied by Judy Barking, State Vice Regent. It was a great time to renew friendships and meet new members.

Judy Barking, Vice Regent playing the piano and leading the daughters in Christmas Carols

Guest pianist Kelsie Call provided entertainment

Front row: Christine Schultz, President Utah State Officers Club, hostess;

Shirley Nelson, State Regent; Ellen Powley, Honorary State Regent;

Back row: Cindy Spencer, Honorary State Regent, Diane Tarbox, Honorary State Regent, Cindy Toone, Vice President General; Janis McCoid, Honorary State Regent

Dec. 15, 2012, found a few of us participating in “Wreaths Across America” at the Veterans Memorial Cemetery, Camp Williams. We met in the chapel for a ceremonial meeting prior to laying the wreaths. Afterwards, Pat Moseman, State Chairman Project Patriot, and Janis McCoid, Honorary State Regent, and I braved the winter storm that day as we ventured outside to lay wreaths on Veteran’s graves in a foot of snow.

State Regent, Shirley Nelson and Pat Moseman, State Project Patriot Chair

Shirley Nelson, Janis McCoid, Pat Moseman

Immediately following the activities at Camp Williams, Judy Mayfield, State Organizing Secretary, and I stopped by Ellen Powley’s home to visit her mother Ellen Lockwood. Mrs. Lockwood has been a member of DAR for 68 years. She and her daughter, Ellen Powley (Honorary State Regent, Past Vice President General, and Past Recording Secretary General) have offered years of service to our organization. We enjoyed our visit with both of these fine women.

Ellen Lockwood, DAR member 68 years with Shirley Nelson

Next on the agenda was the Wasatch Range’s Christmas Party at Kathryn Jenson’s home in Provo, Utah. Kathryn is presently serving as our State Chaplain. Regent Carol McPheeters presided at this festive event. We enjoyed delicious goodies and were enthralled to hear stories by Norman and Shirley Tong who lived, as children, through the bombing of Pearl Harbor, Dec. 7, 1941.

WR Project Patriot Chair, Joan Van Duzer with wool helmet liner

Carol Ann McPheeters, Regent WR; Lorena Norris, Chapter Vice Regent;
Joan Van Duzer, Registrar; Arelene Andrus, Chaplain; Kathryn Madsen, Secretary; Shirley Nelson, State Regent and Pam Foosum, Treasurer, Catherine Brunko (back)

Carol McPheeters, Regent WR; Lorena Norris, State Recording Secretary;
Kathryn Jenson, State Chaplain; Ellen Powley, Honorary State Regent;

Shirley Nelson, State Regent and Judy Mayfield, State Organizing Secretary

After the wonderful meeting we drove to Lorena Norris’s home to view her many beautiful quilts. Lorena, State Recording Secretary, will be donating her famous “Sego Lily” quilt to the silent auction in April at our State Conference. Proceeds will go towards the piano for the Fisher House. We are looking for other donations from members to help with this silent auction. We hope to finish raising the monies for the piano at our State Conference, April 25-27, 2013; and, to present it to Mrs. Quinn Kiger-Good at the Friday evening banquet, April 26th, 2013. Members may still buy a $10.00/piano key by sending their checks to Debbie Hoyt, State Treasurer. (Checks are to be made to USSDAR.) All piano key donations will be entered in a drawing for our patriotic quilt made by Helen Clayton, State Veterans Chairman.

The Daughters in Utah are so talented and dedicated to our Veterans and Active Military Service men and women. We look forward in the New Year to have more opportunities for Veteran service as the Utah Society participates in the State Regent’s Project, “Honor our Veterans and Active Military Service Heroes.”

We plan on celebrating our many DAR accomplishments when our President General, Merry Ann Wright, comes to our State Conference at the Radisson Hotel in Salt Lake City, April 25-27th. All daughters are encouraged to attend the Friday business meetings and luncheon to hear Mrs. Wright. She is an outstanding President General, friendly and knowledgeable about DAR. Please mark it on your 2013 calendar and let’s show her how great the Utah Daughters of the American Revolution are.

Shirley Nelson, State Regent and Merry Ann Wright, President General NSDAR

My best wishes to you all for a Happy New Year 2013!

In DAR Friendship

Shirley Nelson, State Regent