All posts by utahvis

Utah DAR Monuments & Markers Series Part III: Escalante Monument

This monument was dedicated on January 20, 1922 and placed by Spirit of Liberty Chapter in the northeast corner of Spanish Fork City Park to commemorate the Dominguez y Escalante Expedition of 1776 in which members searched for a route from Santa Fe, New Mexico, to the Spanish settlement in Monterey, California.

Spanish Priest-explorer, Father Silvestre Velez de Escalante arrived in Utah Valley on September 23, 1776 with his party.

Rededicated August 1, 1975, as part of a bicentennial project with the City of Spanish Fork.  The Monument is overseen by the Wasatch Range Chapter in Provo, Utah.

Utah DAR Monuments & Markers Series Part II: World War I Doughboy Monument

In the 1920s, a World War I Doughboy Monument was sculpted by Gilbert P. Risvold and placed on the balcony of the American Legion Post on 24th Street in downtown Ogden City.

In 1947, the monument was moved to the Ogden City Cemetery. After years of wear and damage from vandals, the Weber County Heritage Foundation took on the project of restoring the monument.

The Golden Spike Chapter, NSDAR of Ogden, Utah sponsored an NSDAR Historic Preservation Grant in 2016 to help with the cost of the restoration. A grant was awarded for $8,450.00.

In 2017, the monument was removed from the cemetery and restored by the Adonis Bronze Company. A new granite faced dais was also completed with “In Flander’s Fields” by John McCae on the front of the base.

On the back, donors’ names are inscribed with the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution and the Golden Spike Chapter as the second and third inscriptions. The monument sits in a prominent location in the cemetery on Gold Star Drive.

The graves of Veterans radiate out from the statue. The Doughboy Monument was rededicated on November 11, 2018. The Monument is overseen by the Golden Spike Chapter in Ogden, Utah.

Utah DAR Monuments & Markers Series Part I: DAR Drinking Fountain

The Spirit of Liberty Chapter dedicated the first Utah DAR monument, The DAR Drinking Fountain, in Salt Lake City on November 11, 1905. On behalf of the Spirit of Liberty Chapter,  State Regent Mrs. Lee Charles Miller presented the fountain to the city as a reminder of those who served in the American Revolution, calling attention to the need of having a reminder for the children lest they forget those who aided “with unfailing loyalty” to the cause of Independence.

Present during the dedication was Real Daughter Mrs. Elijah Sells, the first State Regent Mrs. O.J. Salisbury, and State Regent Mrs. Mary Montague Ferry Allen.

The monument was first placed in front of the Packard Public Library located at 15 South State Street in Salt Lake City, Utah. It moved to Washington Square at 451 South State Street, Salt Lake City, Utah for a time before landing in its current location on the Northeast quadrant of Liberty Park, 600 East 900 South, Salt Lake City, Utah.

The water fountain outlets are located on two sides of the fountain for patrons. Below one of the fountain outlets, there is a lower drinking fountain for dogs “who may quench their thirst.”

No longer a functioning drinking fountain, the monument currently sits in the center of a flower bed bordered by a rock wall.  The Monument is overseen by the Salt Lake Valley Chapter in Murray, Utah.

Wreaths Across America

 Hello Friends,
 
Each year, Utah DAR members are honored to show their gratitude and patriotism by laying thousands of wreaths at the graves of deceased veterans in cemeteries across the length of our state from Logan in the North to St. George in the South.  Outgoing Governor Gary Herbert declared December 19th as Wreaths Across America day in Utah. This regent is proud that our State Society had 100% Chapter Participation.
Sharing ‘Our Legacy of Love’ through patriotic service,
Kathryn Asay,
Utah State Regent

A Year of Serving

Hello Friends,

Throughout 2020, our eleven DAR Chapters have shared their talents and donations for Utah from St. George to Logan.  Here are several beautiful pictures of our DAR Service to America as we honor our communities, our veterans, and our Active Military personnel.  Utah DAR is delighted to share “Our Legacy of Love” in friendship and service 365 days a year.
In DAR service and friendship,
Kathryn Asay,
Utah State Regent

Christmas Greetings from the National Society

Hello Friends,

This is the holiday message from our President General Denise VanBuren. Please watch the video tour.

“Happy Holidays from DAR Headquarters! The pandemic may have kept us from hosting our traditional Open House this year, but it couldn’t stop us from decorating our House Beautiful! If you’re in the metro D.C. area, we invite you to come see our Holiday Illumination in person. Otherwise, check out the Today’s DAR Blog post from today for a peak at our decorations and other suggestions for ways you can celebrate the holidays virtually. We even have a surprise video message from Santa!”

Check it all out here: https://blog.dar.org/dar-headquarters-holiday-highlights

Sharing ‘Our Legacy of Love’ this Holiday season,

Kathryn Asay,

Utah State Regent

The Day that Lives in Infamy

Hello Friends,
As we pause to remember the the surprise attack which occurred at Pearl Harbor, Hawaii that ushered our nation into WWII, the Utah Daughters would like to specifically remember those serving on the USS Utah.
This is an interesting article published about the “forgotten battleship” of Pearl Harbor.
The Utah State Society Daughters of the American Revolution share their “Legacy of Love” in remembrance of those who sacrificed their lives on December 7th, 1941.
Respectfully,
Kathryn Asay,
Utah  State Regent

Utah Daughters participate in National DAR Day of Service

Hello Friends,

As we celebrated the 130th Anniversary of NSDAR in October, Utah Daughters were busy in a variety of ways serving their communities for the “National DAR Day of Service”. 

Bald Eagle Chapter collected trash along the highway.

Color Country Chapter volunteered at Switch Point Food Pantry stocking shelves and packing food boxes.

Golden Spike Chapter put together over 50 meals for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America in Roy, Utah.

Princess Timpanogos Chapter made educational games for children with learning disabilities in the Granite School District.

Pony Express Chapter collected food and clothing for a Women’s Shelter Refuge.

Sego Lily Chapter collected cleaning supplies for Safe Harbor Women’s Shelter and 96 pounds of food for the Bountiful Food Bank.

Salt Lake Valley Chapter,  as part of Service to Veterans, collected hygiene products for the homeless because many of them are veterans. Items collected were taken to a homeless shelter.

Uintah Chapter made and donated 50 sack lunches for the youth at Midvale Family Resources Center.

Spirit of America Chapter picked up trash along their very own stretch of an adopted highway.

Wasatch Range Chapter delivered pizzas and other foods to families in need.

We are so proud of the Utah Daughters serving in the community for the Day of Service.

Sharing “Our Legacy of Love” as we “Rise and Shine for America,”
Kathryn Asay
Utah State Regent

DAR Distinguished Citizen Ceremony

Hello Friends,
As the Utah State Regent, I was  joined by the Wasatch Range Chapter Regent Kelly Bullock and the DAR National Defense Committee State Chair Debbie Hoyt  to present the DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal to Utah Attorney General Sean D. Reyes.
October is Domestic Violence Awareness Month and its symbolic color is purple. Utah Daughters, joined by members of  Children of the American Revolution, gathered to acknowledge domestic violence survivors and be a voice for its victims.  Attorney General Reyes has been one of those voices for victims with his years of courageous and honorable service in protecting and rescuing hundreds of women and children from human trafficking  both in Utah and worldwide.  The ceremony was held in the Utah State Capitol’s Gold Room.
Attorney General Reyes graciously accepted this recognition and shared about his own experiences with his “Legacy of Love.”
Sharing “Our Legacy of Love” through service and friendship,
Kathryn Asay
Utah State Regent

Celebrating a Century with the Berlin Candy Bomber

Hello Friends,

I’m so pleased to share that our State Society and the Wasatch Range Chapter hosted a fantastic 100th Birthday Party for Colonel Gail Halvorsen, the WWII Berlin Candy Bomber, on Saturday, October 10th, 2020.

A drive-by parade was held complete with decorated classic cars and a police escort. Bagpipers, military personnel, DAR members, CAR members, his family, and the community honored and celebrated this great man.

Colonel Halvorsen was presented Quilt of Valor by Wasatch Range Chapter Regent Kelly Schaeffer-Bullock. The quilt is a “tangible reminder that there are hundreds of millions of women and men throughout this land and throughout the world, who are forever in your debt,” Mrs. Schaeffer-Bullock said.

We are so honored to have been able to celebrate one of Utah’s very own heroes!

In DAR service and friendship,

Kathryn Asay