The Susannah French Putney Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their monthly meeting at the Energy Education Center behind the Butler County Historical Society in El Dorado, at 12:15 p.m. in the afternoon of November 17.
A catered lunch and time to socialize was enjoyed by the members.
The group recited the Preamble to the Constitution, DAR Ritual, Pledge of Allegiance, American Creed and sang the Star Spangled Banner. Chaplain Ann Wimberly shared the devotion.
The planned program about the Bleckley Foundation was postponed due to illness. However, member Deb Keplar provided some background information about WWI war hero First Lieutenant Erwin Bleckley from Wichita. The foundation is planning to restore a 1918 WWI De Havilland DH-4 airplane like the one used by Mr. Bleckley. First Lieutenant Bleckley’s remarkable story was nearly lost to history. To learn more about Bleckley and the DH-4 airplane go to the website: bleckleyfoundation.org.
One of the DAR objectives is Historic Preservation. However, you do not have to be a DAR member to record and share your own family information lest it also be lost to the ages.
Military achievements, journals, diaries, letters and scrapbooks of family pictures (be sure to label the people and places) are important sources of historic reference that need to be cherished and passed on to younger family members. For those already in your possession, you should protect, share and digitalize significant finds. Check with your local museum about items they may be interested in adding to their collections.
Donations were collected for the Winfield Veteran’s Home and Wreaths Across America.
The next meeting will be held in El Dorado at the Energy Education Center behind the Butler County Historical Society, at 1 p.m. on Friday, December 15. Guests are welcome.
Members in attendance: Teresa Bachman, Sue Ann Brown, Kay Catlin, Carla Cook, Sharon Decker, Sigrid Denchfield, Patty Goedecke, Nancy Gordon, Janet Green, Jean Groendes, Loria Howard, Deborah Keplar, Sharon McClure, Kathy Morrow, Martha Riedl, Kim Ring (guest), Rise Russin, Nita Whiteman and Ann Wimberly.
