Mount Ariel Chapter DAR garners state, regional awards

The Mount Ariel Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution has received individual and chapter honors for its work on behalf of the State Society and veterans in South Carolina.

Photo: Margaret Bagwell, of Greenwood, was recognized for her work to index records of patriots who served during the American Revolution.

The South Carolina Society, DAR, recognized Margaret Bagwell for her work to index more than 63,000 records of American Revolutionary War patriots for the national DAR organization in 2021. Many of these records become part of the DAR’s national genealogy database, which is available to those researching ancestors who served in the American Revolution.

Karen Petit received a first place award in the state competition for her essay, “COVID-19 Twisted the Plot in My Life as a Writer.” The essay also received first place honors in the Southeastern Division of DAR and has advanced to the national competition. Petit was recognized for her public relations activities on the behalf of the chapter for Wreaths Across America in Greenwood and won first place for her public relations campaign of the commemorative event, “Welcome Home, Vietnam Veterans,” in November.

Other chapter awards, presented during the S.C. DAR conference in Columbia, included:

• Commemorative Events- First Place;
• Chapter Development efforts for prospective members;
• Recognition as the first chapter in South Carolina to raise funds for an America250 historical marker, which will be dedicated in May at Greenville Presbyterian Church.

The chapter received additional recognition for its historic preservation efforts to clean the John Hodges Cemetery and a Project Patriot award for its support of a U.S. Army serviceman recently deployed to service abroad.

Helen Nazzaro, regent of the Mount Ariel Chapter, said the awards recognize the commitment of chapter members to the mission of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution to support community service, historic preservation, education and those who serve our nation.

“Chapter members give hundreds of hours annually to support DAR through involvement in our community, state and national activities,” Nazzaro said. “Each brings a wealth of experience to our chapter, and I am grateful that their dedicated efforts are being recognized throughout our state and region.”

Nazzaro, who is chair of the S.C. DAR National Defense Committee, presented two special awards at the state conference in honor of volunteer efforts for deployed military.

The Hudson Berry Chapter in Anderson, led by regent Regina Orzechowski Luker, received an award for the Wear RED Friday Campaign on social media. The competition among DAR chapters statewide encouraged members to “Remember Everyone Deployed” by wearing red clothing on Fridays.

Nazzaro presented Susan Davis Faulkner with an award for the Prayer Warriors Project of the Trenton Chapter in Aiken.