March 29, 2024
BANGOR DAILY NEWS (BANGOR, MAINE

Several people win awards at DAR annual convention

Women with as much as seven decades of service to the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, were honored March 25-27 at the annual convention of the Maine State Organization at the Holiday Inn on Main Street in Bangor.

High school and elementary pupils also were recognized for winning contests, as was an outstanding teacher of American history.

Arlene Crane of Machias, state chairman of the 50-Year Club, recognized members with 50 or more years of membership during a luncheon Friday. The Maine member with the longest service, Crane told the group, was Alice Richardson Willey of Clinton. In December 1913, she joined the Eleazar Parker Chapter, organized the previous year by her mother. Mrs. Willey, now 97, continues to make her home in Clinton with her husband, Harold.

Also a member for more than 70 years was Bernice Whitten Sterling of Dover-Foxcroft. She first joined the Col. Asa Whitcomb Chapter in Kingfield when she was teaching school.

Members with 40 years of membership were recognized during the annual breakfast meeting of the State Officers and Chapter Regents Club Saturday.

State winners in the DAR Good Citizen Contest were announced by Lynda Quinn of Skowhegan, state chairman. The high school seniors were each nominated by their school on the basis of dependability, leadership, citizenship and service. The state winner was Shenna Lee Bellows of Hancock, a student at Ellsworth High School. The daughter of Dexter and Janice Bellows, she was sponsored by Mount Desert Isle Chapter.

Colonial Daughters Chapter in Farmington sponsored the second-place Good Citizen, Gilbert Hunger of Rangeley High School. He is the son of Richards and Judith Hunger of Oquossoc. Placing third was Heather Blier of Hermon High School. The daughter of Alan and Susan Blier, she was sponsored by Frances Dighton Williams Chapter.

Ian Catlett of Litchfield received the American History Award, presented by Chairman Madeleine Stanley of Hallowell. Catlett, who is a senior at Gardiner High School, is the son of Larry and Vicki Catlett, and of Cloe Chunn, all of Litchfield.

Vance Brown of Searsport was honored as the 1993 Outstanding Teacher of American History. State Chairman Donna Hoffmann of Bucksport explained that Brown, who teaches at Frankfort Elementary School, was nominated by Penobscot Expedition Chapter for his exceptional work in living history. Dressed in authentic costume, Brown encouraged the DAR members and guests to attend Living History Days at Leonard’s Mills in Bradley and at Fort Knox State Park in Prospect.

Chairman Norma Spurling of Bar Harbor announced the state winners of the DAR American History Essay Contest on the topic of “Famous Landmarks in the American Revolution.”

Winners for grade eight were: first, Nicholas Bergeron, Bay Ridge Elementary School, Cutler; second, Melanie Morian, St. Augustine School, Augusta; third, Jeremy Byrd, Penobscot Elementary School, Penobscot.

Seventh-grade winners were: first, Nicole Sawyer, St. Augustine School; second, Thaddeus Jozefowicz, St. John’s School, Bangor; third, Sarah Bell, Mary Emery School, Anson.

Sixth-grade winners were: first, Andrew Masloski, James H. Bean School, Oakland; second, Maisie Howard, Buker School, Augusta; third, Jennifer Moore, Bay Ridge School.

Winners for grade five were: first, Travis Brennan, Fred P. Hall School, Portland; second, Benjamin Verburgt, Bay Ridge School; third, Kimberly Hyde, Sylvia J. Gilbert School, Augusta.

A memorial service Friday morning, led by chaplain Margaret Montcalm, honored members who had died during the previous year. They included an honorary state regent, Shirley Cole Atwood of Brewer. Atwood had been an author, member and regent of several lineage societies, and New England president of the General Federation of Women’s Clubs.

More than 130 members from the 29 DAR chapters around the state attended the conference, led by state regent Janet Ramos of South Harpswell. The guest speaker was Mrs. Thomas Burkey, national registrar general. Music was provided by Mrs. Sam Wyman of Bangor, the New Renaissance Singers from the Northern Conservatory of Music, and Kevin Birch, music director at St. John’s Catholic Church. General chairman for the conference was Louise Towle of Bangor.


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