A large contingent from the new Villages chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution chose a spectacular patriotic band concert at the Savannah Center on Friday as a group activity. The concert, which featured three resident-only concert bands, were sold out, so the women were happy they had procured their tickets weeks before the show.
“We are a relatively new club,” Charron Conley said. “The Villages DAR held its first meeting on Dec. 7, 2013 and already ha s more than fifty members . We continue to grow, mostly by word of mouth.”
“Our goals include Patriotism, Historical Preservation and Enhancing Education,” Conley continued, ” so this concert is a perfect fit — and so is our group’s meeting venue, the Eisenhower Recreation Center — replete with historical memorabilia donated by area military veterans. ” The women liked that concert profits were going to Fisher House, the well known veterans’ rehabilitation facility in Tampa.
As part of its outreach, The new Villages DAR purchases history books for local schools , and it awards scholarships. They will be donating mystery books for veterans’ use at The Villages VA Clinic and the VA Hospital in Tampa. As part of its historic preservation efforts, a December fundraiser is being planned to benefit the historic Baker House on State Road 44 A. The edifice and its acreage, donated by the Baker family to the city of Wildwood, was once owned by Florida Senator David Hume Baker (1841-1917), who served as 2nd Lieutenant in the Civil War as part of the 12th Kentucky (Union) cavalry.
In order to qualify for DAR membership, female applicants over the age of eighteen must be able to prove lineal descent from a soldier or patriot who participated in the American Revolution. “When we say patriots,” club Regent, Carole Ann Peskin, added, “we mean people with ancestors involved in the creation of our new nation — for example, those who served in American colonial governments; and those who provided goods and services or paid taxes levied to support the local militiamen.”
“If we think back to our history books, the actions of these brave patriots put them at great risk. Great Britain had proclaimed anyone found to be involved in ‘ treasonous activities ‘ would be hanged and their property and businesses confiscated. So that meant,” Peskin continued, “if the British had won, these patriots would have been killed, and catastrophic consequences would have befallen their families and children.”
The Villages DAR meets at 10 a.m., the third Friday of each month at the Eisenhower Recreation Center. The meetings are followed by a catered luncheon on premises.
For more information, contact Carole Ann Peskin at [email protected] or (352) 751-2423.