Posted by Abbey Snow | Sep 9, 2022 | Clubs / Groups, Community, Community Announcements, Local News, Schools, Top Stories | 0

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Virgin Valley Chapter, has some noteworthy events coming up in Mesquite including:  Bells Across America, US Constitution Week, and the dedication of the American Patriot Plaque.

Ruth Dickie is the chaplain of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution, Virgin Valley Chapter, located in Mesquite. She has been a member of the NSDAR since March 2020 when the Nevada Virgin Valley Chapter was first formed. Each member was asked to volunteer to perform a job and also be on a committee that is outlined by the National Society DAR. She volunteered to be chaplain and also volunteered to be on the Constitution Week Committee.   

To “kick off” Constitution Week there will be a service for Bells Across America on Saturday, Sept. 17 th beginning at 12:30 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Park. The public is invited to attend.   NSDAR Virgin Valley Chapter members will reside along with the main speaker, Mayor Litman.  It marks the 235 th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.  People are urged to bring their bells, large or small,  to be rung at 1:00pm. (which is 4:00pm. EDT, the time people in Philadelphia were called to hear the reading of the Constitution in 1787) We will ring our bells for one minute. Virgin Valley Chapter has purchased 60 small bells and will pass them out on a first-come basis,Dickie said. 

Dickie said that Constitution Week is always Sept 17-23 each year. It is the commemoration of America’s most important document and it stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain our freedoms, liberties, and inalienable rights.  It was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution in 1955, when they petitioned Congress to set this date for the observance of the US Constitution. It passed Congress and President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into law. Monies have been donated by the Exchange Club in Mesquite to purchase US Constitution Booklets for the school students. Classrooms throughout the school districts will be studying the US Constitution. A three-sided display board has been placed in all the schools in Mesquite, Bunkerville, Beaver Dam, plus the two public libraries to draw awareness to this week and to spark the students interest in learning about this most important document. This is the first year the NSDAR Virgin Valley Chapter has been involved in this week.  Websites for free materials for students, teachers, essay contests, poster contests, and other ideas to use in the classroom are posted on the display boards. 

Dedication of the Revolutionary War Patriot Plaque will be on November 11th at Veteran’s Memorial Park at 1:00 pm. The public is invited to attend. This is a 24×24 bronze plaque to celebrate the brave Patriots who founded our nation and a reminder of the importance of emulating their conviction, courage and cooperation toward national unity.  This commemorates the nation’s upcoming 250 th anniversary.   The goal of the National Society of the DAR is to place one marker in every state.  Virgin Valley Chapter sent in the application to the Nevada’s State Society and they picked Mesquite in which to place it for Nevada.  It’s called A Revolutionary War Patriots Marker, Dickie said. 

“It is already in place at the Veteran’s Memorial Park on the white marble wall (the vets choice) and it is beautiful,”  Dickie said. “This is the only plaque in Nevada and the NSDAR picked Mesquite to have it. State DAR dignitaries will be in attendance as this is quite an honor for the Virgin Valley Chapter as well as for the City of Mesquite.”

The NSDAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, DC. It’s a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through the education of our children. As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 190,000 members in 3,000 chapters across America and internationally.  Any woman 18 years or older-regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible for membership.  Visit dar.org/membership to get application forms and information on Virgin Valley’s contact, Dickie said. 

“Since we are a new chapter, we are volunteering in community projects as they arise,” Dickie said . ”We have visited and helped clean up two historic homes in Mesquite. The Virgin Valley Heritage Museum helped us obtain information on these homes.  We have supported our local veterans administration by promoting and purchasing bricks to be placed at the Veterans Memorial Park. We have supported the Mesquite Exchange Club by membership and volunteer hours. We made paracord bracelets for Vietnam Veterans and mailed them to Operation Gratitude who in turn mailed them to men and women who served bravely in Vietnam. We participate in Wreaths Across America. We are going to participate in Bells Across America on Sept. 17 th .  We are participating in Constitution Week, Sept 17-23 rd .” 

With these important events, It is hoped that the public can attend the Bells Across America on Saturday, Sept. 17 th and the dedication  of  the Revolutionary War Patriot Plaque on November 11th. 

     The Revolutionary War Patriot Plaque

  Display boards for the schools to put in the office.

Three sided interactive display board placed at the Mesquite and Bunkerville libraries.

Reporter/Journalist- 'Journalism & Mass Communications' at Ashford University. ESL Teacher. Habló Español

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