The Colonel Abram Penn Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution met January 11 for a luncheon meeting at the Landmark Center with 10 members and two guests present. Regent Louise Hansen led the daughters in the DAR ritual, Pledge of Allegiance, and The American’s Creed.
Mary Ann Franklin read the president general’s message about the record number of new members during the last few months and reminded everyone to engage new members in chapter activities right away.
“The Courthouses of Henry and Patrick Counties” was the subject of the program given by Mary Ann Franklin. One name is recognized all the time—Patrick Henry—but Patrick County is the only county in the nation that has his first name.
Patrick County was partitioned in 1790 from Henry County. The justices of Patrick County met at the Jonathan Hanby home and named the county seat Taylorsville. The government building was called the Patrick Court House. In 1884, the town was renamed Stuart in honor of Civil War General James Ewell Brown Stuart.
Henry County was established in 1777 and was carved from Pittsylvania County. It was originally named Patrick Henry County in honor of the Governor Patrick Henry but later changed to Henry County. The courthouse was built in 1824. Franklin displayed photos of both courthouses.
Shelby Cochran’s national defense message described an army artist’s look at the War on Terrorism, 2001-Present. This is an opportunity to see a soldier-artists’ rendition of the conflict and his personal interpretation of how the experience can be depicted. The artwork included in the online book on the War on Terrorism (http://www.history.army.mil/books/wot_artbook/wot_artwork.html) provides a visual history from September 11, 2001 to the present.
Catheryn Vaughn’s Indian Minute recommended ordering a new book about Hiawatha and the Peacemaker. Her flag minute described Chicago Cubs centerfield Rick Monday’s “greatest play in baseball.” On April 25, 1976, at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles, two protesters ran onto the field and attempted to set fire to a U.S. flag. Rick Monday grabbed the flag and put the fire out. ESPN later named Monday’s effort one of the top 100 plays in all of Major League Baseball history.
For the conservation minute, Regent Hansen told how Onie Vaughn and family had planted three trees in memory of her husband Cecil and other family members.
Flo Bell gave these numbers for her health minute: 200-plus cold viruses exist; three to eight colds are how many the average child will get a year; 93 mph is the rate at which air particles travel out of your nose and mouth when you sneeze; five minutes is the length of time germs can live on hands; one to two days is how long cold germs can live on hard surfaces, such as a doorknob or pen; eight to 12 hours is how long a cold virus remains on cloth, tissue or paper; and 30 seconds is how long you should scrub your hands to kill germs.
Janice Axelson gave an interesting talk about Molly Pitcher, possibly a legend that appears to be based on the stories to two women: Margaret Cochran Corbin and Mary Ludwig Hayes McCauley. In 1778, Mary was following her first husband, William Hays, a artillery man in the Continental Army, and was carrying buckets of water on the battle field. Her husband collapsed during the battle and Molly took up his duties at the cannon, loading and firing it herself.
Margaret Corbin’s had a similar story. She took over a cannon at the Battle of Fort Washington when her husband was killed in 1776. She was wounded during the battle. Both Mary and Margaret received pensions from a state or federal government.
Regent Hansen reminded the members of the State Conference in Richmond VA March 11-13. The meeting was adjourned with the benediction.
Betty Banks
Corresponding
Secretary
