This July edition of What Are the Chapters Doing? highlights Daughters honoring service and remembrance during the 135th Continental Congress, including wreath layings at Mount Vernon and Arlington, a tribute to the Marine Corps Body Bearers, and a heartfelt playing of TAPS for a Vietnam veteran at Arlington National Cemetery.
Continental Congress is so much more than business meetings, formal meals, forums, and fellowship. With thousands of DAR members gathering in our nation’s capital from across the country and around the world, Congress becomes a meaningful opportunity to show tangible appreciation, gratitude, and remembrance for those who have served the United States of America.
In this July edition of “What Are the Chapters Doing?” Haley Lancaster, National Vice Chair Writer and Editor, highlights several moving acts of tribute that took place during the week of the 135th Continental Congress.
From Arizona Daughters honoring the Marine Corps Body Bearers near the DAR Founders Memorial, to Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana Daughters making special pilgrimages to Mount Vernon, this episode reflects the heart of remembrance and patriotic service. Listeners will also hear about the Louisiana Daughters’ solemn wreath-laying at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery.
The episode closes with a deeply personal story of sisterhood and service. Katie Siebel of the Constantia Chapter in Suffolk, Virginia, brought her trumpet to Congress and, at the request of her roommate Gloria Womble, played TAPS at Arlington National Cemetery beside the graves of Gloria’s parents. Gloria’s father, Master Sergeant Gerald Eugene Kightlinger, was a Vietnam veteran who served more than 21 years in the military.
These powerful moments remind us why Daughters gather, why we remember, and why we continue to serve—honoring legacies both grand and personal, one act of gratitude at a time.
Thank you, daughters, for listening to another episode of the DAR Today Podcast of What Are Chapters Doing? So now we turn to Haley Lancaster, your National Vice Chair, and have a look at chapter stories, service projects, and meaningful moments happening across DAR and our great society. Continental Congress is so much more than just meetings and meals, forums and fun, with thousands of DAR members from all over the nation and the world arriving in our nation's capital, it is a premier opportunity for members to show tangible appreciation and gratitude to those who have served the United States of America.
I'm Haley Lancaster, National Vice Chair, Writer, and Editor for the DAR Today podcast with your July edition of What Are the Chapters Doing? This month, we are focusing on some truly amazing acts of reflection, tribute, and remembrance that took place during the week of the 135th Continental Congress.
On Wednesday morning of Congress Week, Arizona Daughters gathered near the DAR Founders Memorial for a deeply meaningful presentation. Arizona State Regent Sarah Zeiker shared that the Daughters presented a special token of appreciation to the Marine Corps body bearers. The body bearers perform one of the most solemn duties in our military, accompanying America's fallen heroes on their final journey with flawless precision and reverence.
The Arizona Daughters honored that devotion, which so perfectly embodies honor and dignity, before spending the rest of their morning touring our beautiful DAR headquarters.
Of course, remembrance often takes our members just outside the Capitol City to the historic grounds of Mount Vernon. This year, the Ohio, Tennessee, and Indiana societies made a special pilgrimage to the home of George and Martha Washington. Indiana daughters braved the rain on Tuesday of Congress week to pay their respects at the grave of our nation's first president and first lady.
For the Tennessee Daughters, led by state regent Carol Teeters, this Congress marked a major milestone. While the state has traditionally laid a wreath at Arlington National Cemetery for the past four years, this was the very first time Tennessee laid a wreath at Mount Vernon.
A perfect opportunity, Carol noted, to honor the nation's first first family. The Ohio Society hosted a full day of heritage featuring a tour of the estate, lunch at the historic inn at Mount Vernon, and their own wreath laying ceremony.
With many first time Congress attendees in tow, the Ohio daughters were thrilled to witness the beautifully restored George Washington bedroom and the incredible preservation work being done on the estate. The spirit of tribute continued with the Louisiana Daughters.
On Tuesday afternoon, members gathered on the hollowed grounds of the Arlington National Cemetery. In a moment of profound silence and respect, the Louisiana Society took part in the time honored tradition of placing a wreath at the tomb of the unknown soldier, standing as a voice of gratitude for those whose names are known only to God.
While these large state gatherings are significant, I want to leave you today with a story about a simple question, quiet act of service and sisterhood that captures the true heart of DAR and illuminating legacies.
Katie Seibel, a member of the Constantia chapter in Suffolk, Virginia, chose to drive to Continental Congress this year. Driving allowed her to bring along a very special piece of cargo, her trumpet. Katie's Congress roommate was Gloria Womble. At Gloria's request, the roommates made a trip to Arlington National Cemetery.
There, at the graveside of Gloria's parents, Katie lifted her trumpet and solemnly played taps for Gloria's father, Gerald Eugene Keitlinger, who rests alongside his wife Margaret. Master Sergeant Keitlinger was a Vietnam veteran who retired in 1970 after more than 21 years of dedicated military service. Gloria was just 13 years old when her father went to serve in country in Vietnam.
As Gloria and her husband stood by, Katie's music echoed across the hills. A beautiful tribute not just to Master Sergeant Keitlinger, but to all the brave men and women laid to rest at Arlington.
It's personal, powerful moments like these that remind us why we gather, why we remember, and why we serve as daughters.
So, what is your chapter doing? If you have an amazing story to share on how your members are illuminating legacies in your community, then drop us a line at DAR Podcast @ darpodcast.org
Thanks for listening. Again, I'm Haley Lancaster, and keep up the incredible work, daughters.
Thank you, Haley, for sharing all those beautiful stories from Arizona, Ohio, Tennessee, Indiana, Louisiana, and Virginia. So from all those wreaths at Mount Vernon and Arlington to honoring the Marine Corps body bearers, to one daughter playing taps in a quiet moment of remembrance, these chapter stories remind us that service is both grand and deeply personal.
These stories also should remind that every chapter has a story worth sharing, and whether it's community service, a project in your community, a meaningful ceremony, a historic preservation effort, or just a simple act of service, each one helps carry the torch forward.
So what is your chapter doing? If your members are illuminating legacies in your community, remember we would love to hear your story. So thank you for joining us for what our chapter is doing on the DAR Today podcast.
And we'll see you again. Thank you, Daughters!