DAR members welcome new members

The DAR Oath of Membership has been given by Sue Carmichael to Darlene Byrd, whose patriot is James Dillard, Sandy Lovell, whose patriot is Francis Webb and Joy Wind, whose patriot is Ambrose Foster.

They are the newest members of Comfort Wood Chapter, DAR. The group met March 20 at Hearthstone at Briar Lane. The meeting was opened with the ringing of the pineapple bell, symbolizing the National Theme The Spirit of Hospitality Opens Doors of Opportunity. Regent, Hazel Foltyn led the Opening Ceremony and ended with the Pledge to the U. S. and Texas Flags, the American's Creed and the Preamble to the Constitution.

An educational program was given by Phillip Spenrath, teacher, coach and mayor of El Campo. He was assisted by his 10-year-old son, Rhett, who is a fourth grader at Northside Elementary in El Campo.

They gave a power point presentation that Spenrath's students in his Pre-AP World Geography Classes had entered in Friends of Texas Governor's Mansion Contest. Their winning presentations won money for El Campo High School and entitled them to a trip to Austin to meet Governor Rick Perry and tour the Mansion. Taylor Lange won Best Overall Project in 2006 with her presentation titled J.D. Hudgins Ranch. Megan Martin won Best Overall Presentation on Horton Foote and Mike Wissinger won Best Audio Presentation on Prairie Switch in 2007. Linda Cerny won the Best Research Award on her presentation titled Sno-Cone Shop in 2008. The contestants must prepare a three-minute or less power point presentation about some event, place, or person from Wharton County.

The event must have occurred more than 50 years ago. Each presentation was viewed and enjoyed by members. Rhett made the trip this year and took pictures of the State Capitol and he gave a Show and Tell.

Secretary Gene Jackson read the minutes and Pat Sanders, treasurer, gave the treasurer's report. Communications were read from the President General Linda Calvin, the Louise ISD, Bobby Jack Polasak and Wharton High School Junior ROTC. Reports were given on National Defense by Kathleen Thonsgaard and Flag Facts by Idanel Sellars. Seewee Dupuy gave the Conservation report and Foltyn updated the group on the January White Give the DAR Service for Veterans Project.

Comfort Wood will be participating in the Stitches for Scholarships. Thirty Chapters will be making one square representing their chapter and county. They will be made into a queen size quilt that will be displayed and given away at the Houston Quilt Show next fall. We will be selling chances for the quilt. Dupuy will look into the chapter traveling to Galveston to Moody Gardens this summer to see the Titanic Exhibit.

The Texas Gulf Coast Regent's Council meeting was held at the Victoria Regional Airport Sky Restaurant in Victoria on April 1. The program will be the Wings of Freedom Tour.

The tour travels the nation as a flying tribute to the flight crews who flew their type of planes during World War II.

A speaker will tell a little about the history and missions of these aircraft before the tour. All members are invited to this council meeting.

The pineapple bell was rung and members enjoyed refreshments provided by hostesses Foltyn and Jackson.

Victoria Visit

The Comfort Wood Chapter, DAR traveled to Victoria Regional Airport on April 1 to the Gulf Coast Regent's Council for Texas DAR.

The Comfort Wood pineapple bell was used to call the meeting to order by President Donna Johnson, Mary Roth Marsh Chapter of Bay City.

Chaplain Annie Stafford of Comfort Wood Chapter led the invocation and Hazel Foltyn of Comfort Wood led the Pledge to the Texas Flag.

During lunch there was a jet fly-over performance.

On display were a North American B-25 Mitchell, Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress and a Consolidated B-24 Liberator.

Members climbed aboard the World War II airplanes, asked

questions and took pictures.