Photos courtesy of Botetourt DAR
On June 6, the 82nd anniversary of the pivotal World War II Allied invasion of Normandy known as D-Day, the Botetourt County Chapter DAR held its June meeting at the Fincastle United Methodist Church Family Life Center. Associate member Cindy Higgins, a member of the Bedford International Alliance, spoke about her visits to Normandy and, specifically, the church at Angoville-au-Plain, where soldiers from both armies received medical treatment from two American medics of the 101st Airborne Division.
Members were honored to meet Lorenzo Dean, their Good Citizen Award winner from Lord Botetourt High School, and hear about his plans for the future. The winner from James River High School, Madison Muncey, was unable to attend.
Members of the Rushville, Ind., Chapter DAR came to Fincastle the previous weekend to attend the play “A Most Horrid Conspiracy” at Attic Productions. The play told the story of John Wyatt, a Revolutionary War soldier from Botetourt County who became a Patriot spy. Wyatt eventually moved to Rush County, Ind., where he is buried, and members of the Rushville Chapter wanted to learn more about his story. Four Rushville DAR members spent the weekend visiting with Botetourt County Chapter members and touring Historic Smithfield Plantation, Poplar Forest, Monticello, and the National D-Day Memorial.
On June 13, the Botetourt County chapter will hold a yard sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Masonic Lodge in Fincastle to raise funds for a commissioned painting depicting militia members departing for the Battle of Point Pleasant.
On July 11, the chapter will sponsor “Liberty on the Lawn” from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Botetourt County Museum of History & Culture in Fincastle. Activities will include three historical interpreters, a large Declaration of Independence for attendees to sign, one or two laptops where visitors can research their Patriot ancestors, face-in-hole boards for children to have their pictures taken, a wool spinner, and other activities. Everyone is invited.
~ Botetourt Chapter DAR
