Hendersonville – The Joseph McDowell Chapter of the NCSDAR met last week at Champion Hills Clubhouse, with 32 members in attendance. Guest speakers included State Representative Eric Ager from the NC General Assembly and Beverly Bradigan, Supervisor of Recreation Therapy at Charles George VA Medical Center.
Ager, a Democrat representing the 114th district in the North Carolina House of Representatives since 2023, expressed his appreciation for the DAR’s focus on the country’s roots. He quoted U.S. President Abraham Lincoln’s famous words from the dedication of the Soldiers’ National Cemetery (now Gettysburg National Cemetery): “A government of the people, by the people and for the people.” Ager commended the Joseph McDowell Chapter for their recent $1,000 donation to the Fisher House, State Regent Cricket Crigler’s chosen project. The Fisher House Foundation constructs comfort homes where military and veteran families can stay free of charge while a loved one is hospitalized. These homes are located at military and VA medical centers worldwide.
Bradigan provided an update on the Charles George VA Medical Center, which the Hendersonville Chapter has strongly supported since World War I. She detailed the challenges faced during Hurricane Helene, including power outages, fallen trees, and extensive damage. Through considerable effort, generators were activated, water was brought in by tankers, and the emergency room remained operational on reduced capacity. The East Asheville Veterans Restoration Quarters was also affected by flooding from the Swannanoa River, prompting National Guard troops to evacuate 167 veterans to safety.
As a recreational therapist, Bradigan has dedicated much of her life to working with veterans. She and her team focus on improving veterans’ mental, physical, and emotional health. Their goals include stress reduction, anger management, combating loneliness, and offering practical coping strategies such as deep breathing exercises. The therapists aim to strengthen relationships, enhance quality of life, and improve self-reliance through tailored plans for each individual.
The Joseph McDowell Chapter Daughters have a special connection to the Warriors Recovery Unit and Community Living Center at Charles George VA Medical Center. They sponsor regular activities, including ice cream socials, pizza parties, and holiday celebrations, as well as donating recreational and critical needs items. Ann McFadden makes monthly donation deliveries, while the chapter’s sewing and knitting groups create items like twiddle muffs, dammit dolls, lap blankets, and quilts for hospitalized veterans. Betsy Sallman recently crafted over a dozen laptop blankets for donation. The Service for Veterans Committee hopes to resume their monthly visits to veterans soon, which were suspended due to COVID-19, and continue with their pet therapy.
Two new members, Peggy Rose and Jeanne Marie Scott, were welcomed into the DAR Chapter. Their lineage traces back to ancestors who contributed to American Independence. The DAR, founded in 1890, boasts 3,000 chapters and 190,000 members dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
Due to the recent hurricane, the American History essay contest deadline was extended from November 1 to November 15. Regent Dorsa McGuire announced a $500 donation to sponsor wreaths through Wreaths Across America. These wreaths will be placed on veterans’ graves in December at the National Cemetery in Black Mountain, North Carolina.