Swallow Cliff Chapter NSDAR

Swallow Cliff Chapter proudly participated in 5 Memorial Day events across the south suburbs. Starting with a wreath-laying in Worth, members attended services in Oak Lawn, Palos Heights, Palos Park, and at Oak Hill Cemetery. Boy Scout Troop #699 was in attendance at Palos Park and at Oak Hill Cemetery. Photos are in the order mentioned above.

National Defense Night at State Conference was one to remember and will most likely be spoken about for years with awe. National Defense Chairman - and member - Ginny Narsete was able to secure the most incredible speaker who has only been spoken about in glowing terms. Retired Air Force Maj. General John Borling spent 6 1/2 years at the "Hanoi Hilton" with the late John McCain. During his "stay" at the "Hilton," Borling wrote and memorized poetry, which he later published in a book called "Taps on the Wall: Poems from the Hanoi Hilton." After his presentation, he was presented with the DAR Distinguished Citizen award. Thank you, Ginny, for giving us such an inspiring speaker.

Three years of collecting plastic caps and lids culminated in a park bench being placed at Girl Scout camp Camp Juniper. This year a new award - the Illinois DAR Conservation Award - was introduced with Swallow Cliff being the first recipient for their work on the creation of that bench in conjunction with at least five extra DAR chapters contributing caps and three Girl Scout troops and a C.A.R. Society helping sort. Congratulations, Swallow Cliff for all of your hard work. Regent Audra Gray is pictured with State Board Members Marria Blinn (Regent) and Lori Hill (Librarian/Conservation liaison)

Today Vice Regent Gale Shafer was privileged to attend the April meeting of the Aloha Chapter in Honolulu, HI, where she was warmly welcomed. The meeting was held at the chapter-owned house. In front is a marker to honor Revolutionary War patriots. Due to recent floods and the recovery work still going on, a number of members were unable to attend in person, instead focusing on damage done to their own properties, and watched on a Zoom connection. The most recent day of heavy rain didn’t help.

At March’s chapter meeting, attendees enjoyed a program about quilting presented by Susan Snow, past chapter regent for Swallow Cliff and Founders Crossing. A retired Associate Judge for the Circuit Court of Cook County, Susan has also served DAR as District IV Director, State Parliamentarian, State Committee chairman, and a North Central Division chairman.
Susan shared some of the history of the origins of quilting from a means to comfort and warmth to becoming an art form nowadays. She brought several quilt of her own creations, plus one from the 1930’s that she found and loved for its finished edges. At times, Susan likes to take traditional patterns and add her own touches and interpretation, while at other times, she will use the unusual designs in a fabric to create something unique.
Susan’s unusual quilt made from family t-shirts and another using a photo technique inspired attendees to think about preserving their own memories in fabric.