DAR members Diane Steece, Cheryl Brown, Darla Ambrose, Marie Snowden, Marianne Caruso, Barbara Nickell and Lois Kimble help stuff stockings for veterans. (Courtesy photo)

SHEPHERDSTOWN- As part of the holidays, members of the Shepherdstown Pack Horse Ford Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) met to stuff 90 handmade Christmas stockings for Veterans at the Martinsburg Veterans Affairs Medical Center on Dec. 4.

Chapter members who participated were Diane Steece, Cheryl Brown, Darla Ambrose, Marie Snowden, Marianne Caruso, Barbara Nickell and Lois Kimble. The stockings were filled with small gifts for veterans, including pocket dictionaries, 2018 calendars, notepads and pens, playing cards, puzzle books, white socks, candy and comfort items. Female veterans also received hairbands, pedicure sets and hair brushes.

An extra-special gift was tucked into each of the stockings: Colorful handmade Christmas cards were made by students in five classes at Valley View Elementary School in Martinsburg, a project initiated by chapter member Laura Huffman. Classroom teachers whose students participated included Mrs. Taylor-Turner, Mrs. Haynes, Mrs. Burns, Mrs. Torbert and Mrs. Huffman. Students drew pictures, pasted cutouts and wrote heartwarming messages.

In other news, chapter members participated in the Shepherdstown Christmas Parade, organized by the Rotary Club, on Dec. 2. Chapter member Kim Sencindiver delivered a “sleigh” float for members to ride down German Street. Members met at Cheryl Brown’s home to decorate the float in holiday style. Participants included Kim Sencindiver, Jill Rowland, Darla Ambrose, Cheryl Brown, Cindy Nicewarner, Barbara Nickell, Ann Christy, Marie Snowden and Jane Snyder. Member Marlyn Keesecker and her husband, Marty Keesecker, president of the General Adam Stephen Chapter, National Society Sons of the American Revolution, dressed in colonial period clothing. Members gave out 2,000 Christmas-themed bracelets to children along the parade route.

DAR members come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, but all share the common bond of having an ancestor who helped contribute to securing the independence of the U.S.A. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution, is eligible to join. With more than 183,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations.

If you would like to learn more about the Pack Horse Ford Chapter, contact Regent Kathy Sholl at 304-876-1250. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org.