The holiday rush may be over, but the Board members of the Pack Horse Ford Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) are full of spirit while remembering past activities, working on present projects and planning for the future.

The past included a Christmas parade, Christmas stockings for Veterans and a Christmas tea. On Saturday, Dec. 1, the chapter participated in the Shepherdstown Christmas parade with other community groups. Members carried the chapter’s banner and scattered candy to the crowd. HODAR (Husband of DAR member) Richard Nickell drove a truck and Larry Ambrose drove a convertible car in the parade with chapter members waving to the crowd.

On Monday, Dec. 3, chapter members worked stuffing Christmas stockings for the Martinsburg VA Medical Center. This year, the chapter was privileged to use 90 beautiful stockings made by member Katherine Genung. The patients enjoyed receiving their seasonal stockings filled with useful personal items donated by chapter members. Committee members for this project included Regent Cheryl Brown, Megen Showe, Marie Snowden, Darla Ambrose, Susie George and Marianne Caruso.

A lovely Christmas tea was held at the Berkeley County Historical Society’s Belle Boyd House in Martinsburg on Saturday, Dec. 8. Members and guests enjoyed finger sandwiches, cookies, candies, and other sweets. Tables were dressed with beautiful Christmas linens topped with a variety of dainty china tea cups, on loan from chapter members. Committee members who helped to make this tea a success included Linda Blenker, Nancy Crouse, Mary Davis, Katherine Genung, Joanne Huntsberry, Cheryl Rodgers and Dorrene Hale.

During the tea, member Kathleen Murdock received an award for her volunteer efforts to the Tamassee DAR School on behalf of the chapter. The school, located in Oconee County, S.C., is a private non-profit children’s home and family service organization offering multi-faceted programs to serve children and families in crisis. A plaque with Murdock’s name will grace the West Virginia Peter’s Cottage at the Tamassee School.

Present activities the vhapter is working on include the 97th birthday of the Pack Horse Ford Chapter and celebration of George Washington’s birthday on Feb. 23. On Tuesday, March 12, the chapter will announce the winners of the DAR American History Essay Contest from local school children. A reception for students, teachers, parents and guests will be held in the Station at Shepherdstown. First place winners will read their essays aloud.

The future spirit is bright for the chapter. Plans are being made for the annual Pack Horse Ford Chapter bus trip. The public is cordially invited to travel with the chapter. Mark calendars now for Saturday, June 15. These charter bus trips and other charitable work help the DAR to “Preserve the Past, Enhance the Present and Invest in the Future.” To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.DAR.org. For more information about membership with the Pack Horse Chapter NSDAR, contact Dorrene Hale at 304-725-6140