Hampton DAR chapter works to serve community, military members

Don't mistake the Daughters of the American Revolution for dowagers fond of tea parties.

“We're not white gloves and hats. … We're a community-service organization,” said Bobbi Patton McMullen of Lancaster County, state regent for Pennsylvania's approximately 6,200 DAR members and 96 chapters.

McMullen recently drove five hours to address members of the DAR's Kushkushkee Trail chapter. They meet at noon on the second Saturday of each month at the Wildwood Golf Club in Hampton.

About 30 women, including “daughters” from Ross, Cranberry, McCandless, Hampton, Pine, Richland, West View, Ligonier and northern Virginia, attended the chapter's Nov. 8 meeting.

Everyone recited the Pledge of Allegiance and sang the national anthem before sitting down to their choice of a Reuben or grilled-chicken sandwich, Wildwood salad or pan-seared salmon.

“It's a nice group,” said Cheryl Kilbert of Hampton, describing chapter members as intelligent and interesting.

“They're interested in what's going on around the world and in their communities …. We really don't discuss politics,” said Kilbert, 68, a descendent of Pennsylvania militia Pvt. Casper Peter Jr.

After listening to committee reports and eating lunch, Kushkushkee Trail chapter members hand wrote messages on Christmas cards for distribution to U.S. troops.

“May God protect you and your family during this holiday season,” some wrote. “Thank you for your service.”

A fundraising silent auction of favorite books, decorative items, Christmas apparel or other goods donated by members, will highlight the chapter's annual Christmas party at noon Dec. 13 at Wildwood Golf Club.

Any woman, age 18 or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for DAR membership.

“You could have donated a chicken or cooked them dinner or let them sleep in your barn,” said Carol Downey Fuller of Buffalo Township, Butler County, regent of the Kushkushkee Trail chapter.

An architect for UPMC, Fuller traces her ancestry to Virginia militia soldier Casper Everly.

State regent McMullen's forebears include Lt. Col. Philip Boehm of the Northampton County Revolutionary War Militia.

“I have Pennsylvania ancestors that were here before William Penn,” McMullen said. “All of my patriots are on my father's side.”

A great-grandmother who fox-hunted for decades, McMullen, 68, now roves the state like a corporate CEO to raise funds for her pet DAR project: renovation of the Pennsylvania Children's Center at the Tamassee DAR School in northwest South Carolina.

It's one of six DAR-owned or DAR-approved schools in the nation.

McMullen hopes to raise about $110,000 for the project during her three-year term, which ends in 2016.

McMullen spoke about the project and showed slides of the center during her recent talk in Hampton.

Like all DAR chapters, the Kushkushkee Trail chapter borrows its name from early American history.

“The old Kushkushkee Indian Trail branched off the Venango Trail (Perry Highway) and followed the approximate route of Ingomar Road into Franklin (now Franklin Park Borough),” according to the chapter's web site. “The trail appears on a Warrant Map made in 1785. Prior to this, it was heavily traveled by centuries of Indians in Western Pennsylvania.”

For more information on the Kushkushkee Trail chapter of the Pennsylvania DAR or how to become a member, write to Fuller at cdfuller@juno.com or call 412-999-9327.

Deborah Deasy is a staff writer for Trib Total Media. She can be reached at 724-772-6369 or ddeasy@tribweb.com.