Members of the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter, NSDAR, spent a fun and rewarding day at The Eagle's Nest of St. Clair County in East St Louis. The facility provides transitional housing, trauma-informed care, and wrap-around services and support for homeless veterans in and around the Bi-State area. Its' mission is to empower homeless veterans to achieve self-sufficiency. The Looking Glass Chapter donated some much-needed new kitchen equipment, games and puzzles, handmade blankets, and furniture for the day room. Before that, however, it was time for chow! The DAR members provided and served the veterans a full meal, including home-baked treats!
With full stomachs, the veterans and Daughters played bingo and visited, sharing stories and fellowship.
Chapter regent Kimberly Dalrymple said, "Each veteran also received a special goody bag. The best thing about the whole day, however, were the hugs and smiles all around the room."
Chapter members delivered sweet treats to first responders in
Collinsville, Lebanon O'FAllon, Shiloh and Scott AFB to
commemorate the founding of the DAR on October 11th, 1890.
In April 2010, the Looking Glass Prairie DAR Chapter was
organized with 19 members and Marion Rose as the regent. Recently
the chapter celebrated 15 years of service to God, Home, and
Country with a party for members, past members, prospective
members and family/friends. Chapter members accomplish the
Society’s work of historic preservation, education, and
patriotism. Since the chapter’s beginning, members have
participated in parades, naturalization ceremonies, and local
community events; donated books to local classrooms and sponsored
teachers for classroom grants; awarded DAR Good Citizen medals
and DAR American History Essay Awards; presented medals to JROTC
cadets, honored Vietnam War veterans and World War II heroes; and
marked graves of Revolutionary War Patriots. We were so pleased
to have State Regent Marria Blinn and District VI Director attend
our party. And now, our work continues.
Four Looking Glass Prairie Chapter members attended the
Naturalization Ceremony in Belleville on Friday, September 19,
2025. There were 39 new citizens from 22 countries.
Constitution Week (September 17-23) is always an exciting week.
Chapter members set up a display in the O'Fallon Library;
gathered in front of City Hall for Bells Across America, and
received proclamations from four local mayors.
The chapter hosted a visit by State Regent Marria Blinn on
September 11, 2025. She discussed her project to construct an
addition to the Flag Day monument in Batavia, Illinois. "It
will provide a devoted space for reflection, discussion and
learning," she said. The project honors the United States
250th birthday.
July 2025
Many thanks to chapter member Peggy Sternberg for presenting a
program on flag retirement. Peggy was assisted by her husband,
Ray. Several U.S. flags were given a proper retirement ahead of
Flag Day, June 14th.
Five members of the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter, NSDAR,
attended the spring District VI meeting on June 4th. Shown are
Melissa McArthur, Margaret Truitt, chapter regent Susan Haas,
State Regent Christina Bannon and chapter vice regent Kimberly
Dalrymple.
May 2025
Melissa McArthur and Margaret Truitt represented the chapter at
the Illinois DAR State Conference in Bloomington, Ill., May
29-June 1. They received a certificate recognizing the
chapter's 100% contributions to the President General's
project.
April 2025
Congratulations Cadet Colonel Sean P. McMurphy who received the
Bronze DAR JROTC medal from the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter,
NSDAR. The award was presented during an awards ceremony at the
Milburn O'Fallon High School on April 30. Presenting the
award to the cadet were chapter members Amy Chrisenberry and
Carol Gorecki. Several other chapter members also attended.
March 2025
January 2025
Rain doesn’t stop our military from doing their duty and today’s rain didn’t stop members of the Looking Glass Prairie and Belleville DAR Chapters. Members of both chapters, along with some spouses, placed 120 wreaths on veteran graves in the Shiloh Cemetery today as part of the nation-wide Wreaths Across America program. Some of those who participated posed in front of the grave site of Revolutionary War veteran Risdon Moore. Moore was born in Delaware, Nov. 20, 1760. He entered the United States Navy at the age of 16 years and served during the war. He removed to North Carolina, then to Georgia, and later to St. Clair County, Illinois. He was speaker of the Illinois House of Representatives in 1814, and was a member of the first, third and fourth Legislatures. He was strongly opposed to making Illinois a slave state. He was the great grandfather of Gov. Charles S. Deneen. He died in 1828 and is buried in the Shiloh cemetery. (Historical Information Source: Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Illinois by Mrs. Harriet J. Walker) Note: some participants left before the photos were taken.
October 2024
Whenever Looking Glass Prairie DAR Chapter members are given a
challenge, they respond! Margaret Truitt, chapter chaplain
challenged chapter members to Stuff the Shelves of the Kate
Duncan Smith DAR School in honor of the school's 100th
anniversary. Chapter members responded with a trunk load of
supplies which were personally delivered to the school by Truitt,
Marion Rose and Cindy Blanchette and/or delivered via Amazon
Prime. They are shown with Jason Hodges KDS Development Director.
KDS DAR School is located high on Gunter Mountain in Grant, Ala.
It was established in 1924 by the Alabama Society DAR and later
became a DAR supported school.
August 2024
Chapter members Margaret Truitt, perspective member Alexandria,
Cindy Blanchette, Marion Rose and Melissa McArthur at
O'Fallon City Fest in front of the chapter display.
Chapter members Melissa McArthur, Regent Susan Haas, Margaret
Truitt and Marion Rose at O'Fallon City Fest.
Chapter members Marion Rose, prospective member Alexandria and
Carol Gorecki at O'Fallon City Fest. Thanks to all who
stopped to talk to us.
July 2024
Three members of the Looking Glass Prairie DAR Chapter joined
Daughters from others local chapters today at McKendree
University to welcome 70 new citizens from 26
countries.
May 2024
Several chapter members participated in the Belleville Memorial
Day parade.
Chapter officers Margaret Truitt (left) and Kimberly Dalrymple
(right) attended the O'Fallon Senior High School Junior
Reserve Officer Training Corp (JROTC) awards night. They
presented the Bronze DAR JROTC medal and certificate to Cadet
Major Jelena A. Gong. The DAR Bronze JROTC medal is awarded to
either a junior or senior student in a high school/secondary
school JROTC program.
During the chapter meeting on May 2nd, chapter regent Susan Haas
presented the DAR Good Citizen medal and certificate to Allison
Corbitt, a senior at Lebanon High School. Allison is the
Valedictorian and class president. The DAR Good Citizen award
recognizes and rewards high school seniors who possess the
qualities of dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism
in their homes, schools, and communities. These students are
selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate
these qualities to an outstanding degree.
Marie Schaefer School Girl Scouts
Hinchcliffe School Girl Scouts
Chapter members Beverly Comeaux and Stephanie Bontemps attended
meetings of two local elementary school Girl Scout chapters. To
foster interest in the upcoming semiquincentennial (250th
anniversary of the United States in 2026), they told the story of
the American Revolution and the DAR. They also handed out
coloring book pages featuring male and female Patriots and a
packet of crayons to each girl.
December 16, 2023
On December 26, 2023, members of the Looking Glass Prairie
Chapter participated in Wreaths Across America ceremonies at
Shiloh, Ill. cemetery (top) and at Jefferson Barricks National
Cemetery. The ceremonies are held at the exact same time across
the national to Remember, Honor, and
Teach.
CONSTITUTION WEEK
2023
Thank you O'O'Fallon mayor Herb Roach for presenting the
chapter a Constitution Week proclamation.
Constitution Week Tea
Mayor Bob Weilmuenster presented a proclamation from
the village of Shiloh.
Chapter member Peggy Sternberg presented a program on first
ladies Martha Washington and Abigail Adams.
Chapter members Rhonda Leach and Susan Haas provided musical
entertainment.
At 3 p.m. all in attendance rang their bells as part of Bells
Across America.
Thank you Mayor Cheri Wright for signing a
proclamation for Constitution Week and reading it at the Sept. 11
Lebanon City Council meeting. Shown are Mayor Cheri Wright on
left and chapter regent Susan Haas on right.
Thanks to chapter members Bev Comeaux, Ellen Hays, Stephanie Bontemps, and Kim Dalrymple for setting up the chapter display for Constitution Week at the O'fallon, Illinois Library.
A big thank you to Larry Strube for presenting an excellent
program on the food pantry.
Chapter Member Donates Lap
Robes to Veterans at Cedarhurst Senior Living Center
September 17-23, 2020
Many thanks to the Village of Shiloh for emphasing the importance
of our nation's Constitution during Constitution
Week.
April 3, 2020
Four members of the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter in O'Fallon
are doing their part to supply medical personal with face masks
during this Covid-19 crisis. Already, nearly 100 masks have been
sewn and delivered to local medical facilities. Normally the
three ladies use their sewing talents to create quilts so they
already had fabric available during this critical time. They join
DAR members from around the country who are also contributing
their talents and supplies. As of April 3, DAR members have
donated nearly 29,000 masks. This is certainly not the first time
DAR members have responded to the needs of their country. During
World War I, members knitted garments for soldiers and trained
the public for food conservation.
March 5, 2020
The Looking Glass Prairie Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) learned about resources available to women veterans at the March meeting in Shiloh. Jennifer Lind, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) St. Louis Health Care System Women Veterans Program Manager, updated the chapter members on services available to women veterans. The VA St. Louis serves 12 Southwestern Illinois counties, including St. Clair and Madison. "What might be surprising," said Lind, "is that women are the fastest growing subgroup of the VHA in the last two decades. Sadly only 25% are using VHA health care services due to being unaware of what is available." Lind described a Women's Health Patient Centered Aligned Team that includes team involved care such as preventive care and wellness; psychologist; pharmacist; dietician; social worker; and whole health coach/partner. Sadly, according to Lind, there are more than 19,000 female veterans eligible, but less than 7,000 enrolled. Chapter members are pleased to help get the word out to those women in the O'Fallon area.
February 28,
2020
Several Looking Glass Prairie Chapter members participated in the naturalization ceremony held at Fulton Junior High School in O’Fallon on February 28, 2020. Thirty people became new United States citizens. Did you know that the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter participates in these ceremonies all over Southern Illinois, congratulating the new citizens and giving them a small gift. The new citizens must pass history and civics tests. The ceremonies are inspiring and make you appreciate being an American.
December 14,
2019
Members of the Looking Glass Prairie Chapter, recruited by
chapter volunteer Kim Dalrymple, participated at the Shiloh
Cemetery, placing a wreath on the grave of Revolutionary War
soldier Risdon Moore, born in 1760.
National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR)
Illinois State Organization, NSDAR
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Last updated October 17, 2025.