Mary Little Deere - Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR
Moline, Illinois
Moline, Illinois
Campbell's Island State Memorial - Rock Island County, Illinois
This local monument is a granite memorial commemorating the site of a day-long battle between U.S. Regulars and a pro-British band of Sauk Indians on July 19, 1814, during the War of 1812. Our chapter has adopted this monument as an ongoing project. We continue to work with local and state agencies to maintain and improve the area surrounding the monument.
In 2019, the monument required repairs after being submerged for three months due to flooding from the Mississippi River. Thanks to donations from community members and proceeds from the Birdies for Charity event, we were able to fund these essential repairs.
Additionally, our chapter organized a rededication ceremony that involved Illinois state agencies, local dignitaries, and Vietnam veterans. The honor guard delivered a moving tribute that included a flag ceremony, the playing of taps, and a 21-gun salute for the spectators.
The Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, is dedicated to fostering local education at every stage of a student's journey. We begin by promoting preschool literacy through the distribution of workbooks and Scholastic magazines. For older students, we participate in the DAR Good Citizens Award, recognizing outstanding youth across eight local high schools with certificates and scholarships based on an essay competition. Furthermore, we are honored to offer the John R. 'Jack' Cervantes Memorial Scholarship to a graduating senior at Moline High School, Moline, Illinois. Administered by Mary Little Deere-Dort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, this award commemorates Jack Cervantes—an immigrant and WWII veteran who overcame adversity to achieve the American Dream. This scholarship continues Jack’s legacy of gratitude by supporting the next generation of leaders. Beyond the classroom, we are proud to provide funding and volunteer support to our local Charles Carroll Chapter, National Society of the Children of the American Revolution, ensuring a bright future for our community’s youth.
Veterans' Projects
The Mary Little Deere–Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, is honored to serve our local veterans through a wide range of impactful programs. We address immediate needs by volunteering and providing supplies at Stand Down - Bridging the Gap events for at-risk veterans. Every Veterans Day, we celebrate our heroes with a community breakfast hosted at a local Hy-Vee grocery store. Our members also share in the joy of the Quad City Honor Flight, greeting returning veterans with personalized welcome-home cards.
In a tribute to those who have passed, we partner with Wreaths Across America to sponsor and lay wreaths at the Rock Island National Cemetery on Arsenal Island. Our commitment to personal connection remains strong throughout the year as members hand-write 1,000 holiday and Valentine’s cards for residents of four Illinois veterans’ homes. Furthermore, we are proud to support the Vietnam Veterans of America, participating in state conferences and presenting honors such as challenge coins and eagle pins to those who served. Our chapter supports the Vietnam Veterans Chapter #669 of the Quad Cities, whose color guard has presented many Flag Ceremonies at our meetings.
Constitution Week
Every year from September 17–23, our chapter celebrates Constitution Week, honoring the historic signing of the U.S. Constitution in 1787. Our dedicated Constitution Week Committee brings history to life for local 5th through 8th-grade students by presenting interactive educational programs. As a special gift, each student receives a pencil case handcrafted by our members. These kits are filled with patriotic treasures, including flags, copies of the Pledge of Allegiance and The American’s Creed, activity sheets, and essential school supplies like rulers, pencils, and treats.
Naturalization Ceremonies
For many years, the Mary Little Deere–Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, has had the distinct honor of welcoming our nation’s newest citizens. During bi-annual naturalization ceremonies at the United States District Court, Central District of Illinois, our members host a celebratory reception for new citizens and their families. To commemorate this life-changing milestone, we provide refreshments and present each new citizen with copies of the Pledge of Allegiance and The American’s Creed, offering a heartfelt welcome to our community and our country.
Conservation
For over a century, the Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, has been a pillar of the community, and our recent conservation work continues that proud legacy. Whether we are revitalizing street boulevards for Earth Day or tending to the hallowed grounds of local cemeteries, our members are dedicated to preserving our local environment. We are also proud to partner with organizations like the Wapsi River Environmental Nature Center and the BioCan Bio-Blitz Project to support biodiversity and community beauty.
Our commitment to the local landscape was further highlighted on Arbor Day at the Butterworth Center and Deere-Wiman House, Moline, Illinois. To help restore the canopy at our meeting home, we donated a new tree to replace those lost to the elements. Alongside this new growth, we placed a commemorative stone to honor 125 years of chapter history—a lasting symbol of our deep roots in the community.
Service to Families
Supporting our neighbors is at the heart of the Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR. Each year, our members come together for the Purse Project, gathering essential toiletries and gift cards in gently-used purses for the residents of Winnie’s Place, a shelter for women and children. We are also proud to continue our tradition of collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House. This simple gesture supports a program that offers comfort and housing to families while their children receive care at nearby hospitals and medical facilities.
Donations to Communities
The Mary Little Deere-Fort Armstrong Chapter, NSDAR, is proud to provide financial support to a wide range of non-profit organizations throughout the Quad Cities. Our mission comes to life through partnerships with veteran-focused groups like Quad City Honor Flights and Sundance for our Soldiers, as well as through the preservation of local history at the Hauberg Estate, Rock Island, Illinois and the Rock Island Historical Society, Moline, Illinois.
We also remain dedicated to education and community wellness, contributing to DAR Schools, Winnie’s Place, Humble Dwellings, and River Action. From the Helen Pouch Memorial Fund to Wreaths Across America, our chapter’s contributions ensure that we continue to honor the past while investing in a vibrant future for our community.
Festival of Trees
The holiday season is always a special time for our chapter, especially as we prepare our entry for the Quad City Arts Festival of Trees. Since 2021, we have designed a patriotic-themed tree that celebrates our heritage while supporting a great cause. Our trees have been ribbon-winners every year, and we are honored that their sale at auction has provided a sizable donation to help Quad City Arts continue its vital work in the region.
Celebrations
One of our favorite summer traditions is our annual luncheon with the Hannah Caldwell Chapter, NSDAR, in Davenport, Iowa. It’s a wonderful opportunity to cross the Mississippi River and enjoy an afternoon of fellowship and storytelling with our neighbors, reflecting on the history that ties our Quad Cities chapters together.
Beyond our community events, we love to celebrate the women who make our chapter so special. Each year, we recognize our members' anniversaries and the incredible dedication they bring to the National Society. We are particularly honored to have five members who have served for over half a century. Their legacy is felt throughout our chapter, where 79 percent of our members have already reached their 10-year service milestone.
