Medal of Honor, Distinguished Citizen Award Recipients Named

FENTON, MO: Nearly a dozen local residents received awards at the Nov. 2 meeting of the Olde Towne Fenton Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, held in the ballroom of Sunset Hills Friendship Village.

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Sumner Hunnewell Jr. was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor, the most prestigious honor awarded by the DAR. Hunnewell is a historian, author and editor who is a member and leader of more than 40 lineage societies. The Medal of Honor recognizes those who have gone above and beyond in the areas of leadership, trustworthiness, patriotism and charitable service.

Hunnewell easily met the award’s qualifications with his demonstrated dedication to not only the lineage societies of which he is a member, but also his volunteer work with his church, St. John’s Lutheran Church in Arnold. His patriotism is also demonstrated through his published works, including an article published over two issues of the The Maine Geneaologist, “A Doleful Slaughter Near Black Point: The Battle at Moore’s Brook. Scarborough, Maine, June 29, 1677,” and six articles published in “Scarborough at 350: Linking the Past to the Present” upon his hometown’s 350th anniversary.

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Ten members of the St. Louis Special Needs Color Guard were awarded the DAR Distinguished Citizen Award. The St. Louis Special Needs Color Guard provides special needs youths and adults the opportunity to participate in public and private events that build their self-esteem while honoring veterans. Members of the color guard also have retired tens of thousands of U.S. flags according to the Flag Code and laid flags on veteran graves.

Color guard honorees were Joe Vaughn, president of the Board of Directors; Andy Huber, events coordinator; and Danny Hammock, operations; and cadets Titus Boyer, Warren Cobb, Troy Kavy, David Kuntz, Brian Van Well, David Van Well and Robbie Wiegman.

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Members of the St. Louis Special Needs Color Guard presented the colors to open the meeting, and Hunnewell presented the program for members on his ancestor, ““Peleg Willard: A Man Who Never Met a War He Didn’t Like.” A lunch was served for honorees, guests and members in attendance.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) is a women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. DAR members annually provide millions of hours of volunteer service to their local communities across the country and world. DAR chapters participate in projects to promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Over one million members have joined the organization since its founding in 1890.