Shrewsbury Daughters Of The American Revolution Celebrate 125th Anniversary

SHREWSBURY, NJ — The Shrewsbury-Monmouth Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) recently celebrated its 125th anniversary at a local luncheon event.

Hosted at the Salt Creek Grille in Rumson on Dec. 7, the anniversary celebrated a local chapter of the NSDAR, which is a national women’s service organization whose members can trace their lineage back to an individual who contributed to securing American independence during the Revolutionary War.

The Shrewsbury-Monmouth Chapter of the NSDAR was formed when the Shrewsbury-Towne Chapter (1900) and Monmouth Chapter (1935) merged in 2004.

Since the Shrewsbury-Towne chapter originated in 1900, the current chapter is now celebrating a legacy of 125 years.

“Today’s DAR is dynamic and diverse, with over 185,000 members in 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad,” chapter officials said of the NSDAR. “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.”

At the chapter’s anniversary event, there were various informative displays on the chapter’s history and its past regents throughout the dining room, with each table hosting a photo and the name of a historical past regent on it.

In addition to these photos, a display created by Director Kathleen Evans also showcased the different decades of the chapter’s history from the 1900s to the present day.

A continuous looping slide presentation was shown on a laptop as another historical stop, with the chapter’s history culminating in a giant anniversary cake that was served for dessert.

Alongside the historical displays and food served at the anniversary event, many NSDAR members also received awards and certificates at the luncheon, including:

• John Dunnell: Received the Outstanding Husband of DAR Member award for being a “steady, sturdy rock" for the chapter over the years.
• Paige Green: Received the Outstanding Junior Award for her work as Chairman of the American History Teacher of the Year Award. Chapter officials said Green demonstrated “great perseverance and dedication,” all while attending college classes and keeping up with her coursework.
• Colette “Coco” Borreo: Received the Outstanding Committee Chairman Award for her work on the Wreaths Across America Committee. The chapter's goal was to sell 100 wreaths, and thanks to Borreo’s efforts, 125 wreaths were sold. The chapter participated in laying the wreaths at the tombstones of veterans at Fair View Cemetery in Middletown and the cemeteries at Four Corners in Shrewsbury.
• Deb Hvizdos: Received the Outstanding Chapter Representative Award, as Hvizdos has represented the chapter on all levels, including state and national. As busy as she is, chapter officials said she is always available by phone or email for help.
• JoAnn Slocum-Mazzucca: Received the Outstanding Member Award, as over the course of three years or more, chapter officials said she identified 18 patriots buried in Shrewsbury. Seven of these patriots are new to the DAR patriot database.

In addition to those who received awards at the luncheon, some members also received certificates of membership longevity, including:

• Jennfer Lynn Foster Loeser (5 years)
• Corrine M Loeser Catalfamo (5 years)
• Courtney Eden Kaiser (10 years)
• Britany Alina Kaiser (10 years)
• Sandra Leigh Bennet-Kaiser (10 years)
• Bridget Grace Green (10 years)
• Barbara Ann Taylor Balentin (10 years)
• Leslie Moraller-Clark (15 years)
• Jill Elizabeth Smith-Lynch (15 years)
• Deborah Ann Lutz-Hvizdos (15 years)
• JoAnn Slocum-Mazzucca (15 years)
• Nanette Gahn Pezzutti (35 years)
• Joan A Fields (45 years)

Special guests who attended the luncheon included former Mayor Don Burden and his wife, former NJSAR President Robert Meyer, State Vice Regent Catherine Medich and four other State Board members, former NJDAR State Regent and present National Vice President Diane Oliver, National Chairman of VIS Deb Hvizdos, and National Chair of the Eastern Region Service to Veterans Leslie Clark.

Jake Rue V, President of the Monmouth Chapter, NJSAR, and great-grandson of past Shrewsbury Towne Regent, Anna Throckmorton Conover Rue, also attended the event as a guest speaker and spoke to attendees about his family.

To learn more about DAR membership or the Shrewsbury-Monmouth Chapter of the NSDAR, you can visit their Facebook or contact Kathleen Mazzacco, Chapter Regent, at Regent.stmc.dar@gmail.com.