DAR Col. Josiah Smith Chapter Welcomes Home Veterans from Honor Flight

Members of the Patchogue-based chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) proudly welcomed home heroes of the Korean War and Vietnam War at the most recent Honor Flight Long Island.

Col. Josiah Smith Chapter members were part of the homecoming ceremony on October 5 at MacArthur Airport, greeting the veterans as they returned from a poignant trip to the nation’s capital to visit their war memorials. “It was an incredible privilege to celebrate these brave men and women who served our country with such courage and dedication,” said chapter DAR Service for Veterans Chairman Kathleen Guleksen. “Their service and sacrifice will never be forgotten, and this was just one way for us to express our deep gratitude.”

The Honor Flight program offers veterans the opportunity to visit war memorials in Washington, D.C., free of charge, as a way to honor their service. For many veterans, it is a deeply meaningful experience, allowing them to reflect on their military careers and the sacrifices they and their families made.

Along with participating in the homecoming festivities, members also collected over 100 holiday cards from attendees to send to troops overseas. “It was heartwarming to see how enthusiastic people were about sharing holiday cheer with our active service members who won’t be home for the holidays,” said Guleksen.

As part of their annual “DAR Service to America” initiative, the chapter set a goal of writing and collecting 500 holiday cards to send to active-duty military personnel. The cards will be sent through the Holiday Cards for Our Military Challenge, an organization dedicated to delivering personalized, signed messages of respect, care, and gratitude to U.S. service members.

The Col. Josiah Smith Chapter remains committed to supporting veterans and active-duty service members through initiatives like Honor Flight, Wreaths Across America, food drives, greeting card projects, and other ongoing community efforts.

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The DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible. The Colonel Josiah Smith Chapter, NSDAR, was charted in Patchogue, N.Y., in 1920 and has been active in the community for more than 100 years. For additional information about the chapter and its relevant mission, visit coloneljosiahsmithchapternsdar.org.