By BOBBIE GREEN

The Progress

Mesquite has been chosen as the only Nevada location for a special commemorative plaque to honor the patriots of the American Revolution in advance of the upcoming 250 anniversary of American Independence in 2026.

The plaque has been placed on the side block of the Veterans Memorial Statue, in Pioneer Park at 501 Hillside Drive. The plaque was presented by the Nevada State Society of Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR).

Mesquite has an active DAR chapter which works with the community in preserving, and promoting education on American History.

The National Society of DAR based in Washington D.C. Proposed the idea to have one plaque placed in each state for the 250 year celebration.

Each state chapter chooses the location for its own plaque. Mesquite was chosen to receive the honor due to the lobbying efforts of Kitty Smith, who is Vice Regent of the local chapter, and with help from the Mesquite Veterans Center.

Smith and fellow chapter member Ruth Dickie, who is the chapter Chaplain, got together with The Progress at the site to talk about the new plaque and to explain about the local chapter’s upcoming activities.

A special dedication ceremony will be held on site later this year on November 11, at 1 pm. Several state dignitaries will be present. Mayor Al Litman will be speaking. Music will be performed by Sun City Sounds. The public is invited to attend this ceremony.

Smith explained that each member of the DAR must be able to prove their ancestral history to a Revolutionary War patriot or a descendant of someone aboard the Mayflower. DAR has resources to help people trace their ancestry.

Dickie said that her ancestral history meets that criteria on both sides of her family. “On my dad’s side, our family had a father and three sons that fought in the Revolutionary War,” she said. “On mom’s side my genealogy goes back to Josiah Fuller on the Mayflower.”

DAR National Society has over one million members. The society was founded in 1890 with the mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism.
“The Mesquite chapter has eighteen members and we are looking to grow our membership,” said Smith. “We meet every other month during the school year beginning in September.”

The local DAR chapter has some upcoming events and activities planned for the Mesquite community.
In commemoration of Constitution Day, DAR has teamed up with the Mesquite Republican Women (MRW) to promote an essay contest for local students in grades 4-8. The essay should be titled “What the Constitution Means to me,” in 250 words or less. There is a fifty-dollar award for the best essay.

Students may print or type entries on 8 ½ x 11” paper and enter it by Wednesday Sept. 14. It may be emailed to Mesquitew@yahoo.com or it can be mailed to MRW, P.O. Box 184, Mesquite, NV 89027. For more information on the contact, call Sherrie Hamilton 702-630-4106.

The chapter is also inviting the entire community to attend a “Bells Across America” celebration on Saturday, Sept. 17 at the Veterans Memorial Park in Mesquite. “We will be celebrating the signing of the Constitution!” she said.

The ceremony begins at 12:30 pm which is the exact time the original signers put their signatures to the document. The Veterans of Foreign Wars are helping with the set up and presentation. Mayor Litman will award the winner of the essay contest.

For more information about the local DAR chapter or the upcoming ceremonies, call registrar Amy Bradshaw at 503-318-6523.