March 29, 2024

Club Notes

Kellogg Garden Club

The Kellogg Garden Club planned its Nov. 13 Thanksgiving meal for members and guests at the Oct. 29 meeting. Members from the Kellogg club will visit the Baxter Garden Club in early November and demonstrate flower arrangements. People will soon be able to identify the Kellogg Garden Club members who will be wearing special sweatshirts. On Nov. 25, the group will meet to plan programs for 2015 and decorate the Kellogg Museum kitchen for the Down Home Christmas celebration.

DAR

The regular meeting of the Grinnell DAR Chapter was Oct. 11 at the Centre for Arts and Artists with 23 members present. Regent Kristin Macy and chaplain Mary Rethmeier led the opening ritual. Vice regent Melinda Hardin led in the Pledge of Allegiance and the American’s Creed.

The following reports were given: Registrar Darlene Leib reported 63 members, with two resignations and one transfer pending; Lelah Main reported she sent school supplies to the Indian School; Kathy Jones reported we have 15 submissions for the American History contest.

In other business, the chapter approved the recognition of Fannie R. Buchanan, originally of Grinnell, as a Woman in American History.

After teaching music in Grinnell until World War I, she worked in New York with the War Camp Community Service and in the rehabilitation program of the American Red Cross. After the war, she was employed with RCA Victor as a rural specialist, bringing classical music to rural areas and school. In 1925, she once again settled in Iowa, and her position as the first Music Extension Assistant with Iowa State College enabled her to travel to 4-H clubs and rural women’s groups, organizing women’s musical events and teaching folk dance training. Two of her most famous 4-H songs are “Dreaming” and “The Plough Song.” The group is planning a time to celebrate her life and will also submit her name to the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution to include in their records.

The chapter also decided to apply to be a Commemorative Partner for the 50th Anniversary Vietnam War Commemoration. The volunteer book was passed for recording volunteer hours. Labels, coupons and stamps were collected to benefit soldiers and veterans.

A memorial service was conducted by Chaplain Mary Rethmeier for Susan Johnson who passed away Aug. 30, 2014. Susan was an active member of the Grinnell Chapter of DAR for many years and participated in many activities. She will be missed.

The program was given by Barbara Hug on the history of the Star Spangled Banner song and flag. Both the song and the flag originated with the War of 1812. Most of us know about Francis Scott Key writing the words to a poem/song he titled, “In Defence of Fort McHenry.” Later the name was changed to the “Star Spangled Banner.” Even though the song was sung on many occasions, it did not become our National Anthem until President Herbert Hoover signed the legislation in 1931.

Forget Betsy Ross, she never made a flag; but do remember Mary Pickersgill, a flag maker in Baltimore who made the large garrison flag eventually called The Star Spangled Banner. This flag was an awesome size of 30 feet x 42 feet.

This is the flag that was raised after the British took leave of Fort McHenry in 1814. The family donated the Star Spangled Banner flag to the Smithsonian Institute in 1901.

For more information on the conservation of the flag, go to http://amhistory.si.edu/starspangledbanner/

The next meeting will be Nov. 9 at the Drake Library in Grinnell hosted by Ann Bell and Jeanette Budding. The program will be Historic Red Rock by Merna Rusk.