CONTRIBUTED TO THE OBSERVER
AUBURN — Auburn’s Light Horse Harry Lee chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) recently celebrated the 130th anniversary of the chapter’s founding during the April meeting at Auburn United Methodist Church.
Chapter Regent Shannon Walden provided a program on the chapter’s founding member, Mrs. Patrick Hues Mell Jr. and her history that led to her organizing the Light Horse Harry Lee chapter in April of 1896.
The former Annie White of Athens, Georgia, Mell had been a member of a DAR chapter before moving with her husband, a professor, to Auburn. She started the chapter with 14 daughters. Today’s chapter has 81 daughters and several prospective members.
Any woman who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to apply for membership.
After the program on the chapter’s beginnings, Walden presented flowers to the two former chapter regents in attendance, Dorothy “Dot” Lee and Susan Stanley, both of Opelika. The chapter then elected new officers for the upcoming three-year term, including regent Laura Murray, vice regent Lisa Miaoulis, chaplain Susan Stanley, recording secretary Jane Reeves, corresponding secretary Marcia Webb, treasurer Victoria Ballard, registrar Elizabeth Shafer, historian Lane Sauser and librarian Elizabeth Murff. The meeting ended with cutting of a birthday cake for the chapter.
For DAR membership inquiries and other questions about the Light Horse Harry Lee chapter, contact Murray at lhhl.dar@gmail.com.
To learn more about DAR visit www.dar.org.
