Shelburne Glebe

I had a DAR meeting today. We took a tour of the Shelburne Glebe. It's a home built before the American Revolution with beautiful gardens. I enjoyed leaning the history of the home.

DAR Open House

We love the DAR Open House because of this guy.

The BEST Santa anywhere.

I heard him saying "I can see that you want your two front teeth for Christmas, but is there something else you would like".

 This year they had a chorus group singing. 

I always love to see how they decorated the trees.

And Rebekah's favorite is going to the children's discovery area to "make butter".  

 We also stopped by the CAR museum. 

Parade

Small town Independence Day parade.

 

Our DAR ladies decided they wanted to march in the Independence Parade and ask if our CAR would join them. We agreed. In preparation I made a banner and the kids helped put info labels on lollipops to hand out during the parade.

The kids took turns holding the banner.

Rebekah and Evan said they were too tired to carry the banner any more. But not carrying the banner freed her up to do her own thing. Which meant walking backwards smiling and skipping and jumping for all the observers. Yeah, that banner carrying really tired her out. Ha!

After the parade we crashed. Then the Rosenlunds came over for a BBQ. Later that evening we went to one of the schools to watch the fireworks and set off quite a few of our own. :)

War Memorial Ceremony

Rebekah and I went to a ceremony to honor veterans from 3 different wars in one cemetery. This one tiny church cemetery had veterans from the American Revolution, War of 1812, and the Civil War (Confederate Soldiers only). It all started out as an Eagle Project. You can read more about it here. They had mounted cavalry, a bagpiper, artillery salute, and cannons. 

 Rebekah wanted a picture with the soldiers.

There one one part of the ceremony that I had a problem with. Right after we did the Pledge of Allegiance, we did the Pledge to the Confederate Flag (I didn't even know there was a pledge for it). It says "I pledge my allegiance to the flag of the Confederacy, and to the ideals for which it stands". 

Okay. So I live in the South now. Not the deep south, but Virginia is still part of the South. If it had been part of the North there wouldn't be a West Virginia today. I admire Robert E. Lee. Even did a report on him in middle school back in California. 

That being said, I don't want to pledge any allegiance to what the Confederate flag stands for. Well, I'm not sure what exactly they think it stands for. I'm just thinking about tobacco, cotton, plantations, and slaves. I'm not pledging my allegiance to slavery!! So I didn't recite it and was surprised by how many people were reciting it. Maybe they saw it as just 'historical', but it felt wrong to me.

I don't understand why the South is so proud of their Confederate heritage. The confederates fought for what they believed in. I can respect that. I just don't agree with what they believed in. Then again, I don't have any ancestors from the South, so it is hard to understand.

Correcton: I finally found the program I brought home. We actually did the Salute to the Confederate Flag which says: "I salute the Confederate Flag with affection, reverence and undying devotion to the cause for which it stands." My feelings still apply.

Santa Claus is coming to town...

We love going to the DAR Christmas Open house. Mainly because of Santa Claus. He is THE Best! Though Emma did not want to sit on his lap this year.

On the 3rd floor is the Children's Museum. There is a room filled with colonial toys. I love looking at the mantle wall and the sliding marks on the floor. Makes me wonder what is behind that door!

We met up with the Rosenlunds there. The kids loved playing in the children's area that is full of colonial activities.

I loved this historical room with the hand-painted wallpaper.

Check out this historical kitchen. How would you like to prepare all your meals in there.

DAR/CAR Family Picnic

We had our annual DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) chapter family picnic. This year we got to combine it our CAR chapter. 

Melinda and I went around taking "Voices" to raise money for the DAR schools.

Rebekah and Emma getting sworn in as officers for Chaplin and Library/Curator, respectively.

Getting their award for attendance, service, and learning. Notice those cool lanyards, yeah, I did those.

Here is Rebekah talking to her friend Rebekah. :)

While the DAR business portion was going on, this was happening. I had no  idea, I was busy doing "Voices".

At the end we had a flag retirement ceremony. The older man on the far right had a faded flag to retire. He bought it just days after he returned home from World War II. It has been flying at his home ever since. It was very emotional for him, and I got choked up as he was telling us the story.