Glenda Thomas, (center) regent, Samuel Dale Chapter, DAR with Women in History Award recipients Martha Lemmons and Phyllis Campbell.

Students, volunteers and Vietnam veterans were among honorees at the Samuel Dale Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution’s annual Awards Tea.

The DAR Good Citizenship Award is presented to the fifth grade student who exemplifies the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership and patriotism.  Students recognized were: Ani Dickerson, Souheast Middle School; Brianna Rose Riordan, St. Patrick Catholic School; Emily Hannington, Lamar Elementary; Lance Rawson, Clarkdale Elementary; Miah Hooker, T. J. Harris Elementary; and Conner Shirley, Poplar Springs Elementary  They each were presented with a certificate, lapel pin and flag of the USA.

The DAR Good Citizen award is presented to the high school senior who best exemplifies the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism. These students were presented a certificate, lapel pin, a flag of the USA and a cash scholarship.

Samantha Makay Caldwell, a senior at Clarkdale High School, is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish Honor Society, the yearbook staff and has been on the Math and Science Team for the last three years. She has received awards for all A’s and highest average in AP History, and different sciences. She maintains a 4.25 GPA and plans to attend Meridian Community College and possibly pursue a degree in psychology. She is the daughter of Sheryl Sodoma and Jackie Caldwell.

Karli Cruise is the daughter of Kim and Russell Cruise and attends Lamar High School. Karlie was the overall DAR Good Citizen winner and competed on the State Level against other winners from across the state. She is a member of the Student Council, Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta and has served as class president for the last three years. She plays softball, Basketball, and cross country and works parttime at Weidmann’s Restaurant. She is treasurer of the Dusty Social Club and was President of the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. She maintains a 4.25 GPA and plans to attend Southwest Community College and is leaning towards a career as an  athletic trainer or physical therapy,

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution offered a new award this year, the Women in History Award. This award went to three ladies who, more than 40 years ago, started serving meals from their homes to a few people who were home bound. This small group of women were the pioneers in the Meridian area to begin delivering meals to homes. Their efforts became “Meals on Wheels,” a vital mission for Meridian. These ladies are Phyllis Campbell, Martha Lemmons and Lanell Glover.  

Mrs. Campbell and Mrs. Glover still deliver meals each week and Mrs. Lemmons delivered until this past year when her health prevented her from continuing. All three ladies are members of Central United Methodist Church, where the idea formed and became a reality. They soon began recruiting other members from Central and then friends joined in. When they became a part of Meals on Wheels, they could no longer prepare the meals in their homes, so they had to seek out a central location which met the food and safety standards necessary to be a part of Meals on Wheels. Meals on Wheels is still very much alive and well in Meridian because of these three ladies and is located at 2900 St. Paul St.

March 29, 2015, marked the 50th anniversary of the official beginning of the ground war in Vietnam. As of 2013, there were documented 58,253 killed in action and 153,363 non-mortal casualties. Approximately 638 U.S. Prisoners of War returned home alive, but as of 2014, there are still 1,638 servicemen unaccounted for in Vietnam. 

When those young men began returning home from Vietnam back in the 60s, they were met with jeers instead of cheers because of an anti-war atmosphere back here at home. The DAR has partnered with the United States of America Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, established by Congress, to thank and honor Vietnam Veterans. The following Vietnam veterans were recognized with a certificate, flag, and heartfelt thanks for their service to our country: Lloyd Miller, who was chief master sergeant in the United States Air Force; Richard Armstrong was a first lieutenant in the United States Marine Corps while serving in Vietnam in 1973.  He retired in 1993 as a colonel; and Barry McMullan, who served in Vietnam in 1968-69 as a private and later gained the rank of captain.   

Congress has established March 29 as the official “Welcome Home Vietnam Veterans Day.”  

Samuel Dale Chapter member Miriam Buchanan was also recognized for her 30 year membership in DAR.