On January 18, 13 members and guests shows up to hear Mark Finnegan speak about the founding of VetsRoll.org Veterans Honor Trip to Washington DC and its progress to the event that it is today. We wrote/signed cards, ate lunch, and got to know each other better. Here is a little of that day.

After a program led by the Belvidere American Legion Post #77, over 100 people helped to place over 1,300 wreaths. 

The Asa Cottrell Daughters had a delightful time at our annual holiday luncheon at Garrett's in Rockford on December 7. Thirteen ladies gathered to share a wonderful meal, play games, and exchange gifts. It was a joyous occasion filled with laughter, conversation, and meaningful connections.

Asa Cottrell Chapter Members attending District II Fall Meeting 2024.
L-R: Kathy Hughes, State Regent Christina Bannon, District II Director Cathy Carlton, Darlene Schoepski, Lynne DiSimoni.

Asa Cottrell daughters held their 9th Veteran’s Recognition Pancake Breakfast, co-sponsored with
Chapter 1414 of the Experimental Aircraft Association, at the EAA Hangar at Poplar Grove
Airport on Oct. 12th from 7-11 AM.

Darlene Schoepski, Dory Curnayn, and Patricia Cox greeted 28 vets and gave them each a
goodie bag. This year, the bags featured a Challenge Coin with symbols of all the military
services, which came in a small blue velvet bag, a small flashlight, a Thank You card, and some
candies. The Challenge Coins were a hit!

Darlene also takes each veteran’s picture, which she then mounts on white foam boards. She
brought last year’s photos and placed them near the entrance. We noticed the vets checking to see
if they were in the photos from last year, and many were.

The EAA hangar was decorated with everything in red, white, and blue, by Patricia Cox, assisted
by EAA Chapter members Ron Cox, Seth Peterson, Dwight VanMeerveld and Adolph Svec. The
weather on Saturday the 12th was nearly perfect, if a bit windy, and we had 45 young people
come out for free “Young Eagle” flights with the volunteer EAA pilots. The DAR also gives
each of them a packet with a flag pin and patriotic pen, as well as a booklet with the US
Constitution. They also get a small bag containing some candies.

This project allows us to honor the vets and show our appreciation and acknowledgement of their
service, give them a free breakfast, and time to visit with other vets. It has always been a
meaningful experience for the DAR members.

​Our July Chapter Membership Meeting was our first "live" meeting for our Chapter since March, due to Covid virus restrictions. Our guest speaker  was Diana Kwak, Illinois State C.A.R. President. We were her first live presentation, and she very much appreciated our generosity. She also suprised us with singing a solo of the Star Spangled Banner. Not only did Diana do a wonderful job presenting "Packages for Patriots", but this young lady has a fabulous voice for singing among many other talents!