Barefoot Beach Chapter, Florida, NSDAR

	Joan McKay, Edith Fedelem, Regent Jean Hutt, and Tina McNeice, members of the Barefoot Beach Chapter attended and contributed tattered U.S. Flags to the Flag Retirement Ceremony on June 14^th. Present were Bonita Springs American Legion Post 303, Boy Scout Troop 109, and Cub Scout Troop 109. Over 300 old, faded, and tattered U.S. Flags were destroyed.

We are so proud of our newest member, West Point Cadet Sarah Amelia Florer. This busy young woman became a member with the help of her paternal grandmother, Amelia Florer, and her aunt, Amelia Justina McNeice. The three generations of women share the same patriot ancestor, William Walton Jr., VA/NC. Sarah was a member of the West Point Cadet Catholic Choir that sang during the Mass officiated by Pope Benedict XVI at Yankee Stadium on April 21, 2008.

	OurApril meeting speaker, Edward Sykes, shared many interesting, little known facts about our past presidents. After lunch Tina McNeice displayed our 2008 US Capitol Flag that we donated to Bonita Elementary School. It was encased by American Legion Post #303 while the mayor's office framed the accompanying official certificate. Pictured to the left is Tina McNeice with encased US Capitol Flag and Authenticity Certificate.

Senior Airman Andrew Thorpe gave our April National Defense report. He was visiting his mother, Regent Jeanne Basso, for a week before deploying to Ramstein, Germany. Vice Regent Jean Hutt surprised Senior Airman Thorpe with a framed certificate of appreciation. Pictured to the right are Jeanne Basso, Senior Airman Thorpe, and Vice Regent Jean Hutt.

	Our first 2008 luncheon meeting program was "National Parks" with guest speaker Fran Mainella. Mrs. Mainella was Director of the National Park Service from 2001-2006 and the first woman in this country to have held that position. Mrs. Mainella made us all realize the important role the National Park Service plays in history and conservation education. She asked us to "be involved in your parks". Pictured L to R: Treasurer Kay Springston, Vice Regent Jean Hutt, Speaker Fran Mainella, Regent Jeanne Basso, Librarian Edith Fedelem, and Louse Noon.

Veterans Day observance on 11-11-07 at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs, Florida. Chapter Chaplain Tina McNeice was one of the speakers and explained "What DAR does for Veterans." On behalf of the Barefoot Beach Chapter, member Fran Osterhoudt laid a wreath. The service concluded with the playing of Taps and closing remarks by Jay Arend, Mayor of the City of Bonita Springs.

	Chapter members Fran Osterhoudt, Ann Denney, Tina McNeice, and husband Bill McNeice attended the September 11th Memorial Ceremony at Riverside Park, Bonita Springs, FL. The ceremony began with the presentation of Colors and bagpipes playing traditional music, in honor of fallen emergency personnel and ended with the heartrending ring of the "final alarm bell" and 21 gun salute.

It was a perfect pairing; Barefoot Beach Chapter Conservation Committee Chairman, Roselyn Baker, was asked to ride with Grand Marshal, Eve Haverfield, in the 2007 Fourth of July Parade, in Bonita Springs. People come from all over to cheer on the many participating community groups. One such group is Turtle Time, Inc., a non-profit organization dedicated to the recovery and conservation of sea turtles, founded by Ms Haverfield in 1989. This group of volunteers monitors sea turtles and gathers data to reverse the trend toward extinction. We are so proud of our daughter, Roselyn, and look forward to her reports at our chapter meetings.

	Six members of the Barefoot Beach Chapter attended the May 28 Memorial Day ceremony, at Riverside Park in Bonita Springs. The service paid tribute to all branches of the military and especially those who have made the supreme sacrifice so that, as Americans, can live in freedom. 100 American flags were flying above the park. Barefoot Beach Chapter Chaplain Tina McNeice did a wonderful job representing the DAR with her speech and presentation of a DAR wreath.

Barefoot Beach daughters celebrated the 220th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution! The gala luncheon event took place at the Royal Palm Yacht Club located on the Coloosahatchee River in Fort Myers. The Great Southwest Florida Regents' Council DAR chapters attended the event along with SAR and CAR participants. Rebecca O'Dell Townsend, renowned speaker on the US Constitution, gave the keynote address.

	The chapter placed a Constitution Week display in the Barefoot Beach Library.

Outside Bonita Springs Charter School before presenting the DAR American History awards to the children. L-R: Joan McKay, Ann Denney, Mary Musto, Jeanne Basso

Barefoot Beach Chapter

Bonita Springs, Florida

Daughters of the American Revolution

Activities