Pictured left to right: Laura Hartz, Dana Pfister, Commemorative Events Chair Margie Gehlhaus, Laura Jean Kanuer, Rose Catton and Charlene Souders.
Thirteen nurses were recently recognized by Towamencin Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) at their September meeting, in celebration of the 125th anniversary of the DAR Hospital Corps.
Margie Gehlhaus, Chapter Chair of the Commemorative Events committee, presented certificates and pins to Joan LaMonica, Rose Catton, Elizabeth "Betsy" Campbell, Charlene Souders, Dana Pfister, Patty Barndt-Slater, Jamie Wampole, Joanne Shupe, Margaret "Meg" Elizabeth Updike, Tracey Miller, Laura Hartz, Laura Jean Kanuer, and Margaret Violet Sellers.
At the onset of the Spanish-American War in 1898, the Surgeon General requested and received congressional authority to appoint women nurses under contract. Dr. Anita Newcomb McGee, Vice President of NSDAR, was placed in charge of selecting graduate nurses for the Army, and DAR acted as an application review board for military nursing services. As a result, the DAR Hospital Corps was founded, with Dr. McGee as its director, and 1,081 nurses were certified for service during the Spanish-American War. Dr. McGee is now known as the founder of the Army Nurse Corps.
About DAR
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is a non-political service organization that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism, and is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence. For more information about DAR visit www.dar.org
See also:
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Souderton Woman Receives Community Service Award from Towamencin DAR
Area Elementary Students Celebrate Early Flag Day with Help of Towamencin DAR
Local DAR Chapters Honor Area Vietnam Veterans
Towamencin DAR Sponsors Wreaths Across America Event
