GREENVILLE — Fort GreeneVille recently celebrated its 95th anniversary by holding a Breakfast Tea Party at the historical St. Clair Manor, Greenville.
How more appropriate than to have a private showing and program of George Washington’s gavel! The gavel was brought to Greenville by the Greenville Masonic Lodge 143 in celebration of their 300th Anniversary of Modern Freemasonry. The Masons invited Fort GreeneVille to assist in the local historical event due to the fact DAR has ties to the gavel. The gavel was used in the cornerstone dedications for the NSDAR’s Memorial Continental Hall in 1904 and in 1928 at the Constitution Hall in Washington, DC.
Fort GreeneVille presented two certificates during its 95th Anniversary celebration. Fort GreeneVille recently received First Place Outstanding Coverage of Print Articles awarded by the Ohio DAR Public Relations and Media Committee. The local media was very instrumental in helping the local DAR receive such an honor, it was noted. Fort GreeneVille DAR presented Linda Moody, a reporter with The Daily Advocate, a certificate of appreciation for her work in the local media. She has been reporting the local news for 50 years.
“Thanks goes to Linda for her dedication and commitment to our community,” said Regent Debbie Nisonger.The chapter also presented a Historical Preservation Appreciation Award certificate to the Greenville Masonic Lodge 143 for sponsoring the George Washington Gavel for Public Display in Greenville in honor of the 300th Anniversary of Modern Freemasonry. Worshipful Master Tom Baker accepted the award from Regent Debbie Nisonger.
Also in attendance were OSDAR Vice Regent Kathy Dixon, Organizing Secretary Elaine Saylor Ortman, Southwest District Director Chris Nehring and Masonic Lodge 143 officers.
The 95th anniversary event raised more than $700 to sponsor a service dog for a local veteran through Angel Paws for the second year in a row. Angel Paws is an organization that trains rescue dogs to help change the lives of veterans who are suffering from PTSD and physical disabilities.
Afterwards, several Fort GreeneVille members in period dress — Caroline Petitjean, Taylor Nehring, Helen Wright, Debbie Nisonger, Chris Nehring and Karen Burkett — were greeters at the gavel’s public display at the Greenville Masonic Temple.
It was noted that one of the gavel escorts from Washington D.C. runs a non-profit organization that has therapeutic horses for veterans suffering from PTSD. Eventually a service dog division will be added.
