DAR Darlings Entertain Upstate Veterans

The DAR Darlings sang and danced their way into the hearts of the veterans at the Richard Michael Campbell Veterans home in Anderson.

The Darlings belong to the Fort Prince George Chapter of DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution). “We wanted to do something to thank them for their service,” said Nancy Cromer, Regent of the Chapter. “It was sort of an old-time vaudeville show with a patriotic theme, we had some singing and dancing and jokes and little skits,” she said.

Cromer wrote the script and worked out the choreography with Marianne Holland, Ph.D., who directed the music. “I played the military songs from each branch of the service on the piano and they sang along,” said Holland. The members contributed jokes and skit ideas until it all came together.

Getting ready for the show was more work than expected. “We rehearsed twice a week,” said Kitty Gallagher, nicknamed “French Kitty” for a skit she was in.

Don Averett, 65, Army said he enjoyed the show along with Clayburn Palmer, 79, Air Force. Palmer and his brother, J. T., 90, served together during WWII. James Bragg, 65, Army, watched the show with his wife, Judy, who was visiting that day.

The show took a serious turn when Roger Kilpatrick entered the room playing Amazing Grace on his bagpipes dressed in the tartan plaid of his clan. Several veterans brushed tears from their eyes as they sang the hymn. Anne Kilpatrick, Roger’s wife, played the drill sergeant in several skits.

Annie Brock, Activities Assistant Director, who has been working at the veteran’s home for ten years said “we have daily scheduled activities and we always try to keep something going on, it may be Bingo or a craft of some sort.”

Sherry Fleming, Activities Director, said “we have 220 veterans currently staying with us and ten of them are women.” Betty Sanders, who served in the Army in Germany, said she “really had a good time” at the show. Sarah Williams served in the Navy and recently celebrated her 90^th birthday.

Fleming noted that the veteran’s love visitors or any break in their routine.

“I think we had as much fun putting on the show as they did watching it,” said Cromer.

DAR is a non-profit, non-political women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children. Founded in 1890, it is headquartered in Washington, DC.