DAR Donates Lap Throws to Assisted Living Community

OSWEGO – In a special program honoring veterans, residents of St. Francis Commons received handmade lap throws from the Ontario Chapter of the National Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) this summer as part of the chapter’s celebration of America’s 250th.

DAR members created more than 40 lap blankets in patriotic colors and presented them to residents in a program honoring veterans at the St. Francis Commons Assisted Living Facility.

Recognized for their military service were Navy veterans Robert Bela and Wesley Wilder; Eileen Sprague, Air Force; Dennis Snyder, Army and National Guard; and St. Francis employee Randy Rourke, Army. Each received a special lap throw created or donated by a member of the Pulaski-based DAR chapter.

Several other residents chose their own lap throw from the abundant and colorful selection. The blankets were crocheted, quilted, or knitted in red, white, and blue and tied with a gift tag that read “In Celebration of the 250th Anniversary of the United States Ontario Chapter, NSDAR, Pulaski, New York Presents You With this Patriotic Lap Throw.”

DAR member Jean Rautio of Phoenix began organizing the project last fall, and members created the blankets over the next several months.

“I thought our chapter should do something for the 250th,” said Rautio, an avid crocheter. “A DAR sister told me of a relative who had received an afghan at the VA, and how precious it was to him. Being the only DAR in Oswego County, it seemed like a good idea to do something for veterans in Oswego County. I felt it was also important to include all the residents at St. Francis as we celebrate America’s 250th,” said Rautio.

Hannah Burlingham, Director of Activities at St. Francis Commons, organized the program, along with DAR members Rautio and Chapter Regent Shirley Hanley.

“The residents of St. Francis Commons were delighted to welcome local Daughters of the American Revolution, Ontario Chapter,” said Burlingham. “It was an afternoon spent honoring our veterans within the St. Francis community, and enjoying the personal histories of chapter members.”

Each veteran shared their military experience.

Robert Bela served in the Navy from 1966 to 1971 on the USS Cadmus, which was a repair ship. As the captain’s yeoman, he was responsible for typing correspondence for the ship’s captain. He also served as postmaster. He fondly remembers playing table tennis with his fellow crewmates.

Wesley Wilder served as a signalman in the Navy from 1957 to 1962 aboard the USS Kennedy and the USS Yosemite. He also played on the Navy baseball team.

Eileen Sprague was stationed at McGuire Air Force Base in New Jersey in 1967 and 1968. She tracked all foreign and domestic aircraft at McGuire in the aircraft control department. One of her fondest memories was flying in the C-130s (nicknamed the “herkie jerkies”) to perform functional flight checks.

Dennis Snyder served in the Army in 1960 and 1961. He was stationed in Panama, where he was a truck driver in the supply corps. While in the Army, he was awarded the Good Conduct Medal and played on the field football team. The team was “quite successful” and traveled to other countries, including Costa Rica. After his Army service, Snyder served in the Active National Guard in Oswego as a truck driver.

Randy Rourke, maintenance engineer at St. Francis, was a Cavalry Scout in the Army, on active duty from 1978 to 1981. Rourke completed his basic and advanced individual training at Fort Knox, Kentucky. He has many fond memories of being stationed at Camp Casey in South Korea and enjoyed his time there. From South Korea, he moved to Fort Stewart, Georgia, where he was stationed until the end of his service.

“Donating the lap quilts and hearing all kinds of stories from and about veterans was a real joy,” said Chapter Regent Shirley Hanley of Fulton.

Hanley noted that the Ontario chapter, which was founded in Pulaski in 1903, has a long history of honoring veterans and active military.

“The Ontario chapter donates clothing, toiletries, books, and other items to the VA Hospital in Syracuse every fall. We’ve sent packages overseas to our troops, and we attended a returning Honor Flight ceremony. Throughout the years, the chapter has supported our military and our veterans, during war and peace,” she added.

“We thank the DAR members for their time spent with us, and the lovely handmade blankets. They are a precious physical remembrance of fond memories,” said Burlingham.

DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education. Any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American independence is eligible to join the DAR.

The Ontario chapter meets at the Half-Shire Historical Society in Richland. Members are from across Oswego County and neighboring counties.

For information about local DAR activities, contact Regent Shirley Hanley at [email protected].