Melody Zimmerman received a Quilt of Valor at the 120th West Virginia Daughters of the American Revolution state conference. (Photo provided by Mary Ellen Brown)

PARKERSBURG — Nine delegates from the Blennerhassett Chapter of the West Virginia State Society of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution attended the 120th state conference on April 11-13 in Bridgeport.

Blennerhassett members attending were Shannon Sams-Harper, Taylor Sams, Mickie Richardson, Mary Ellen Brown, Ashley Burgess, Melody Zimmerman, Randi Gray, Stacey Adams and Chris Painter. Junior member Taylor Sams was a page at the conference.

Quilts of Valor were presented to veterans at the Friday evening dinner hosted by the Blennerhassett chapter. Melody Zimmerman, a Vietnam War veteran, was a recipient of a Quilt of Valor for her service in the Navy.

Election of state officers for 2025-2028 were held on Saturday. Brown was elected state chaplain and will take office at the close of Continental Congress on June 29.

During the memorial service on Sunday morning, the Blennerhassett Chapter honored the memory of Ida Fleming and other DAR members who had passed during the previous year.

The Blennerhassett chapter received the following awards at state conference:

* America 250! Committee: Second Place

* America 250! American History Committee: Outstanding Job in American History Juvenile Center Outreach; American History Essay Contest Participation; Women in American History; and Gray outstanding service as a state committee chair.

* Chapter Development and Revitalization Commission: Painter for outstanding service as chair.

* Commemorative Events Committee: 1st Place 50th Anniversary of the Vietnam War.

* DAR Leadership Training: Twinkling State and Shooting Star Awards; Richardson for outstanding service as a state committee chair.

* DAR Service for Veterans: 1st Place Providing Support to Veterans; 1st Place Honoring Veterans; 1st Place Support of Vietnam Veterans; 1st Place Number of Adults Volunteers; 1st Place Number of Youth Volunteers; 3rd Place Number of Volunteers; Shannon Sams-Harper for Individual Excellence in Support of Veterans.

* Franco-American Memorial Committee: 1st Place Franco-American Minutes Read at Chapter Meetings; 1st Place Social Media Use; 2nd Place Lafayette Tour Volunteer Hours; 2nd Place Lafayette minutes read at chapter meetings; Richardson for outstanding service as a state committee chair.

* Insignia Committee: 3rd Place Insignia.

* Literacy Promotion Committee: 1st Place most money given to promote early childhood literacy; 2nd Place literacy promotion.

* Women’s Issues Committee: Brown for outstanding service as a state committee chair;

* Burgess for significant support of the state regent’s project.;

* Painter for outstanding registrar in the Larke administration.