Society Snippet: The Re-dedication of the SCDAR State Tribute Grove

A beautiful day at the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge greeted the members of the SCDAR as they arrived from different parts of the state to attend the ceremony.  

Members arrived where they signed a specially created sign in sheet and received a cockade symbolic of the event.  

The use of the cockade representes the word "cockade" of the red-cockaded woodpecker.  This aviary is preserved in our Tribute Grove to prevent its extinction.  The color blue represents the DAR.  The red feathers represents the red feather makings that make the red-cockaded woodpecker distinctive.  The pine bough and pinecones represent the pine tree seedlings planted to create the Tribute Grove and that provides the habitat of the red-cockaded woodpecker.  The gold color of the pinecones represents our 125th anniversary.

They had the opportunity to view the permanent displays of the Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge as well as the display about the SCDAR Tribute Grove and the red-cockaded woodpecker which is preserved in our forest to prevent its extinction.

A few minutes before 2:00 P.M., we headed to the end of the refuge driveway for the ceremony where members had the opportunity to learn about our Tribute Grove and view the laying of the wreath at the boulder with the SCDAR bronze plaque located across the street in the Sandhills State Forest.   

As Dianne (our state regent) and Penny (our state archivist) made their way with the wreath across the street, all of our members crossed the street with them.  The wreath was placed followed by pictures.  As we call it in the C.A.R., photo op!  All of our members in attendance then gathered around the boulder for a group picture. 

Following the benediction, the members headed to the refuge center for light refreshments and social time.  The members were having so much fun that we actually ran over our allotted time for the refuge center!  

Everything from the invitations, programs, tablecloths, pinecone cakelets, the serving pieces for the refreshments, the napkins, decorations, and more followed the theme of the pine trees of our Tribute Grove.  Those who made the trip were glad they did and plan to go back to their respective chapters and share the information about the Tribute Grove with their chapter members. 

For those of you who were unable to attend, I have included the complete script below.  I have placed a line where the last names would be for security purposes.

We are hoping to be able to upload the video on the blog soon. We have had some technical issues with this.  I will let you know if and when it becomes available.  In the meantime, enjoy the script.  

Script for the Re-dedication Ceremony for the SCDAR State Tribute Grove

Carolina Sandhills National Wildlife Refuge

October 28, 2017

Written by Penny Renwick

DIANNE :

On May 5, 1897, a group of ladies met and organized the Columbia Chapter.  As this was the first chapter organized in our state society, this date also serves as the beginning of the South Carolina State Society.  The SCDAR will celebrate this milestone of our state society throughout the 2017-2018 year.  The first of the events is the re-dedication of the SCDAR State Forest.   We will begin the re-dedication with invocation given by State Chaplain Catherine _________.

INVOCATION: CATHERINE __________  (original prayer written by Catherine _________)

Lord God, Maker of Heaven and Earth, we praise You today for Your creation and the blessings you have provided for us through Nature.  Thank you for the beauty and usefulness of the trees planted here many years ago and dedicated to those who fought for freedom and liberty in a terrible war, and to those who gave the ultimate sacrifice – their very lives.

And now Lord, we are grateful that the usefulness of this forest lives on as a means to help preserve one of your creatures – The Red Cockaded Woodpecker. We thank you for those who work diligently to care for this Wildlife Refuge so that it can be a benefit to all of your Creation. Bless this place with sunshine and rain so that the trees remain healthy and the wildlife have a place of refuge for many years to come.

Help us to continue to be worthy of the trust you have placed in us to serve God, Home and Country, In Thy name we pray.  Amen.

DIANNE:

Thank you Catherine.  The Ritual will be led by State Historian Bettise ________.

RITUAL: BETTISE __________

          The Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag of the United States

          The American’s Creed        

          The Preamble to the Constitution of the United States

          The Salute to the Flag of South Carolina

DIANNE: 

Thank you Bettise.  Over the 125 years of the existence of our state society, the members have accomplished many wonderful achievements.  One of those was the planting of a forest.  I knew that each state was asked by NSDAR to participate in a national project to plant a state forest and that South Carolina had done so.  I asked our State Archivist, Penny Renwick to locate our forest so that we could re-dedicate it.  She will now give a brief history of the SCDAR State Forest or Tribute Grove.

HISTORY OF SCDAR STATE FOREST: PENNY

Thank you Madam State Regent.

The United States was in the midst of the Great Depression from 1929-1941.  As part of FDR’s administration, the New Deal was proposed in 1932.  Part of the New Deal was the creation of the Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) which was a federally funded organization that put thousands of unmarried American males between the ages of 18-26 to work.  The work that the CCC would complete reflected FDR’s deep commitment to conservation.  In his plea for the New Deal’s passage, he declared “the forests are the lungs of our land [which] purify our air and give fresh strength to our people.”  At the time, the national forests of our country were in deplorable condition as a result of over harvesting, forest fires, and little replanting which increased the problem of erosion.  The CCC became known as “Roosevelt’s Tree Army.” 

Now with the workforce of the CCC, the National Forest Service would commence what would become known as the Penny Pines program.  For a penny a pine tree seedling, the CCC would begin replanting and growing pines in National nurseries throughout the country.  Pines could be purchased by organizations and individuals.  The spirit of this program became a patriotic duty and buckets for pennies were set up at local post offices and stores. 

In 1939, then President General Mrs. Henry M. Robert chose the Penny Pine program as one of her Golden Jubilee National Projects.  The program commenced in 1939 and was to culminate in 1941 on the NSDAR 50^th anniversary.  The goal of the Penny Pine program was to have each chapter pledge not less than one acre of pine seedlings which was the equivalent of 500 trees per chapter at a cost of $5.  At the end of the project, many states had a forest. 

In the 1930s here in South Carolina, farmers in the rural area where the SCDAR tribute grove is located were struggling to survive with infertile, sandy soil.  The U.S. Department of Agriculture developed the Submarginal Lands Programs and agreed to purchase lands and resettle those farmers that met qualifications.  The project was known as the Sandhills Lands project.  It was all Federal land, and 45,000 acres became the National Wildlife Refuge. 

From 1939-1990, the South Carolina Forestry Commission was leased 45,000 acres for multiple use forestry benefits, i.e. a working forest.  The South Carolina Forestry Commission began replanting the forest to reestablish the forest that had once covered the entire area.  The Commission also sustainably harvested the forest, created a perpetual forest through rotational plantings, thinning, and removal.  This working forest of which our grove is located supported forest operations here and for all SCFC properties throughout the state through the duration of the lease.

In the SCDAR 1946 yearbook, there is a reference to our State Tribute Grove.  From the yearbook of 1946, the information reads as follows:

On motion of Mrs. Wise and seconded by Mrs. von Tresckow, it was voted to buy for the "Penny Pine Project" a bronze plaque for $30 F.O.B. Cincinnati with the correction of placing the DAR Insignia at the top instead of at the bottom as pictured in the blue print.  The inscription reads, "These Trees Dedicated in Honor of the Living, and in Memory of the Dead From South Carolina in the Second World War."  Erected by SCDAR in 1946.   This plaque will be placed on a boulder where seedlings have been planted along highway No. 1 approximately 4 miles east of McBee.  These pines are at a suitable size to be dedicated.  The State Forestry Department offers to assist and place the plaque on the shoulder.  Dedication will be in September and all shall be notified.

The actual dedication took place on October 11, 1946.  Notice the day that the dedication actually took place.  The SCDAR chose the 56^th anniversary of the NSDAR to dedicate its grove.

In 1990 following the end of the lease, the SC Forestry Commission began managing the forest for US Fish and Wildlife through an exchange program.  Through the exchange program, management of the property includes fire protection, control burning, and reforestation for 25 years.  That same year, our forest was also designated as a preserve for the red-cockaded woodpecker.  The property's sole purpose is to support the recovery of this endangered species. 

The SCDAR does not own its grove but is proud to know that its use preserves and protects an endangered species from becoming extinct and continues to reflect on the NSDAR’s work in conservation.

For the complete history of the SCDAR State Tribute Grove, please visit my blog reflectionsofourtreasuredpast.blogspot.com

DIANNE:

Thank you Penny.  At this time, we will re-dedicate our SCDAR State Tribute Grove.

We of the Daughters of the American Revolution – chartered by Congress to preserve “those things of value to the country… historically, educationally, and patriotically” – do hereby recognize the efforts of the daughters that came before us in service to God, Home, and Country.

During the Great Depression, an all time low for our nation, President Franklin Roosevelt stated that a “government worthy of its name must make a fitting response.”  Through his deep commitment to environmental conservation he developed a plan which would get our citizens back to work and repair the damage done to our national forests through natural disasters and over harvesting.  He declared, “The forests are the lungs of our land [which] purify our air and give fresh strength to our people.”

The members of the SCDAR stand here today proud to honor the work of our daughters of the past who rose to the occasion at a time when our country needed us and created this grove.  Today, this grove is a part of a forest that continues to reflect on the NSDAR’s work in conservation by providing a habitat to prevent the extinction of the red-cockaded woodpecker. 

DIANNE AND PENNY CROSS THE STREET AND PLACE THE WREATH.  Remain in place for a moment of reflection.

Return to where members are gathered to close the ceremony.

DIANNE:

Following the benediction, you are invited to view the monument for our tribute grove.  Please watch your footing as you make your way there and back.  Light refreshments will be served in the center.  A refuge staff member is with us today if you have any questions about the refuge and its work.

Our state chaplain will now give the benediction.

BENEDICTION: CATHERINE __________ (original prayer written by Catherine __________)

Heavenly Father, as we leave here today we thank you for the friendships and fellowship we have enjoyed and ask that You give us all safe journeys home. Continue to bless this place with your care and protection that it, and those that care for it, may flourish and be able to continue the purpose for which it was established. In thy name we pray, Amen.