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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Dar Honors Three For Community Service

Nina Culver Staff Writer

To join the Daughters of the American Revolution, women must prove they are descended from someone who “aided in achieving American independence during war time.”

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution is a patriotic, educational and historical organization, says Elizabeth Clodfelter, regent of the Spokane Garry Chapter.

“We preserve history,” she said. “We honor our Revolutionary War ancestors.”

Garry Chapter, begun in 1921, was named after Chief Garry of the Spokane Tribe, who was also a teacher and missionary. The chapter erected a monument for him in Greenwood Cemetery, where he is buried.

Members mark the graves of American Revolution soldiers and erect monuments in their honor. They also provide flags to organizations and even embroider Braille flags.

“The United States flag is something we cherish,” Clodfelter said.

The chapter’s 57 members meet once a month, September through June. Dues, $35 a year, are used on national, state and local levels for operating costs and projects, such as scholarships.

The Garry Chapter annually presents a scholarship to a graduating ROTC member at Gonzaga University for being an outstanding cadet and excelling scholastically.

The 37 state chapters award several scholarships every year. Registrar Loretta Kolsrud says last year, state chapters donated $120,000 in medical scholarships and expect to award nearly $200,000 this year.

On Tuesday, Garry Chapter members will honor three Spokane residents for excellence in community service.

James Clancy, who runs a fruit and vegetable stand in the West Central neighborhood, will be recognized for helping his needy neighbors. He donates a portion of his profits to local law enforcement and neighborhood children’s projects and keeps his prices affordable to the area’s residents.

The award recommendation reads: “In order to save money, he gets up at 5:30 a.m. to pick corn, cucumbers and other produce at Spokane Valley farms … Many of his customers are elderly and can’t afford to shop elsewhere, nor can many of them get to the farmer’s market easily.”

Vern and Eva Doyl, who have been married 60 years, will be honored for extensive community work in the East Central neighborhood where they have lived for decades.

Their recommendation reads, “All through their life together, when something in their neighborhood needed doing, they were ready to volunteer. They have worked to improve the quality of life in the community, and it is the desire of Spokane Garry Chapter to honor them and recognize their service to our city.”

, DataTimes