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The Colonel David Love Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), annually recognizes one student each from Monticello and Drew Central school districts as a DAR Good Citizen. This year, Monticello High senior Anna Claire Grant and Drew Central senior Macy Lloyd were recognized in the March 12 meeting of the Chapter.
The Good Citizen award program was created in 1934 and is intended to encourage and reward the qualities of good citizenship. This award recognizes and rewards individuals who possess good citizenship qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. These students are selected by their teachers and peers because they demonstrate these qualities to an outstanding degree. Monticello High Counselor Vicki Tilley and Drew Central High Counselor Toni Jacobs serve as contacts between the schools and the Chapter.
Macy and Anna Claire were invited to introduce themselves and tell the group about their goals after graduation. They were also each awarded a monetary grant from the Chapter.
Judy Murphy serves as the Chapter’s Good Citizen Chapter Chairperson.
This year, Anna Claire also chose to write an essay in response to the question: “Service is an essential attribute of a good citizen. Discuss how service can foster a strong sense of community and strengthen our American Identity?” She presented her essay to the Chapter, and it is shared in full below:
“America is a country built on a foundation of service. Service not only benefits a community but fosters a strong sense of belonging and is the root of our American identity. Service has helped to build the “melting pot” society we live in today. Engaging in service, whether through volunteering, supporting local businesses or initiatives, or helping neighbors, service plays a vital role in strengthening communities and building up our American identity.
Service is an essential attribute of a good citizen. It helps to impact a community and define what it means to be an American. It also breaks down social and economic barriers by working with people from all walks of life, to work toward a common goal. In a diverse society like America, shared commitment while working on a project to benefit a community breaks down differences and creates respect and understanding. When individuals volunteer their time and effort to support local initiatives, they create bonds with others who share similar values and goals. This sense of collaboration is essential for building a supportive and inclusive community. For example, clean up events, food drives, and neighborhood watch programs encourage residents to work together, promoting trust and cooperation. These activities not only improve the quality of live in the community but also create a sense of pride and ownership among its members .Service helps to bridge social and economic divides within a community. By participating in service activities, individuals from diverse backgrounds can come together and learn from each other.
Acts of service reflect the core American values of compassion, generosity, and solidarity. Service was also an essential part in building the America we know today. Throughout history, Americans have rallied around causes and come together to improve society through service, whether through disaster relief, social justice work, or local volunteering efforts .Our founding fathers, with a willingness to serve the next generation, build this country and the individuals after them helped improve it. The Freedom Riders in 1961 were a group of both black and white activists who traveled by bus through the segregated south to protest the discriminatory law that was in place. The Civilian Conservation Corps established in the 1930s as part of FDR’s New Deal brought groups of men together to work on environmental conservation projects, giving them jobs and reinforcing their American identity through service. When we serve, we’re not just helping individuals, we’re also reinforcing the very fabric of the nation. Service strengthens our communities, our connections, and our identity as Americans, reminding us of our shared responsibility and the history that makes America.
In conclusion, service is not just an act of giving your time and help, it is the cornerstone of our nation’s unity and identity. Through volunteering, supporting local initiatives, and helping those around us, we contribute to a stronger, more connected America. Service breaks down barriers, promotes understanding, and reinforces the core values of compassion and generosity that define us as a people. As we reflect on the history of our country and the countless acts of service that have shaped it, we are reminded that each of us has a role to play in building the future of this great nation. Whether in times of crisis or in our everyday lives, service remains the thread that binds us together, making America not just a place, but a community of shared responsibility and hope.”
