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Corresponding Secretary General

Corresponding Secretary General, Virginia Lingelbach

What am I doing sitting in the chair of the Corresponding Secretary General of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution?  For someone who never imagined she would be a Chapter Regent, it is pretty amazing to have been elected, thirty years after joining, as the State Regent of Georgia and three years later, to a National Executive Officer position.  Having worked with the DAR Store Staff for many years, I feel very much at home in this position working with Mrs. Carolie Walker, DAR Store Manager, and her staff of fabulous employees.

My appointments as DAR National School Tour Vice Chair for three Administrations; Chair, Continental Congress; Chair, President General’s Project; and Chair, Units Overseas Committee have provided the opportunity to become acquainted with many Daughters worldwide.  These friendships have very much enriched my life and I consider Daughters all over the world to be my extended family. 

Life is a journey and mine began during World War II when, as newlyweds, my Dad, a Marine, and my Mom, a recent college graduate, were stationed in California awaiting my Dad’s orders to deploy to the Pacific.  But, before those orders arrived… I arrived.  With subsequent moves, I was reared in North Carolina, Georgia, and Florida.  Georgia, of course, is the place I call home.  A 30 year career as a civilian employee of the United States Air Force, marriage to an Air Force Officer, mother of four, grandmother of seven and great-grandmother of three, have made for a very full, exciting and sometimes challenging life.  My late mother was, and my sister, my daughters and my granddaughters are all active DAR members. My great-granddaughter, pictured with her mother, will be a new member in 2029. Much like our wonderful and very accomplished President General, I, too, married a military pilot, but the skies are safe…I did not follow Mrs. Dillon’s path and become a pilot myself.  I leave my flying to Atlanta based Delta Airlines.   My late husband was a retired Air Force Colonel, career military officer, Vietnam Veteran, and strong supporter of DAR. Other than Faith and family, my life centers around DAR, my 4lb Yorkie, Bo-Bo, my very territorial Peacock, Mr. Man,  and possibly a stray cat that seems to have recently adopted me.  The Yorkie and the Peacock are pictured…cats do not pose.

The Office of the Corresponding Secretary General also includes responsibility for the NSDAR Mail Room.  The week following Continental Congress we were faced with the awesome task of sealing, sorting, and mailing the Guinness Book of World Records, DAR record breaking 100,904 letters to military service personnel at home and abroad.   A huge thanks to LeAnn Turbyfill, Chair, Public Relations and volunteers from the surrounding area chapters who assisted with this task.  This was truly a labor of love and all letters were in the mail within a week of the close of Continental Congress.  Special thanks to Mr. Kevin Franklin, NSDAR Mail Room clerk, without his assistance the timely mailing of these letters may not have been possible.

The DAR Store is fully stocked with the President General’s beautiful pins and earrings as well as the pearl necklace and the new Dillon tote. Proceeds from these items benefit the President General’s Project.  Consignment of these items to State Regents is available for state events. The DAR School Pin and the Junior Pin have been ordered and both will be available through the store sometime this fall.  Mrs. Dillon has selected an iconic item in our complex of buildings to replicate as a Christmas ornament and that too will be available in the fall.  I will keep you in suspense as to what she chose…but you will not want to miss out on purchasing this one!  Remember, too, Junior Shoppe merchandise is also available through the DAR Store with quick filling of orders.  

New items are now being considered to arrive just in time for Holiday gift giving.  Please continue to check the website to see what’s new.  Your ideas and suggestions for items are always welcome.  I look forward to hearing from you as we Move Forward in Service to America.