BAY STATE CHAPTER

WINTER 2020 NEWSLETTER FREEDOMSFOUNDATION.ORGSPIRIT

THANK YOU, CHAPTER MEMBERS, FOR ALL YOU DO

reedoms Foundation hosted the 51st Annual Chapters and Partners Conference on Oct. 17-20, 2019. Chapter members heard from President Freedoms Foundation President David Harmer and and CEO David Harmer Chapter Member of the Year Molly Wehrenberg. on Freedoms Foundation’s Ffight against civic illiteracy and Princeton’s Dr. Allen Guelzo on “Ten Things Everyone Should Know about American History.” Working sessions were held on chapter basics, from recruiting new members to finances, and participants also had the opportunity to explore nearby historic homes and churches from the Revolutionary War era. Sandy Cook accepted Sacramento’s award and spoke to fellow chapter members about At the annual Red, White and Blue the importance of sending her grandchildren to Spirit of America. Awards Banquet, the dedication, Robert and Billie Nicholson accepted the hard work and vision of all chapters Pensacola Chapter’s award and were named and volunteers were celebrated. Most Patriotic Dressers. Several were singled out for going Robert and Billie Nicholson, of the above and beyond: Pensacola Chapter, received the Most lifetime achievement and dedication Patriotic Dress Award. Molly Wehrenberg, of the Oklahoma to one’s community and Freedoms City Chapter, received the William O. Foundation. Sandy Cook, a Freedoms Foundation Perry Chapter Member of the Year board member and member of Award, for outstanding work in the Chapter of the Year Awards were the Sacramento Chapter, spoke past year by an individual chapter presented to Pensacola Chapter of the importance of sending her member. (Small Chapter Division), grandchildren to Spirit of America County Chapter (Medium Chapter programs in order for them to Don Ward, of the Utah Chapter, Division), and Sacramento Chapter become informed and responsible received the Spirit of ’76 Award, for (Large Chapter Division). citizens. ★★ WELCOME, BOARD MEMBERS

Marvell Ruppel served as the 71st National AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary president from 2017-2018. As national president her ★ project was the streetlamp replacement at Freedoms Foundation at . AWARDS Through the years, Marvell has held many BY THE positions in AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary on Accepting San Diego Chapter awards are the local and state levels. (standing, from left) Mary Brandeberry, Larry NUMBERS Zeiger and Jackie Bailey and (seated, from left) Marvell currently serves on the AMVETS Nicole Mione-Green and Sissy Sugarman. National Ladies Auxiliary Board of Trustees as their secretary. She is also an active life member of AMVETS Ladies Auxiliary #60 in St. Francis, Wis., where she currently HONORING holds the offices of president and hospital chairman. AMERICANS WHO Marvell holds a master’s degree in social work from the 23 University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Her professional career HONOR AMERICA has spanned over 30 years and she currently works at Fresh AWARD WINNERS Start Family Services, where she is a treatment foster care The National Awards Program was Freedoms case management supervisor, clinical advisor and trainer. Foundation’s first initiative to promote, Adult and Youth She is also an adjunct lecturer for the School of Social recognize and celebrate Americans from all Community Welfare at University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. walks of life whose positive words and deeds Category Marvell is the daughter of a Navy WWII veteran. Her brother honored our country’s rich heritage and and husband both served in the Army during the Vietnam unique freedoms. War. Since the first awards were presented in 1949 Marvell and her husband, Jim, of Cedarburg, Wis., have been by then Gen. Dwight Eisenhower in the old barn married for 46 years. They have four children and eight on Freedoms Foundation’s Valley Forge campus, 41 grandchildren. Three of their children attended the Spirit of more than 57,000 Americans have received the America AMVETS sponsored youth conference. Honor Medal. This year, AWARD WINNERS 84 more organizations and individuals, both youths and adults, from all across the country Youth Essay Sally Peterson Brinton began piano will be added to that honor roll. Category lessons at age 7 with her mother. Four As always, our two dozen volunteer chapters years later she performed as a soloist were crucial in identifying and selecting with the Utah Symphony. Sally graduated these honorees. In fact, 96 percent of all this magna cum laude from the University of year’s nominees came from the chapters. Our Utah and received her master’s degree National Awards Jury reviewed the nominations in piano performance from The Juilliard 14 last summer and named the winners. School of Music. She is the first-prize winner of four national piano competitions Ceremonies honoring this year’s medal AWARD WINNERS and has performed in recital at Carnegie Hall and with recipients began in November, with the Special Events orchestras throughout the United States. Chattanooga and Dallas Chapters. Most ceremonies will take place in February, on and Public Last year, one group of teachers toured presidential homes in Virginia, including Mount Vernon, where this picture was taken. She is past president of Freedoms Foundation at Valley Washington’s Birthday. Communications Forge, Utah Chapter, and served on the Utah Board for seven Category years. As chapter president, she organized a Freedoms Acceptances for this summer’s teacher graduate courses started going out Foundation Concert of patriotic music and inspiring words TEACHERS, in January. with the Tabernacle Choir at Temple Square on Constitution Nearly 600 teachers submitted applications for the 300 spots in six Day, Sept. 17, 2002. She has traveled to Valley Forge on two SIGN UP NOW FOR programs. Waiting lists have been created for our two most popular offerings, occasions as a chaperone with her husband for the Spirit of 6 American Revolution- Campaign and Union and Confederate America Youth Leadership Conferences, and six of her seven SUMMER GRADUATE Capitals, and we expect Medal of Honor Legacy: World War II and Presidency children attended SOA conferences. AWARD WINNERS and Electoral Power to be full by Feb. 1. Sally, a manager for Ensign Pines Properties in Salt Lake City, COURSES There are still seats available in Medal of Honor Legacy: War on Terror and has served on the Board of Directors for Snowbird Ski Resort Educator & School Educating the Young Entrepreneur. and Deer Valley Institute, and was also on the advisory board Category for Macy’s, where she received a commendation from the Thanks to the tremendous support of our teacher alumni through the Joshua CEO. She is the mother of seven children and grandmother Utah Chapter honoree Carole Mikita, KSL-TV Chamberlain League, we are looking to completely fill all summer programs. to 29. She enjoys traveling with her husband (has traveled to news anchor, accepts her award from David To register, visit freedomsfoundation.org/teachers/2020-programs/. all seven continents) and spending time with their family. Harmer (left) and Utah Lt. Gov. Spencer Cox.

BAY STATE CHAPTER

NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID PERMIT NO. 168 SOUTHEASTERN PA 19399

P.O. BOX 67, VALLEY FORGE, PA 19481-0067

INVEST IN THE FUTURE OF FREEDOMS FOUNDATION TODAY

Freedoms Foundation is fortunate to have supporters who so deeply believe in our mission that they entrust us with legacy gifts, thus ensuring we continue to uphold the ideals of our Constitutional form of government for

future generations. Democracy cannot survive without engaged citizens,

and for 70 years we have been able to teach the rights and responsibilities of citizenship thanks to the generosity of our legacy donors. You can express your commitment to our mission by naming Freedoms Foundation as a beneficiary in your will. Your investment will be a lasting tribute to our country’s heritage and help secure Freedoms Foundation’s long-term

future. Gifts of all sizes are appreciated and will be put to good use. Over the

last 20 years, legacy gifts have ranged from $250 to more than $3 million. For those who have included Freedoms Foundation in their estate plan, we thank you. If you are considering a legacy gift or need more information before proceeding, please feel free to contact Maureen Troutman, Senior Director of Development, at 610-933-8825, ext. 210, or [email protected].

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★ ★ EDUCATE HONOR CHALLENGE