The county and nation will celebrate Veterans Day on Nov. 11. This week, a group that has a long history of helping veterans in the county marked 100 years of service and history.

Congratulations to the General Richard Butler chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which celebrated its “100+1th anniversary” at the Butler Country Club last weekend.

The event included a luncheon, historical presentations and a ceremony that was attended by local elected officials and the DAR's state regent.

The General Richard Butler chapter is involved in a number of initiatives that better the community. In December, during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the group laid 1,000 wreaths in North Side Cemetery, covering every veteran's grave there.

Also during COVID-19, the group provided a box of face shields, masks and other school supplies for Emily Brittain Elementary School as part of the DAR Butler chapter's annual Day of Service in October.

This year, for its Day of Service, the group prepared goodie bags for first responders in Butler, delivering them to Butler city police, the fire department, the sheriff's office, township police and state police.

A previous Day of Service involved converting a garage at Robin's Home — a supportive housing center for female veterans in Butler — into a storage area, and organizing donations for the center.

In other words, the General Richard Butler chapter is involved in its community, and the community is all the better for it.

One of the reasons why the chapter has lasted so long, according to chapter regent Martha Eberhardt, is that participation in the group has been passed down through the generations. For example, Eberhardt became a member because her mother had been one.

We hope that tradition continues, and that the General Richard Butler chapter will be able to celebrate another 100 years and more.

— NCD