DAR Honors Outstanding Citizens
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The Vidalia Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution Society recognized outstanding area citizens at its monthly meeting on February 2, as the Community Service Award and Good Citizen Awards were presented.
The Community Service Award is presented annually to an individual who exhibits qualities and services that match the ideal of the DAR, whose national theme is “Forward in Service to America.” This award is presented on a local, state, and national level to those who have contributed to their communities in outstanding volunteer services, which may include cultural, educational, humanitarian, benevolent, patriotic, historical, environmental, conservation, or citizenship activities.
The process of choosing a recipient includes work done by a committee including Bennie Carroll, Pam Langston, Joan Hutcheson, and Sue Johnson to determine potential candidates, research and discuss their candidate qualifications, and choose a potential recipient to be approved by the state DAR chairperson. DAR Community Service Award 2022 Recipient Macklin Larry Cowart II has spent years serving the local Dream Center as a Board Member and Chairman since his appointment in 2014. He works often with the Board to set objectives, keep other Board members involved, cooperate with Director Peggy Neesmith on daily needs and issues concerning the Dream Center’s physical plant, and promote and champion the goals and visions of the Dream Center to the community. The Dream Center serves as the area’s inhouse organization to help women overcome drug and alcohol addictions. The Center, which began 13 years ago, provides a safe residential living environment and shelter, a therapeutic assessment in individual/ group/ family counseling, and gives access to vocational training and employment. It also continues education, provides social and community activities, and creates an environment in which to begin the healing and discipling process for a relationship with Jesus Christ for these women. The Dream Center also strives to help the women to learn to give back for what has been given to them.
In 2017, Cowart oversaw the construction of the building which houses a chapel, classroom, semiprofessional kitchen for catering and hosting events, and living quarters for ladies who have become eligible for some independent living. Cowart helped put together a mission team which provided 90% of the work for this two-phase project, and participated directly in the actual construction along with making daily project decisions.
“Mr. Cowart was a liaison, gopher, leader, presence of peace, and so much more during the project,” one Dream Center representative told the DAR.
Dream Center Director Peggy Neesmith commented on Cowart’s work with the construction. “It is debt-free without grants or fee charges to our clients, and this is largely because of the wisdom and Godly guidance of Mr. Larry Cowart,” she explained. “Now, another building is begun and he has stepped right into that role once again.” Currently, Cowart continues to work beyond his Board member responsibilities, as he has taught and continues to teach a weekly Bible study for the Dream Center women, and is often a part of meetings involving clients and/or families who are in need of problem-solving advice, or are in the midst of a crisis moment. Another Dream Center representative emphasized to the DAR, “It would be impossible to name all the things Mr. Cowart brings to the table. His energy is evident in all he does. His footprints are big.” The DAR read letters of recommendation received on Cowart’s behalf that detailed his worthiness of the award. “Cowart is the epitome of what it means to be a servant leader, a giver, and a doer, which is a rare combination,” one letter read. “He is a great problem solver, a gentle and caring person, and someone who has proven character when faced with decisions that are hard to make. His influence and help are immeasurable, and he realizes the value of each person.”
State DAR Chairperson OB McCorkle shared her praise of Cowart upon reading the Vidalia DAR’s recommendation of him as recipient of the award. “Mr. Cowart is so deserving of this award,” she commented. “What a remarkable patriot with unselfish acts of generosity and kindness.”
Vidalia DAR Representative Sue Johnson spoke on behalf of the Chapter. “Mr. Cowart’s work with the Dream Center is central to our selection of him as our Community Service recipient, but his service to his community does not stop there,” she remarked. “His earlier years of involvement with young people in the academic arena has continued through a ministry called ‘Walk to Emmaus,’ where he leads a program called Journey for college students, and a program called Chrysalis for high school students, ages 15 to 18, which is designed to help and inspire individuals in their Christian growth and to give them servant leadership skills they can share in their schools, homes, churches, and communities.”
She continued, “In his own church, he is very involved, even writing a twice-weekly devotional for men. Much more can be enumerated in his service to his community, done in humility, for having been given the opportunity to serve others.”
“We, the Daughters of the American Revolution, Vidalia Chapter, are very glad and honored to present this Community Service Award to Mr. Macklin Larry Cowart II, and, in doing so, express our appreciation for his unselfish service and dedication to our community,” she concluded.
Cowart responded to the honor. “There are so many more people that deserve this award than I do,” he told the audience. “I just happened to be the fortunate person and privileged person to come to Vidalia and be able to serve in these ways. It was strictly by the will of God that we even got the Dream Center, and it has been a pleasure to work there and to work with many other organizations as well. This is truly an honor and a privilege. So many people in this community do so much, and I have just been very blessed to take a small part in it.”
Good Citizen Awards
Six high school seniors were also recognized and presented with the Good Citizen award, which is voted on by teachers and students within each school system. Johnson commented on the weight of this honor: “Not only are these individuals held in high esteem by the adults, but also by their peers,” she emphasized. The schools are asked to choose a senior who best encompasses the qualities of good citizenship: humility, service, leadership, and patriotism. These good citizens are then invited to spend a two-hour period writing an essay to compete for scholarships, The essay topic is not given to the students before the essay writing period and must be completed in one sitting. This year’s essay topic was “How Do the Qualities of a Good Citizen — Dependability, Service, Leadership, and Patriotism — Help Support Our Nation.” These scholarships are then judged by three individuals outside of the DAR organization, and these scores are considered along with the applications and letters of recommendation also required for the scholarships.
This year’s essay contest winner was Montgomery County High School DAR Good Citizen Jacob Carpenter. Carpenter, the son of Evelyn and Chris Carpenter, said that while this victory was unexpected, he is humbled and grateful for the honor. His essay has been forwarded to the district competition.
All DAR essay competitors received a monetary reward along with their pin and card, which all DAR Good Citizens were gifted. DAR Member Jenny Stafford spoke on the significance of the pin. “Around the crown of the pin are 13 stars, representing the 13 original colonies,” she informed the audience. “The blue enamel identifies the society which awarded the pin. There are four books, each entitled with one of the qualities of good character, which our group emphasizes. Behind the books is the wreath of honor with the torch of understanding.”
Other DAR Good Citizens include: Treutlen County High School DAR Good Citizen Christopher Harden, son of Tyesha and Christopher Harden; Robert Toombs Christian Academy DAR Good Citizen Jackson Newton, son of Derek and Dequera Hardeman; Toombs County High School DAR Good Citizen Zia Griffin, daughter of LaTonya Griffin; Vidalia High School DAR Good Citizen Bryce Davis, son of Brian and Nicole Davis; and Vidalia Heritage Academy DAR Good Citizen Mason Beacham, son of Marty and Shae Beacham. School Counselors and other staff were also recognized and thanked for their work as communicators between the local DAR and schools.
Veterans Project
During the business portion of the monthly meeting, members of the Vidalia Chapter of the DAR brought items to the meeting that will be sent to three men in military service as part of Project Patriot, an effort to support our country's military forces. DAR Chapters all over the United States participate in this activity, but the Vidalia DAR Chapter localized the effort by selecting three men in service from our local community.
GOOD CITIZENS — Six area schools had representatives receive the DAR Good Citizen Award, which is voted on by teachers and peers. L to R: Bryce Davis, Christopher Harden, Jackson Newton, Zia Griffin, Mason Beacham, and Jacob Carpenter.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
SERVING VETERANS — The Vidalia Chapter of the DAR collected goods to send three local soldiers as an act of service. Here, DAR Members Joan Hutcheson (left) and Mildred Tuck (right) pose with the collected goods.Photo by Makaylee Randolph
