Native Daughters of the Golden West

PLACERVILLE, California (InEDC) Nov 9, 2022 — A hearty breakfast and a warm welcome met local veterans who braved the chilly, rainy weather Nov. 1 to attend a Veterans’ Appreciation Breakfast in their honor hosted by Marguerite Parlor No. 12, Native Daughters of the Golden West at the historical El Dorado Community Church.

Parlor President Mary Ann Harper welcomed veterans and their guests and thanked the event committee. Veterans Mike and Judy Muetz led the singing of the National Anthem and later veterans from each branch of the military stood while Judy played their military song on the piano.

Carol Mueller, Susie Small, Danielle Rowe and Michal Lawrence served coffee and juice and delivered breakfast orders of bacon, sausage, eggs and pancakes prepared by chief cook Robin Ritchison and her kitchen crew Wendy Harnage, Vonnie East, Betty Janco and Barbara Seaton. Apple muffins and pumpkin coffee cakes from Cuppa Coffee & More on Main Street in Placerville were also served.

Veterans and their guests viewed displays of the parlor’s activities during 2022 and added names of their veteran loved ones no longer living to a list of those to be remembered on Veterans Day.

Each veteran received a personalized Veterans Day card and chose one or more of the patriotic-themed hand painted rocks decorating the tables to take home with them as a reminder that they are loved and appreciated for their military service. The artist, Native Daughter Lawrence, said she hopes these mementos will “affirm the message to our veterans that they are the rock on which the freedom and security of our nation has depended.”

“We are excited to be able once again to express our gratitude in person for the courage and dedication of those who gave a part of their lives to military service for our country,” said event organizer Mueller, explaining that although the parlor’s tradition of hosting a luncheon for local veterans was put on hold in 2020, when pandemic restrictions limited the size of social gatherings, “We have kept in touch by sending greeting cards and gift cards over the past two years to remind these heroes that they have not been forgotten.”

Members of the parlor also volunteered at the recent Mission to Honor Veterans held at the Cameron Park Church of the Foothills last month, cheering nearly 100 veterans as they arrived for the program and virtual “honor flight” to Washington, D.C., before partaking of a festive free lunch.

“We’ve been busy this fall, learning about our local history by touring the historic markers placed by our predecessors on Main Street and vicinity and taking a field trip to the Institute of Forest Genetics in Camino to learn how seedling trees are grown and what’s involved in reforestation of burned areas that our contributions to the Eldorado National Forest Penny Pines program help make possible,” reported Harper.

“In October some of us also participated in the Save the Graves event at Union Cemetery in Placerville, intended as an educational opportunity to learn the history of Main Street merchants buried there as well as a fundraiser toward badly needed cemetery maintenance projects,” she added.

“Look for our float in Placerville’s Christmas Parade on Dec. 4. Then we will culminate a rewarding year of community involvement with our Christmas Party meeting on Tuesday, Dec. 6,” Harper concluded. “We’d love to have California-born prospective members looking for a friendly group with an interest in serving our community and preserving our environment and history join us for the potluck and party at 11 a.m. at the El Dorado Community Church in the town of El Dorado.”

Contact Lawrence at (530) 644-3091 or michalr13teach@gmail.com for more information.

Img: Navy veteran Bill Schultz and Army veteran Sal Gigante.