John Everett Chapter DAR

04/17/2026

Darrel and Melanie Appelt of Columbus have been selected for the American Flag display recognition for the month of April. They are being honored by the John Everett Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution and the Robert Rankin Chapter, Sons of the American Revolution in recognition of their outstanding and patriotic display of the American flag.
The Appelt family has a strong tradition of patriotism. Melanie is the daughter of a veteran who served in both the United States Air Force and the United States Marine Corps, and his legacy of service helped instill in her a deep sense of patriotism. From an early age, she was raised with values that included the daily recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance and prayer. Darrel and Melanie are proud parents of two sons and grandparents to four grandchildren.
Their son Stephen served five years in the United States Marine Corps, earning the rank of Sergeant and receiving a Purple Heart for his service. Their other son, Kyle, and his wife, Montana, both serve as Captains in the United States Air Force and are currently stationed at Wright-Patterson Air Force Base in Ohio. Melanie is a realtor, while Darrel is a DJ at a local radio station. In addition to
his work in broadcasting, Darrel is also a songwriter and singer and has received numerous community service awards for his contributions. The Appelts’ dedication to country and community makes them a fitting choice for this month’s recognition.

04/17/2026

Revolution in Their Words and Preserving Patriotism: The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy at DAR, two special exhibitions bringing America’s founding voices into focus...

Revolution in Their Words and Preserving Patriotism: The Declaration of Independence and Its Legacy at DAR, two special exhibitions bringing America’s founding voices into focus, opened to the public with a special preview on the evening of March 26. Guests enjoyed refreshments in the O’Bryne Ga...

03/20/2026

Installation is underway for the DAR Museum’s America 250! special exhibition, Revolution in Their Words.

Installation is underway for the DAR Museum’s America 250! special exhibition, Revolution in Their Words. Drawing on diaries, letters, and documents from the NSDAR’s Americana Collection, the exhibit features firsthand accounts of the Revolutionary War, many of which have never been publicly dis...

02/24/2026

Join Michael Knowles for a harrowing tale of extreme conditions, sacrifice, and liberty: the tale of the ordinary American soldier. From the freezing winds o...

02/20/2026

February is a month of celebration and reflection as we observe Presidents’ Day and honor the birthday of George Washington.

February is a month of celebration and reflection as we observe Presidents’ Day and honor the birthday of George Washington. I have been deeply honored to participate in several meaningful events this month that pay tribute to the steady leadership, courage and character that helped give birth to ...

02/16/2026

The DAR Good Citizens program recognizes high school seniors who display outstanding qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism in their homes, schools and communities. John Everett Chapter honored this year's local recipients at our February meeting.

The John Everett Chapter Good Citizens for 2026 are pictured from left to right: Timber Janak of Sacred Heart High School, Victor Hernandez of Weimar High School, Israel Westbrook of Columbus High School, and Joe Luke Morales of Rice Consolidated High School.

02/03/2026

DAR's Gift to the Nation in Full Bloom: DAR Named Host Sponsor of National Cherry Blossom Festival

As we were planning for the Semiquincentennial, our National Society was inspired to think of commemoration efforts on a national level in addition to meaningful local celebrations occurring across the country. Thanks to the foresight of our DAR Founders in securing the location of our beautiful Nat...

02/01/2026

https://www.youtube.com/shorts/h1q_lxjoGog

A stunning collection of AI‑reimagined portraits of the first 10 U.S. Presidents, transformed as if they were modern‑day leaders. This video brings new life ...

01/28/2026

American Spirit Magazine and Daughters Newsletter will begin producing a digital magazine distributed to all members beginning with the July/August 2026 issue. No more subscriptions!

In October, the National Board of Management voted to cease print, subscription-only publication of American Spirit and Daughters with the March/April 2026 issue and begin producing a digital magazine distributed to all members beginning with the July/August 2026 issue. The DAR Magazine Committee is...

01/27/2026

Great job Judy and David Zachmeyer! The Liberty Tree was unanimously accepted by the Columbus City Council! We can place our plaque on the Liberty Tree!
Pictured below: Judy Zachmeyer, David Zachmeyer, Mayor Lori An Gobert, Wanda Anglin, and Donna Pustejovsky.

01/17/2026

The John Everett Chapter, NSDAR and the Robert Ranken Chapter, SAR recognized the historic home of Rita Jackson located in Columbus, for our January Flag award. Rita has been a member of the DAR for 62 years. Rita has had a very interesting life. Many experiences brought her to appreciate the American flag. When Rita was a child during WW2, the soldiers used part of her father’s ranch to train men to drive the “half-tracks” vehicle used in the war. They still find parts of the half-tracks on their property. The camp was named “Camp Armstrong”. Rita and her dad would visit the camp when the soldiers were eating and she learned the importance of the American flag. Rita said that the Columbus ladies would entertain about 50 men and officers when they came into Columbus. Rita would ride horseback from here to San Antonio, stopping at towns along the way. They would have parades in Shiner, Gonzales and Seguin finally arriving in San Antonio where she carried the flag for the rodeo. Rita also is a member of San Antonio Daughters of the Republic of Texas (DRT). She was involved in the children’s parade “Walk” to the Alamo. Her young sons carried the American Flag. During the presentation David Zachmeyer talked about 2026 being the 250th anniversary of the nation. He shared that on January 2, 1776, the Army hoisted The Grand Union Flag on Prospect Hill in Charleston. Pictured Left to right: Connie Dittrich, Marti Herring, Dianne Gordon, Donna Pustejovsky, Wanda Anglin, Rita Jackson, Susan Glover, Judy and David Zachmeyer Historical Marker posted at home. Photographs by Chanea Grisham