Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter DAR, Farmington, Missouri

10/26/2026

We had a little more soft flannel fabric left over from our summer project - - Handmade (with DAR love ) 100 Baby Burp Cloths for the USO's Special Delivery Program at Fort Leonard Wood - - As long as we were on a roll, we used up the fabric and were able to make an extra 40 cloths.

Our Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter Regent and Recording Secretary presented the extra 40 Baby Burp Cloths to the Monarch Family Resource Center, located on St. Genevieve Avenue in Farmington, Missouri. Being able to support local families, in addition to military families, was just the icing on the cake!

If you are not familiar with the Monarch Family Resource Center, it is a faith-based organization with a mission to support and empower families through various educational programs, events, and resources. They provide valuable tools, information, and a welcoming community to assist you on your journey through pregnancy and the early years of parenthood.

10/03/2026

How proud we were to celebrate our Patriots of the Month at our October 2026 meeting of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR.

Jim Draper, United States Army (1968-1970) was surrounded by many family and friends as he received his recognition.

Sherry Vampram-Fuller, United States Air Force (1981-1985) and David Reeve Fuller, United States Army Reserve (1980-1994) have been married since 1987. Both have served on the St. Francois County CERT (Community Emergency Response Team).

To learn more about their service, please see our individual Facebook posts about these Patriots of the Month at https://www.facebook.com/sarahbartonmurphyDAR.

10/03/2026

October 2026 Patriot of the Month
Jim U. Draper, United States Army - Cook (E-4)
1 Feb 1968 – 4 Feb 1970

Jim U. Draper enlisted in the Army in 1968. He trained at Ft. Leonard Wood, Missouri, and Ft. Knox, Kentucky. Jim served in the First Cavalry Division and Charlie Company Battalion as a cook in Vietnam. He received the Bronze Star, Vietnam Cross of Gallantry with Palm, National Defense Service Medal, Vietnam Service Medal, and the Vietnam Campaign Medal.

As a cook, his favorite dish to prepare was homemade yeast rolls accompanied by a ground beef dish, S.O.S., which had a funny nickname. One of the most valuable things Jim learned was an “appreciation of our country,” especially when he would go into villages that had no bathroom facilities, hospitals, or schools. “The villagers of Vietnam ate raw food and lived in poverty,” Jim said. He was proud of our military because the US tent hospitals would also treat injured and sick civilians from the villages.

Jim was born in Kennett, Mo., and has one daughter who was born when Jim was in Vietnam. They finally met when she was one year old. Jim has three grandkids and five great-grandkids. He is of Cherokee and Irish heritage. He and his partner, Kim, have been together for twenty years. They especially enjoy cabin camping, with Jim supplying the fish he catches. Jim has worked in the factories of the St. Louis Shipyards as a welder, punch press operator, and conveyor worker. He has also driven a school bus and tractor-trailers.

Mr. Draper, on behalf of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR, thank you for your service!

10/03/2026

October 2026 Patriot of the Month
David Reeve Fuller, United States Army Reserve-(E-4) Specialist
1 Dec 1980 – Aug 1994

David attended high school in Bogalusa, Louisiana. During his senior year, he received the DAR Good Citizen Award. Now, over 40 years later, the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR in Farmington, Missouri, is honoring him as a Patriot of the Month.

David enlisted in 1980 in the Bogalusa, Louisiana Reserves to see if he liked military life, and he appreciated the way the military was structured. He went through basic training at Ft. Dix in New Jersey and trained in small armaments. The best advice he said he received was to pay attention to the instructors.

Specialist E-4 Fuller served during Operation Desert Shield and Desert Storm. He said his most memorable event was when he was stationed in Dahan, Saudi Arabia, thirty miles from Kuwait's border. He saw their missiles coming, felt our bombs take off, and saw collisions. Specialist Fuller received the following awards: Army Service Ribbon, Army Lapel Button, National Defense Service Medal, Army Forces Reserve Component Achievement Medal(s), Overseas Training Ribbon, Army Forces Reserve Medal, Mechanic Badge, Bronze Service Stars (Kuwait), and Southwest Asia Service Medal. David retired in 1994 with 14 years of service.

Specialist Fuller, on behalf of the members of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR, thank you for your service!
________________________________________

10/03/2026

October 2026 Patriot of the Month
Sherry Vampran-Fuller
United States Air Force, January 16, 1981 – January 25, 1985

Sherry came from a family of veterans and always wanted to serve. She said, “One thing I like about the military is that they try to consider the recruits’ interests when selecting their placement.” Basic training was completed at Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas, in 1981. She was also stationed in Colorado, New York, and South Korea. During her overseas duty, she loaded bombs on aircraft carriers. Sergeant Fuller received the following awards: AF Training Ribbon, Overseas Service Short Tour Ribbon, Small Arms Expert Marksman Ribbon, and the Good Conduct Medal, and was Honorably Discharged in June 1985. The best advice Fuller received comes from the American Revolution: “Keep your powder dry,” which she interprets as being prepared.

After the military, Sherry earned her BA from Southeast Louisiana State University and her MA from the University of Southern Mississippi and became a social worker. Sherry counseled clients and wrote Federal grants that provide mental health services to the under-resourced. Sherry and her husband serve on the St. Francois County Community Emergency Response Team.

Sgt. Fuller, on behalf of the members of the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR, thank you for your service!!

09/17/2026

We are celebrating Constitution Week (Sept 17-23) with a fun word search puzzle. Can you find all the words associated with the U.S. Constitution? Share it with family and friends!!

09/11/2026

08/26/2026

We are well on our way to completing the 100 Baby Burp Cloths for the USO's Special Delivery baby shower at Fort Leonard Wood. The Sarah Barton Murphy "DARlings" always have fun when working on community-minded projects!

07/04/2026

**Honoring the Revolutionary War Patriots of St. Francois County** As we celebrate the 250th anniversary of the founding of the United States, the Sarah Barton Murphy Chapter, NSDAR, is honored to recognize six Revolutionary War patriots who are buried in St. Francois County, Missouri.

Through careful genealogical and historical research conducted by Daughters of the American Revolution, these men have been documented as having served our nation during the American Revolution. After helping secure American independence, they journeyed west to Missouri, where they became pioneers, farmers, ministers, legislators, and civic leaders, helping shape the communities we know today.

Their final resting places remind us that the legacy of the American Revolution reaches far beyond the original thirteen colonies. Here in St. Francois County, we are privileged to honor the lives and service of:

Captain William Alexander
Captain James Caldwell
James Cunningham Sr.
Leonard Garrett
Joseph Murphy
Rev. William Murphy Jr.

We invite you to reflect on the sacrifices these patriots made to secure the liberties we enjoy today. Their courage, perseverance, and commitment to the cause of freedom continue to inspire us nearly 250 years after our nation's founding. May we always remember these men who fought for American independence and subsequently carried these ideals westward to St. Francois County.

Happy Independence Day!