Our history defines who we are as a great nation. This past Saturday, The Ralph Ripley Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution celebrated their one-hundredth anniversary. Pat Talkington, a member of the organization, states, “You can not erase history. History forms all of us. We need to learn from the past, so we can have a better future.”
This wonderful non-profit organization was founded in Mineral Wells on June 23rd, 1921. It was named after Ralph Ripley, a soldier from The Revolutionary War. This society has dedicated its time for one hundred years to preserving our country’s history and livelihood for future generations.
The anniversary luncheon was set at our local Women’s Club. The event opened with the group’s regent Nanette Sever, delivering a beautifully detailed speech of the organizations’ history. The group gathered for photos and delicious food in celebration of all their hard work. Nanette, notes the importance of this circle of ladies by saying, “It’s not a monetary thing. It’s more of an honor to know that you had ancestors who fought to free this country.”
This fellowship is mostly seen as a gathering place for older ladies to come and talk. Yet they provide our community with a great deal of service by keeping this tradition. Bill Sessum, a husband to one of the members of the daughters of the revolution, recognizes their importance better than most. “They don’t let our history die. These ladies keep that history alive. So I’m hoping that as the younger generations grow. That they will, at some point, begin to understand, appreciate, and value the effort, the pain, and the suffering that revolutionary fathers and mothers went through.”
To become a member of this group, Carla Hay-Predue elaborates; that if any young women or men would like to join, they must only find the ancestry of a family member who fought in the revolution. There are chapters all over the country and throughout the world that would be happy to have new members.
Leah Sessum wants all who are interested to know that there is more to this guild than what meets the eye. She says, “People think the club it’s just a bunch of ladies. And it’s unfortunate because we preserve history. We recite America’s Creed and The Preamble as part of our opening ritual. The purpose is to teach American history that’s untainted and uncensored”
But keeping the past with us is not all that this association does. Carla tells us that the group does so much more for the community of Mineral Wells. “We serve the community by providing a scholarship every year to a Mineral Wells High School Student. To assist those seeking opportunities to honor those who are active or retired military, our first responders, and police. We support the DAR schools.”
We of Mineral Wells take this moment to say, Thank You for being with us and for all you do.
Writer | I graduated from Weatherford College with an Associates in Art, focusing on history, creative writings, sociology, and humanities. Experience in child development, client care, and runs local Spoken Word Poetry group for young teens.
