Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, NSDAR
New Haven, Connecticut
Mary Clap Wooster Chapter Activities
The Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, NSDAR, participates in a variety of educational, patriotic, and community-building activities. Our goal is to serve and engage local communities while forming strong chapter bonds.
Constitution Week
Constitution Week is celebrated annually from September 17–23 to commemorate the September 17, 1787 signing of the U.S. Constitution. Established in 1956, it encourages reflection on rights, responsibilities, and citizenship.
The Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, NSDAR, works collaboratively with East Haven's Hagaman Memorial Library to host an annual event.
Veterans Awareness Day
Hamden Middle School’s annual Veterans Awareness Day brings local veterans to interact with 7th-grade students to teach them about the history of service and importance of freedom, and to honor local heroes.
The event connects students with veterans, fostering an understanding of military service, sacrifice, and the "freedom is not free" message. We host an interactive display representing the American Revolution.
Good Citizen & Youth Leadership Awards
Each fall, the Mary Clap Wooster Chapter, NSDAR, recognizes area high school seniors selected by their school for their outstanding qualities of good citizenship, acknowledging their dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism in their homes, schools, and communities. Our chapter also recognizes several eighth grade students selected by their school to receive the Youth Leadership Medal for outstanding honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism.
Flag Day
In the United States, Flag Day is celebrated on June 14th. It commemorates the adoption of the flag of the United States, which occurred on June 14, 1777, by resolution of the Second Continental Congress. We celebrate with a chapter luncheon in June, featuring various presentations.
Service to America
In addition to DAR activities, our chapter members participate in a variety of volunteer services in the community including: work at historical societies, libraries, churches, town committees, youth organizations, senior housing, the League of Women Voters, veterans support, environmental clean ups, book drives, food pantries, toy drives, and participation in other non-profit organization events.
Wreaths Across America
Each December, our chapter assists with the national ceremony, Wreaths Across America, to place wreaths on veterans’ graves.
Spring Fling
The CTDAR Spring Fling is an annual luncheon and social event, for all Connecticut daughters to gather, celebrate, connect and share in the organization's mission of historic preservation, education, and patriotism.
DAR Schools
Our chapter provides support to all DAR-recognized schools, but we hold dear our annual in-person visit to the Hillside School in Marlborough, Massachusetts.
Other DAR schools are: Kate Duncan Smith DAR School in Grant, Alabama; Berry College near Rome, Georgia; The Crossnore School in Avery County, North Carolina, and; Hindman Settlement School in Hindman, Kentucky.
Massing of the Colors
The Massing of the Colors is a patriotic ceremony in October to rededicate our faith in the colors of the United States and support the servicemen and women the colors represent. It combines the colors and color guards of active and reserve component military units, veterans’ organizations, civic, and patriotic organizations.
