Community Service

Piety Hill Chapter NSDAR is active in community service hosting several events yearly to further the goals of the National Society. Through works of education, historic preservation and patriotism we take pride in what we give back to our community. “We want a society founded on service” ―Eugenia Washington, NSDAR Founder.

Our chapter is active in DAR’s “Celebrate America”. The purpose of “Celebrate America” is to encourage community service in DAR chapters. Community service is activities benefiting those outside of the chapter and DAR and fulfilling the national goal.

We collect donations for “Project Patriot” at our meetings to purchase phone cards for veterans.

At our “Veterans Baby Shower” meeting our chapter collects baby items and clothing for pregnant veterans.

On observance of Armed Forces Day and Memorial Day, flags are placed on the graves of veterans in Greenwood Cemetery, Birmingham, MI.

In a nationwide effort to illustrate the DAR’s collective commitment to America by serving our communities on the National DAR Day of Service.

Each year on Veterans Day we host a wreath laying ceremony in downtown Birmingham.

Piety Hill Chapter has been participating in the Library of Congress Veterans Oral History Project by recording interviews with veterans of all wars. The collection preserves, and makes accessible, the personal accounts of American war veterans so that future generations may hear directly from veterans and better understand the realities of war.

Our new Literacy Project is to accept donations of gently used or new books for grades K through 6. The books are for the organization “Bound Together” that tutor at-risk children after school. Volunteers tutor students in academic subjects, help them with their homework, and provide a hot meal.

Each year local high schools are invited to select a senior who will be designated as their DAR Good Citizen. Student selection is based on dependability, service, leadership, and patriotism. The DAR Good Citizens are honored at an awards ceremony and are eligible to participate in a scholarship contest. Three non-DAR judges review the materials of the competing students with the winner's essay submitted to the state scholarship competition. State judges select the top ten in the state and honor them at the DAR State Awards Day. The state winner receives $500; awards to runners-up range from $75 to $150. State winners compete in geographical divisions and finally in a national competition.

We celebrate Constitution Week by visiting hundreds of school children in the community to encourage them to learn, respect and love our most precious document, the Constitution.

DAR supports six schools nation wide. Since 1903, the Society has been helping children in remote mountain areas receive an education. The DAR supports two schools in the Appalachian region: Kate Duncan Smith DAR School, AL, and Tamassee DAR School, SC. The following schools are on the Approved Schools list: Berry College, GA, Crossnore School, NC, Hillside School, MA, Hindman Settlement School, KY. The DAR, through its American Indians Committee, assists in the education of Indian youth through scholarships and support of Bacone College, Muskogee, OK, the oldest continuing institution of higher learning in Oklahoma, and Chemawa Indian School in Salem, OR. Piety Hill Chapter collects soup labels for education and needed supplies for the schools at our meetings. Also gift cards are collected for the DAR schools.

Many committees are established in our chapter to support our community and the goals of the NSDAR. Through these committees our work of volunteer service can be achieved. As Winston Churchill said: “We make a living by what we get, but we make a life by what we give.”

This is just a sample of what Piety Hill Chapter and NSDAR does for the community. We are looking forward of “Growing Our Legacy of Spirit and Service”.

Wreaths Across America Ceremony & Patriot Memorial Service at Shain Park, Birmingham
December 14, 2024
Photos courtesy of Michael Lambert

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Shain Park, Birmingham
Piety Hill members honoring those who served, Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 11, 2024
Photos courtesy of Michael Lambert

Day of Service
Piety Hill is packing goodie bags of requested toiletries for the female veterans
and active military for the Women’s Clinic at the John Dingell VA in Detroit.
October 2024
Photos courtesy of Audrey Lambert

The Patriots Race
White Chapel Memorial Park Cemetery, Troy MI
Piety Hill member Julie Schmitz and her husband participated in the Patriots Race.
September 2024
Photos courtesy of Julie Schmitz

Selfridge Air National Guard Family Readiness Center
Martha Stahl, Regent Deb Harrington, and Family Readiness Center staff accepting our donations.
June 2024
Photos courtesy of Deb Harrington

Selfridge Air National Guard Family Readiness Center
Clay Dobrovolec helped Chapter Regent Deb Harrington sort,
value and pack up the $1,542 in baby items donated by our members
June 2024
Photo courtesy of Deb Harrington

Piety Hill 89^th Birthday
Piety Hill Community Service Award recipient Julia Whitney Dawson
February 2024
Photo courtesy of Clay Dobrovolec

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Shain Park, Birmingham
Piety Hill members attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 11, 2023
Photo courtesy of Michael Lambert

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Shain Park, Birmingham
Piety Hill DAR honor those who served at the Veterans Day event.
November 11, 2023
Photo courtesy of Michael Lambert

Commemorative Event of the 250^th Birthday of the US Navy
Regent Debbie Harrington presents a check to Assistant
Director Justin Peters of the John Dingell VA Medical Center.
October 2023

Day of Service - Project Patriot
Piety Hill and Elias Cady Society gather to organize the donations and care packages.
October 2023

Project Patriot
Committee Chair Jeanette Keatts (center) preparing for our day of service event with
the Elias Cady Society to support America’s service members and their families.
September 2023

Patriots Race
Marcia Vetrone and Julie Schmitz participated in the 5K walk at White Chapel Cemetery in Troy.
September 2023

Vets Returning Home, Roseville, MI
Piety Hill members collected and delivered 19 bags
of new and gently worn clothes to “Vets Returning Home”.
November 2022

Selfridge Air National Guard Family Readiness Center
Piety Hill Chapter donated baby items to support their military families of all five branches of service.
November 2022

Mittens For Detroit
Piety Hill members collected mittens and gloves for children, teens, and adults in Detroit.
December 6, 2022

Constitution Week
Piety Hill members help make up 400 Constitution Kits for students at schools and libraries.
August 12, 2022

Underground Railroad Commemoration Ceremony
See detailed info on the Birmingham City website

Genealogy Workshop
Piety Hill held a Genealogy Workshop at Baldwin Library, Birmingham
May 1, 2022

Piety Hill Chapter’s 87^th Birthday Party
Outstanding Community Service Award presented to Diane K. Bert, PhD
February 5, 2022
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Wreaths Across America
Piety Hill members gathered Saturday at Shain Park in Birmingham to place wreaths on the WWII Memorial.
December 18, 2021
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Wreaths Across America
Piety Hill members gathered Saturday at Shain Park in Birmingham to place wreaths on the Civil War Memorial.
December 18, 2021
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Kids Pajama Collection for Friends of Foster Kids
Piety Hill members showing some of the collection.
December 7, 2021
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Shain Park, Birmingham
Piety Hill members attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 11, 2021
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying at Shain Park, Birmingham
Piety Hill DAR honor those who served at the Veterans Day event.
November 11, 2021
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

National DAR Day of Service
Piety Hill Chapter gathered items for the Women's Program at Grace Centers of Hope.
October 10, 2021
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Drive-Up Veteran’s Baby Shower Collection
Piety Hill Chapter gathered baby items for female veterans.
August 29, 2021
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

368 Books Donated to Whitman Elementary School
Martha Stahl, Chair of Community Classroom, along with other Piety Hill members and school staff.
December 20, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Wreaths Across America
Piety Hill members gathered Saturday at Shain Park in Birmingham
to place wreaths on the WWII and Civil War Memorials.
December 19, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Project Patriot “Operation Nimitz”
The Piety Hill Project Patriot collection for female active duty sailors.
Marcia Vetrone dropping off her donation.
November 13, 2020
Photo courtesy of Deborah Harrington

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Piety Hill members attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 11, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Piety Hill members attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
Guest speaker: Andre Beasley from the Society of the Honor Guard of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.
November 11, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Veterans attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 11, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
Piety Hill Chapter DAR honors 99^th anniversary of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier
October 31, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Drive-Up Veteran’s Baby Shower Collection
Piety Hill Chapter gathered 704 items for female veterans.
September 13, 2020

Veteran’s Administration Volunteer Service Project
Piety Hill Chapter was proud to present a check to William R. Browning
of the John Dingell VA Hospital for the chapter's VAVS project.
March 10, 2020
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Piety Hill members attending the ceremony at Shain Park, Birmingham.
November 21, 2019
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Regent Lisa Milton preparing to lay the wreaths at the Civil War and World War II memorials.
November 21, 2019
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Day Wreath Laying Ceremony
Pictured are the Veterans that came to our Piety Hill DAR event in Birmingham MI.
November 21, 2019
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Veterans Baby Shower
Piety Hill members Clay Dobrovolec and Julie Schmitz with baby items
collected for women veterans at the John Dingell Veterans Hospital.
May 21, 2019
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

The Cathedral Church of St. Paul, Detroit
Piety Hill members lining up for the 55^th annual Veterans’ Day Service
Audrey Lambert, Holly Heiss, Marcie Vetrone, and Lisa Milton
November 11, 2018
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Regent Jan Stafford and Piety Hill members at the Veterans and Military Dream Cruise Event
August 18, 2018
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Regent Jan Stafford and Piety Hill members at the Veterans and Military Dream Cruise Event
August 17, 2018
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

DAR of Michigan State Awards Day
Ruby Weidner received the State Award for Community Service to Veterans
Jeanne McMillan, State Chair Veterans, Ruby Weidner, and Diane Schrift, State Regent
April 10, 2018
Photo courtesy of Virginia Bennett

Piety Hill Chapter NSDAR 83^rd Birthday Party
Ruby Weidner received a Community Service Award from Second Vice Lisa Milton
February 17 2018
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Piety Hill Chapter NSDAR 83^rd Birthday Party
Virginia Bennett and Nancy Reed present Virginia Smith with a
Special Recognition Award for longtime service to her community.
February 17 2018
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

Cathedral Church of St. Paul 54^th Annual Veterans Day Service
Michigan daughters participated in the procession of flags.
November 12 2017
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

National Day of Service
Piety Hill members collected articles for the chapter's "Bound Together" project.
October 7 2017
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

National Day of Service
Piety Hill members preparing treat bags for the chapter's "Bound Together" project.
October 7 2017
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Piety Hill Members at the Veterans and Military Dream Cruise Event
August 2017
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley

DAR Fair and Forum
Piety Hill members First Vice Regent Lisa Milton, Second Vice Regent Holly Heiss, and Audrey Lambert.
Rochester Michigan, August 12 2017
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Fundraising and Fun at Talbots Somerset Mall
Piety Hill “girl’s night out”, shopping and social.
November 17 2016
Photo courtesy of Julia Schmitz

50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
Front L to R: Barbara Suhay, Diane Schrift, Gina LaCroix
Middle: Kathy Stricher, Jan Stafford
Back: Nancy Marshall, Audrey Lambert, Barbara Balow, Lisa Milton,
Patricia Drury, Christine Richman, Virgina Bennett, Cathy Pouls
Country Club of Detroit, October 2 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

50^th Anniversary of the Vietnam War
Dave Schoenherr, Tom Puruleski, and Brian Bobek
Country Club of Detroit, October 2 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

DAR Fair and Forum
Piety Hill member Audrey Lambert's table with items to sell for the chapter's VAVS project.
Midland Michigan, August 13 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

30^th National Veteran's Golden Age Games 2016
Barbara Suhay, Piety Hill Regent, and Frances Lowe, Colonel Joshua Howard Chapter,
at Cobo Center at the Veterans Golden Age Games in Detroit.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Suhay

30^th National Veteran's Golden Age Games 2016
Barbara Suhay, Piety Hill Regent, with Tuskegee Airman Ivan Berry from California, Gold Medal
winner, Boccia Ball for veterans over 80 years of age, and Joseph Vitalone, Silver Medal winner.
Photo courtesy of Barbara Suhay

Veteran’s Administration Volunteer Service Project
Piety Hill Chapter was proud to present a check to William R. Browning
of the John Dingell VA Hospital for the chapter's VAVS project.
March 8 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Piety Hill Chapter NSDAR 81^st Birthday Party
Piety Hill members honored John F. Marshall with the Outstanding Community Service Award.
February 20 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Piety Hill Chapter NSDAR 81^st Birthday Party
Piety Hill members Ruby Weidner and Nancy Reed presented a special recognition award
to Hogs in Ministry members Pam and Clete Coombs for their community service at
the 2015 Woodward Dream Cruise.
February 20 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Literacy Project
Literacy Chair Martha Stahl is collecting books for grades
K through 6 at our Piety Hill meetings. 2016
Photo courtesy of Audrey Lambert

Veteran’s Administration Volunteer Service Project
Sean and Sarah Halsted and their children Raleigh, Ethan,
and Kileigh with Piety Hill members in Washington D.C. 2015
Photo courtesy of Doug Ashley