July Meeting: National President's Program

September 11th Memorial

National President's Program

Alexander McNair Society met at the 9/11 Memorial at Fenton City Park. Members read books about the September 11th attacks before coming to the meeting. 

During the meeting, they learned about the National President's Program: Courage. Service. Honor. 

This program supports the Tunnels 2 Towers Foundation and educates today's youth about the the 9/11 attacks. To learn more about the national program, please visit the national website at: https://nscar.org/CAR/NSCAR/National_Project_Program/national_project.aspx (please note, this link will provide information until April 2025 and then will change to the new program). 

Members and Seniors discussed the September 11th attacks. One member said they didn't realize that there were attacks in more places than just the World Trade Center. Members also learned about the planes that crashed into the Pentagon and in Pennsylvania. Members asked a lot of questions about where the seniors were at, and what day-to-day life was like at the time. They were amazed to learn how much the event affected the entire world.

Attendance: 4 members, 3 seniors

June Meeting: City Museum

 City Museum

Membership Program

Alexander McNair members went on a fun field trip to the City Museum! A couple of them brought the first aid kits that they made at our last meeting, just in case!

Lucy said, "My favorite part was going in the tunnel under the benches."

Attendance: 5 members, 3 seniors

May Meeting: Memorial Day Service & Picnic

  Memorial Day Service & Society Picnic

National President's Program, Veterans, & C.A.R./DAR/SAR/S.R. Relations Programs

Alexander McNair members participated in the State DAR Memorial Day ceremony at Coldwater Cemetery. While there members also took the opportunity to lay flowers on the veterans' graves.

Attendance: 3 members, 6 seniors

Afterwards, the group moved to one member family's home for a BBQ. After enjoying good food and good fellowship, Jojo led the younger members in learning First Aid skills. We began talking about the National Theme: Courage, Service, Honor. And everyone made First Aid kits.

Teddy said: "My favorite part was figuring out that it is possible to blow up gloves like balloons."

Lucy said: " My favorite part was getting ketchup on you and curing the patient."

Attendance: 5 members, 7 seniors

Veteran's Day Celebrations

 Florissant Veteran's Day Parade

Alexander McNair Society was invited to join Reverend John Clark DAR on their float in Florissant's Veteran's Day parade.

Attendees: 1 member (1 peewee), and 2 seniors

 St. Louis-Jefferson DAR's Veteran's Day Memorial

Alexander McNair Society was invited to join St. Louis-Jefferson DAR's annual Veteran's Day Memorial Service at Bellefountaine Cememtery. Marcus represented the state society while placing a wreath during the ceremony.

Attendees: 4 members (2 peewees), and 2 seniors

October Meeting

 Commemorating Missouri's 200th Anniversary & Learning about the American Revolution

American Heritage, American History, & Patriotic Education Programs

Alexander McNair Society held their October business meeting on Saturday, October 30th at Missouri's First State Capitol in St. Charles, MO. During their program, members and seniors learned and discussed Missouri's 200th Anniversary and the 238th Anniversary of the end of  the American Revolution.

Life during the American Revolution

Before the meeting, members were encouraged to read the book I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis. Families were able to read the book together and discuss the topic at an age-appropriate level for their members.

At the meeting, members and seniors were able to discuss the American Revolution and what life would have been like for a child during that time period. They were able to add the dates of the American Revolution to their timeline. 

Missouri Statehood - 200th Anniversary

Next members and seniors learned about Missouri's path to statehood by taking a guided tour of Missouri's First State Capitol. Members were excited to find information about the society's namesake, Alexander McNair, the first governor of Missouri. They got to learn about the two people running for governor and then pick who they would have voted for.

 

Patriotic Education - Military Uniforms throughout the years

Members were able to see examples of military uniforms from the American Revolution and compare them to the military uniforms from the past with a timeline of military uniforms. They discussed reasons why uniforms would look the way they did during that time period.

Attendees: 6 members (4 peewees), 4 seniors.

SAR Plaque Dedication

C.A.R./DAR/SAR/S.R. Relations & Veteran's Programs

Members were invited to join the SAR for a plaque dedication at Fee Fee Cemetery. The plaque commemorated 5 revolutionary ancestors who were buried at the cemetery. The event was hosted by Spirit of St. Louis SAR and included members of the SAR, DAR, C.A.R., and local government.

Marcus represented the M.S.S.C.A.R. to present a wreath and lead a prayer.

Jojo represented the Alexander McNair Society by carrying the C.A.R. flag with the Missouri SAR color guard.

Attendees: 6 members (4 peewees), 4 seniors

September Meeting

Patriot's Day & Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

American Heritage, American History, & Patriotic Education Programs

Alexander McNair Society held their September business meeting on Sunday, September 12th. During their program, members and seniors learned and discussed the September 11th Attacks and the History of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier.

Patriot's Day - 20th Anniversary of the September 11th Attacks

Before the meeting, members were encouraged to read the book I Survived the Attacks of September 11, 2001 by Lauren Tarshis. Families were able to read the book together and discuss the topic at an age-appropriate level for their members.

Families also had an opportunity to attend 9/11 Commemorative events the day before, including a memorial at Clayton City Hall, Flags of Valor at Art Hill, and an evening memorial at the Florissant VFW.

At the meeting, members and seniors were able to discuss the 9/11 attacks. Seniors explained where they were that day and some of the feelings they went through. Two of our seniors were C.A.R. members at the time. One explained how they had been on a family vacation in Boston and shared their experiences of plans having to change and how people looked at them as tourists that week. Another explained what it was like to be away at college and about a project she started to send cards to C.A.R. members in New York City. Members had questions about why terrorists would do this and talked about how people must have felt that day.

Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - 100th Anniversary

Next, members and seniors learned about the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and its upcoming 100th anniversary. A senior read the book Twenty-One Steps by Jeff Gottesfeld to the members. Afterwards, members and seniors discussed why we have the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and how it came to be.

Before the meeting, one family visited the site of a memorial for Michael Blaisse, the Unknown Soldier from the Vietnam War. His remains were identified in 1998 and he was brought home to Florissant, MO and is now buried at Jefferson Barracks in St. Louis.

Patriotic Education - Military Uniforms throughout the years

Members were able to see examples of military uniforms from the War on Terror and compare them to the military uniforms from the past with a timeline of military uniforms. They discussed reasons why uniforms would change over the years and what was special about these uniforms.

Finally, members were able to see the timeline that the society is making to show different events throughout American History. They were able to identify several events that we've discussed so far this year: the Lewis & Clark Expedition, Missouri Statehood, World War I, September 11th, and today with the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Finally, members participated in the C.A.R. song, had a snack, and closed the meeting.

Attendees: 6 members (4 peewees), 4 seniors.