(MURFREESBORO)  On Thursday (7/9/2020) the DAR (Daughters of the American Revolution) met at Through The Grapevine and presented awards along with hearing a talk on the importance of preserving history by keeping area cemeteries clear and clean. 

Chapter Regent Karen Hudson called the lunch meeting to order with the pledge of allegiance, recitation of "The American's Creed", Valerie DeHoff singing the National Anthem, and a salute to the Tennessee flag. 

Honorary Chapter Regent Andrea Calfee presented James Allen Gooch with the DAR's "Historic Preservation Award". Over the years, he has cleaned numerous overgrown cemeteries, some hidden by overgrowth in the backs of fields. 

Gooch shared his passion for preserving the old burial grounds, and told of two that were sites of past Tennessee governors. One was so covered with vines, shrubs and trees that it took searching to simply find the site. 

He is a retired US Postal employee, and that job allowed him to cover a lot of territory and hear conversations about hidden cemetaries. 

The other award was presented to WGNS' Bart Walker by DAR Public Relations Chair Elaine Alexander. 

After that, Chapter Regent Karen Hudson commented . . .

WGNS asked Calfee how to join the Daughters of the American Revolution . . .

For more information, visit their website: www.tndar.org/~colhardymurfree/