The South Carolina Society of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) named Melissa Whiteford St. Clair the “Rise and Shine: What American Means To Me” State Winner at their awards luncheon held Saturday, March 26, 2022, at the Embassy Suites in Columbia, SC.

The DAR’s Americanism Committee’s one-time photo contest launched in July 2021 was a chance for members to express love of country with a call-out to submit one 5×7” original unretouched color or black and white photograph by a deadline of February 15, 2022 to the State Chair of the Americanism Committee. Entries could include a caption or a short paragraph of up to 100 words. Entries were judged on interpretation of the theme, creativity, and overall impression by a panel of two DAR Members and one non-DAR Member.

St. Clair, sponsored by the Thomas Heyward Jr. Chapter in Beaufort, SC, was introduced by Mrs. Gail LaGrone Newton, State Americanism Chair.

“Melissa Whiteford St. Clair took a photo of the Beaufort National Cemetery with Wreaths Across America and she is also a poet so when she wrote “What America Means to Me”, it was in the form of poetry which really got her point across out of all the submissions,” stated Mrs. Newton.

The Certification of Award presented was co-signed by Mrs. Bonniebel Glasgow Moffat, SC State Regent, and Mrs. Gail LaGrone Newton, State Chair. St. Clair’s State winning submission is being forwarded to the National Chair of Americanism.

To learn more about the Thomas Heyward Jr. Chapter DAR visit https://www.thomasheywarddar.org/.

To learn more about the South Carolina Society of the National Society of the DAR visit https://www.southcarolinansdar.org/.

Read the full press release here.