The Molly Goodnight Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will host its second annual Patriotic Car Show from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, July 26, at Texas Panhandle War Memorial Education Center, 4111 S. Georgia in Amarillo, in its shaded and spacious parking lot.
Last year, the event had 20 entries, and this year, the DAR is hoping for a full parking lot on the expanded facility.
Cheryl Thurman, car show coordinator, said that the event has grown since last year and will have literally something for everyone, including the kids. Owners of winning cars will be presented with handmade wooden plaques, made by the HoDAR, the name for a husband of one of the DAR members.
“None of us knew anything about having a car show, but we joined groups and went to car shows and figured out how to do it,” she said.
“The Volley for Veterans group has four men who volunteered to be judges for the show. They were so serious that they took a course in judging car shows,” Thurman said. “They attend ceremonies all around our region and pay for it out of their pocket. Last year they attended 248 different ceremonies. Monies we make will help them in the costs.”
There will be several booths, including ones for Amarillo Area Geneology Society, Wreaths Across America, and Volleys for Veterans, to name a few. The event, a fundraiser for the chapter’s projects and activities, will also include a bake sale; children’s activities; hot dogs, sold with chips and a drink for $5; a snowcone stand from 4-H kids in Claude, who are raising money for their projects; and a raffle for a BB gun and exciting themed baskets.
Thurman said there will be baskets available including:
Attendees can buy one ticket for $10 or five tickets for $45. There are two BB guns, which will give people twice the chance. The buyer can put which basket they are interested in. Proceeds will go to help fund projects such as Volleys for Veterans and towards helping local area youth in giving Youth Citizenship Awards in 38 area schools and other worthwhile projects, including Appreciation Day and Snack Day at Crockett Junior High School, who they have adopted.
“We’d like to do more,” Thurman said, “but it all costs money.”
The event is free for the public, with a $25 early registration fee to register a vehicle ($30 day of event). For information about sponsorships or general information, contact Cheryl Thurman, car show coordinator, at 806-584-1613. To register for the car show in advance, contact Mellessa Denny, 806-236-0190.
Vehicle categories include:
There is also a melting pot category for special interest in the works, motorcycles, and miscellaneous. Hand-crafted plaques will be awarded in each category, with the Patriot Award going to best in show.
Chapter members recruited local sponsors, donors and vendors.
Kids will have fun and games inside the TPWM building with a scavenger hunt and a chance to sign the kid-friendly Declaration of Independence with an old-fashioned feathered quill pen. The kids will be able to keep their copy of the Declaration.
The DAR chapter, which hosted its centennial celebration in April, supports veterans and active-duty military, Junior ROTC medals, local teachers and student leadership awards, a float in Canyon’s annual Fourth of July parade, Llano Cemetery, the Goodnight Ranch, and Volleys for Veterans Honor Guard.
DAR is a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s lineage organization that emphasizes service in three key areas: patriotism, education, and historic preservation. DAR is open to any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot in the American Revolution. To explore membership, contact: Cheryl Thurman, car show coordinator, 806-584-1613.
This article originally appeared on Amarillo Globe-News: DAR Patriotic Car Show fundraiser to be held at Texas Panhandle War Memorial
Reporting by Nell Williams, Amarillo Globe-News / Amarillo Globe-News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
