Page 50 - 2024_Mag_91-2

DKG Practice/Program

are welcome to visit their memorial tree any time.
Eight Maine DKG members placed dog tags for
their families’ veterans in a solemn, emotional
ceremony during the group’s tour.
Balsam Valley also features a non-
denominational chapel, an amphitheater for live
performances, and Veterans’ Memorial Park, which
is dedicated by the Worcester Family to honor all
American veterans. One interesting stop as the
group toured the Tip Land was the Tiger Flight
Memorial, a monument built to honor 93 members
of the All-Special Forces Unit who went missing
during the Vietnam War when their plane, Tiger
Flight 739, disappeared on a top-secret mission
Nancy Willey, DKG member and volunteer, guides for the U.S. Army. When the Worcester family
participants at the Veterans’ Museum.
learned that the names of these soldiers had been
omitted from the Vietnam Wall in Washington, DC, because they had not died in active combat, they
built a monument with each name engraved on a plaque as a tribute. The site even includes a monument
dedicated to a horse that helped transport the caskets of soldiers on their way for burial at Arlington
National Cemetery.
At dinner, Dr. Lace Marie Brogden, a DKG member and Dean of Education at St. Francis Xavier
University in Antigonish, Nova Scotia, provided an inspirational talk about glass ceilings and women in
leadership. After dinner, members had the opportunity to participate in making wreaths with fresh balsam
tips. The wreaths were given as door prizes to be placed with respect upon the headstones of veterans in
various communities.
Before everyone departed on Sunday morning, they met to reflect on the weekend and to discuss
common issues such as membership recruitment and retention, collegiate membership, and the challenges
of meeting when chapter members live hours apart. This time for reflection provided a satisfying end
to an inspirational weekend featuring participation in activities, sharing of DKG concerns, and valued
friendship—three strong components of the conference.

Final Thoughts
All the participants agree that our cross-border events have significant value. Maine’s Donna
Kennison remarked, “The meetings help us stay connected and are a great way to share our similarities
and differences.” Rena Kearney of Maine noted, “Cross-border meetings are a wonderful time to see new
places, meet new friends, and renew old friendships. We are so lucky to live close to the Canadian border.”
New Brunswick’s Marjorie Sinclair, Area Representative Canada from 2020–2024, expressed the feelings
of many participants when she reflected:
Cross-border meetings are a great way to meet members in another state. Maine has so many more
chapters and members than New Brunswick. They have lots of ideas of how to support their members
or to attract new members to DKG. It also helps us learn about the geography of the various areas.
Even though we are right next door, we still have different cultures and ways of looking at life. This
is an international organization, and by having cross-border meetings, we are really paying homage
to the word international.
Joan Somerville, former president of New Brunswick State Organization noted, “Our cross-border
meetings are always uplifting and exemplify the value of DKG and its power to unite women across
borders. I would not wish to see them discontinued.”

48 · Volume 91-2