OKEECHOBEE — On Feb. 14, 2026, the Okeechobee Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution gathered at Brown Cow Sweetery to celebrate the Okeechobee Chapter NSDAR’s 31st birthday.

Elisabeth Fox Garcia presented a history of the chapter while illuminating the hard work of its Organizing Regent, Marion Wagner. Mayor Dowling Watford, on behalf of the Okeechobee Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution presented a history of the Battle of Okeechobee on Christmas Day 1837 during the Second Seminole War.

Regent Lonnie Kirsch presented Mayor Dowling Watford with a NSDAR Citizenship Award and certificate.

If you are interested in joining the Okeechobee Chapter of the NSDAR, please email elisabethfoxgarciaDAR@gmail.com. The next meeting will be March 14 at 10 a.m. and held at the Center for Arts and Education at Our Village, 202 NW 2nd Street, Suite 8.

Below is the speech Elisabeth Fox Garcia presented at the Okeechobee Chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution and the Sons of the American Revolution meeting.

Okeechobee Chapter, NSDAR : 31st Anniversary Speech

By Elisabeth Fox Garcia, Second Vice Regent of the Okeechobee Chapter, NSDAR

Good morning to our Daughters, our Sons, and our guests. My name is Elisabeth Fox Garcia and I am the Second Vice-Regent for the Okeechobee Chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution. It is my honor to speak in front of you today, and I thank you for being here as we celebrate a very special milestone: the 31st birthday of the Okeechobee Chapter, NSDAR.

The theme of the Storage Administration is to “Illuminate our Legacy.” President General Ginnie Sebastian Storage calls for chapters to commemorate America’s 250th Anniversary by recognizing the importance of our ongoing work in preserving our past, educating our future, and fostering a sense of patriotism that will carry our Nation forward toward the 250th anniversary of its founding.” Anniversaries invite us to do more than count years. They invite us to remember beginnings. Today, I want to take you back to a time when this chapter existed only as an idea, a stack of paperwork, and one woman who simply refused to give up.

That woman was Marion Wagner. On April 16, 1993, Marion Wagner was formally voted in as a member of the Big Cypress Chapter, NSDAR. At the time, she likely had no way of knowing that this step would eventually lead to the creation of an entirely new chapter here in Okeechobee. But sometimes history starts quietly with one application approved, one meeting attended, and one person who says yes.

Less than a year later, on May 2, 1994, Marion received a letter from Elaine Engle, the Florida State Society DAR Organizing Secretary. Elaine wrote, “I look forward to meeting with you and helping start a new DAR chapter!” She followed that encouragement with practical advice—she would call Washington for materials and urged Marion to “go ahead and put an announcement in the paper.”

Everything after that appears to be a whirlwind.

On May 24, 1994, Marion received another letter, this time from Suzanne S. Golden, the Organizing Secretary General of the NSDAR. Enclosed were national bylaws, the DAR handbook, literature, and fifteen blank applications. Mrs. Golden closed her letter warmly, writing, “The Office of Organizing Regent is an important one and one which I hope you will come to regard as a rewarding experience. You have my good wishes for success in all your endeavors.”

Those good wishes were definitely needed. There was a deadline just five months later to get all applications turned in. And this was 1994. Requesting birth certificates, death certificates, and marriage licenses, often from out of state, took time.

Marion got to work. Between May and August of 1994, small announcements appeared repeatedly in The Daily Okeechobee News, The Pennysaver, and The Okeechobee Shoppers Guide. The announcements were short and sweet, ending with an invitation to call Marion Wagner. Her landline number was printed right there in the paper.

That announcements worked.

On July 23, 1994, Marion invited potential organizing members to her home. Seven women gathered to discuss the organizing of a future Okeechobee Chapter, NSDAR. Those women were Merry Rucks, Helen Deisch, Donna Webster, Mary Ellen Kelchner, Margaret Miezejewski, and Deborah Turner. No charter yet. No guarantees. Just belief in the mission and in each other.

Momentum continued to build. Zetta Hunt provided names from the Cora Stickney Harper Chapter, and in a letter dated Aug. 10, 1994, Elaine Engle wrote to Marion, “I think you are doing a remarkable job in such a short time.” And she was.

At the request of national leadership, Marion submitted three possible chapter names: Okeechobee, Lake Okeechobee, and Big Lake.

On October 6, 1994, Suzanne Golden wrote that the chapter would be permanently recorded as Okeechobee, a name firmly rooted in place and history.

The October deadline for applications came and went. But Marion did not give up.
A workshop was scheduled for November 16, 1994, at the Okeechobee Presbyterian Church, with State Regent Ruth McGarity set to attend. Then Tropical Storm Gordon bore down on Florida, and the workshop was cancelled. Nay. It was rescheduled for Dec. 3.

Still short of the required twelve members, the situation felt uncertain. But Marion persisted. She continued running newspaper ads, making phone calls, writing letters, and turning in applications throughout December.

Then, on January 13, 1995, a letter arrived from Suzanne Golden. Enclosed were directions to complete the Reports Of Organization in duplicate. She had until January 30th, to get these reports completed which required signatures and officers. If she missed the deadline, she would have to wait until April to formally organize the Okeechobee Chapter.

On February 4, 1995, the Okeechobee Chapter, NSDAR, held its first official meeting. Serving as officers were Regent Marion Elizabeth Fisher Wagner; Vice Regent and Chaplain Helen Edith Deisch; Recording Secretary and Corresponding Secretary Mary Ellen Haley Kelchner; Treasurer Linda Sue Ziglar Davis; Historian and Librarian Margaret Joy Clark Gates; and Registrar Donna Mae Davies Webster.

That first meeting was quite a star-studded event. State Corresponding Secretary Martha Case installed the officers and presented this very gavel from State Regent Ruth McGarity.

State Organizing Secretary Elaine Engle provided the history of the new chapter’s name. Also in attendance were Mary Lou James, State Historian; May Nielson, State Chairman of American History; Bonnie MacKenzie, Editor of the Florida State Bulletin; Mikki Hargrave, Regent of the Cora Stickney Harper Chapter; and Marian LoPresti, Regent of the newly organized Barefoot Beach Chapter.

And just when it seemed the day could not become more memorable, another guest arrived.
Martha Washington herself.

Marcia Hunt (Wagner) came dressed as Martha Washington and apologized that her dear friend Betsy Ross could not attend—she was busy sewing—and that her darling husband George was out in the fields planning for spring planting. She expressed appreciation for honoring the efforts of those being recognized that day.

And because this was DAR and Marion always loved to bake, there were cakes. An 18th-century pound cake and Marion’s Best Cheesecake, both topped with cherries from trees that thankfully George did not chop down.

The Okeechobee Chapter began with these nineteen members: Elda Mae Bass, Betsy Cheney, Linda Davis, Helen Deisch, Joy Clarke Gates, Mary Ellen Kelchner, Zetta Hunt, Tamaro Sue Evans McAfee, Kimberly Bass Mattson, Marcia Anne Bass McGowan, Margaret Miezejewski, Merry Brown Rucks, Deborah Turner, Elaine Seiser, Marion Wagner, Donna Mae Webster, Charlotte Walston, Bobbie LeMartin Wilson, and Patricia Ziegler.

That was only the start.

Today, our chapter has fifty-six members and four associate members. The actual total number over the last 31 years is still being researched! Since its founding, the Okeechobee Chapter has been guided by fifteen chapter regents: Marion Wagner, Helen Deisch, Donna Webster, Sarah McCrary Price, Ruth Bingham Lawson, Bonnie Lee Smith Hill, Kenna Price Noonan, Betsy Cheney, Debbie Clemmons, Su George, Julie Turner, Sharon Buck, Letta Jordan, Cathy Miles, and Lonnie Kirsch.

Under their leadership, this chapter has attended state conferences, led lineage research workshops, assisted with Battle of Okeechobee reenactments, and provided an uncountable number of scholarships to graduating seniors and awards.

Our members have logged tens of thousands of volunteer hours serving our schools, our veterans, and our community.

I like to think that Marion Wagner would be overwhelmed with joy knowing what great and mighty work is being done for God, Home, and Country through the chapter she was called to organize.

While I cannot share this story with Marion herself, I can share it with her daughter, Elaine Wagner Seiser. Elaine lives in New Rochelle, New York, but maintains her membership in her mother’s chapter. She recently called me and expressed how grateful she was that we were celebrating her mother’s hard work and determination. The news brought her absolute joy.

Marion’s son Alan, who still lives here in Okeechobee, recently dropped off Marion’s pins and ribbon, her certificate, the gavel, and The Best Cheesecake recipe. Elaine also “encouraged,” as sisters do, to provide chocolate-covered strawberries and mini muffins because, “That’s what Mom would do.” It is my honor to share these with you today on behalf of Marion’s children, Elaine and Alan.

As we celebrate our 31st birthday, may we remember that this chapter’s greatest legacy is not its age but the living, growing service that began with one determined woman and continues because we carry her work forward.
Thank you.