Beech Tree News Network

  The ladies of the Green River chapter of the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held their annual Veterans Day reception celebration on Saturday, November 10, at Morgantown Elementary immediately after the annual Morgantown Veterans Day Parade. The event has been part of DAR history since 2006 when it was first organized by Christine Coleman to honor and remember veterans of military service.

The event drew many veterans and supporters to the school where they were served sandwiches, snacks, drinks, refreshments, and desserts while listening to patriotic music and enjoying an honorary slide show. 

Prayers, the Pledge of Allegiance, and many memorable stories rounded out the event. 

“It’s all about veterans today,” said Melanie Hunt, Regent, as she presented veterans of the year plaques to the Clark family. Both Lee and Christine Loomis Clark have served our country and this legacy has been passed to the next generation in that four of their six children (two are still too young to enlist) have served the United States military in some capacity.

SSGT Lee Clark enlisted in the United State Marine Corps in July 1993 and retired in July of 2013 as Staff Sargent. His wife Christine Loomis Clark enlisted in the United States Navy in 1992 and was honorably discharged as an Airman in 1994.

Nathaniel Dale Loomis, the first child of the Clark family, is 29-years old. He graduated from Lejeune High School in 2007. He went to basic training at the Lackland Base in San Antonio. He was actively enlisted in the US Air Force until 2011.

The second child is Candace Ibarra, the 23-year-old daughter of Christine Loomis Clark and Robert Ibarra (who also served this country). She graduated from Butler County High School in 2013 and Florida A&M in 2017. She was active in the ROTC program at both schools. She is a commissioned officer in the US Navy, stationed in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii.

The third child is Dakota Ibarra, the 22-year-old son of Christine Loomis Clark and Robert Ibarra. Dakota graduated from Butler County High School in 2014. He attended basic training at the Army base in Fort Jackson, South Carolina. He was active in the Army National Guard until recently. Dakota is currently a student at Murray State University.

The final child is Daniel Clark, the 19-year-old son of Lee Clark and Nani Mennitto. He graduated from Mountain View High School in June 2017 and then from basic training with the US Army in March 2018. He is currently stationed at Fort Benning.

Representing Butler county’s proud military heritage were veterans dating from World War II up to the Middle East conflicts.