Dedication of a NSDAR Plaque

On February 12, 2023, the William P. Duval Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Winter Park, dedicated a DAR historic plaque at the Drawdy-Rouse Family Cemetery. Over 75 people were in attendance. Chuck Drake, President of the Drawdy-Rouse Cemetery board, spoke. Denise Aldridge spoke on behalf of the descendants of the Rouse family, and Emmett Browning spoke on behalf of the Drawdy descendants. Leslie Beltz, Regent of the DAR Chapter, spoke, as did Elaine Powell, then Vice Regent and Secretary of the Drawdy-Rouse Cemetery Board of Directors. Honorary Regent Ann Maner was most instrumental in getting the approvals for the plaque and obtained the permission from the NSDAR. She also did all the research required to get approval for the plaque and helped to raise the funds to purchase the plaque. Each fact stated on the plaque had to be verified with documents to obtain permission from the NSDAR Historian General. Refreshments that were historically accurate to the time of the founding of the cemetery in the mid-1800s were prepared and served by members of the William P. Duval Chapter.