By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Community Service Award is defined as an award “presented to those who perform voluntary community service on a local level.”
Maurice (Maurie) Nelson of Geneseo is the recent recipient of the DAR Community Service Award from the Geneseo Chapter DAR.
Maurice Nelson, at right, recently was presented with the DAR Community Service Award form the Geneseo Chapter DAR. Also, in the photo are, from left, Mary Gustafson, Honorary State Regent, Illinois DAR; Cheryl Chamberlain, Community Service Chairman of the Geneseo DAR; and Nelson’s wife, Brenda Nelson. Photo by Claudia Loucks
According to Cheryl Chamberlain, Community Service Chairman of the Geneseo Chapter, Nelson and his wife, Brenda, are co-chairpersons of the Geneseo Aisle of Flags in Geneseo City Park when three times each year more than 900 casket flags are put in place and taken down in the park…”Much work and organization go into this to make it beautiful”: Chamberlain said.
In a letter of recommendation for the DAR Award, the late Glen Anderson said, “The first 50 flags (in the Geneseo Aisle of Flags) flew in the park in 1981, and today there are almost 1,000. The flags would not be possible without many volunteers gathering at 7 a.m. and returning at 2 p.m. to put up, take down, and pack them away. Maurie is one of the original committee members of the Aisle Flags and is a driving force to recruit volunteers, and is the contact for adding a flag and storage of the flags. I wonder if the Aisle of Flags would be what it is if it weren’t for the work and time, he puts in to keep the flags flying. Maurie is truly deserving of recognition for the DAR Community Service Award for all the ways he serves his community and church with generosity and kindness.”
The Rev. Laura Kamprath, pastor at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo, also recommended Nelson for the DAR Community Service Award, and in her letter, she stated, “Maurice Nelson is a force for good throughout our community, including in our church family at First Lutheran…For many years he has volunteered to lead the property and grounds ministry….He is at the church almost daily…from mowing the grass to hanging Christmas lights, to cleaning grease traps and descaling coffee makers, to changing furnace filters, and changing light bulbs. Maurie does it all without failure. He serves as worship leader…He has worked with others to find ways to honor Veterans in our congregation, to make sure they how much their community appreciates the sacrifices they made…When he’s not busy with one of those tasks, he’s helping out in many others ways. He offers rides to people who don’t drive. He helps those recovering from surgery with errands and chores. He serves his neighbors in so many ways always with a smile.”
In addition to his volunteer service with the Aisle of Flags, Nelson is a 70-plus gallon blood platelet donor, volunteers in the men’s’ health morning series at Hammond-Henry Hospital, drives the shuttle service at Hammond-Henry, received the Geneseo Hometown Hero Award, and is active at First Lutheran Church in Geneseo.
Chamberlain listed the qualifications for Community Service Award as:
-A contribution to the community in an outstanding manner through voluntary heroic civic, benevolent service, or by organizing or participating in community activities.
-The activity must have taken place within the past five years with no compensation.
-Members of the DAR are eligible for this award if the service is unrelated to their DAR activities.
-The award may not be presented toa recipient more than one time for the same achievement and may not be initiated or approved posthumously. Approved awards may be presented posthumously.
-A nominee may not receive more than one NSDAR award for the same accomplishment.