Jordan Waller has had a busy senior year at Clarkston High School, and also with the Elias Cady Society, Children of the American Revolution
President of the Clarkston-area society since its organization in 2004, she received the Good Citizen Award February from the Sashabaw Plains Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution of Clarkston.
‘Jordan has provided the leadership skills and enthusiasm necessary to build the society to where it is today,? said Hope Daniel, Senior Society president and her aunt.
‘It’s pretty cool ? it’s a good organization to be involved in,? Waller said. ‘I’ve met a lot of good people.?
The Cady Society received several state and national awards this year. At the National Convention in Washington, D.C. in April, the society received two national awards and was named Third Most Outstanding Society in the Nation for the second year in a row. There are more than 500 Societies across the United States.
To qualify for this designation, the society participates in many local and national projects, including a project to help other local children and projects involving the study of American history.
This year, the society donated items to the Lighthouse of Oakland County as part of their Kids Helping Kids project. Items were also donated to children attending school at the Crossnore school in the mountains of North Carolina.
‘The attainment of this designation for the second year in a row is a wonderful tribute to the children who are members of this society,? Daniel said.
In addition, at the State Conference of the Michigan Society, Children of the American Revolution, in Lansing in March, Elias Cady Society was named Michigan’s Outstanding Society for 2006-2007. This is the first time the Society has received this award.
National awards received also include most creative membership meeting and a Gold Merit Award for outstanding participation.
The society has more than 30 members, most in Oakland County. Members living in Clarkston also include A.C. Bendle, Anne Bendle, Madison Waller and Caylin Waller.
The society is named for Revolutionary War patriot Elias Cady, who is buried in Holly. Cady was a member of George Washington’s elite guard and served Washington for the entire duration of the war, moving to Michigan with his son’s family in 1835 at the age of 79.
‘We studied him a lot,? Waller said. ‘We made a display of Valley Forge, with all the log cabins.?
C.A.R., the nation’s oldest and largest patriotic youth organization, offers membership to anyone under the age of 21 lineally descended from someone who served in the Continental Army or gave material aid to the cause of freedom in the American Revolution. There are more than 10,000 members nationwide.
Three local members of the Elias Cady Society attended the National Convention as voting delegates April in Washington, D.C. Sisters Paige, Sarah and Katherine Daniel of Waterford drove to D.C. with Hope Daniel, their mother.
While there, the girls attended meetings, voted for national officers and visited Mount Vernon and the new George Washington Museum.
The Educational wing of the new museum features life-size statues of George Washington and a hands-on experience for children and adults of all ages.
‘The museum was a highlight of the trip, with an actual set of George Washington’s teeth on display,? Hope said.
The society is still looking Cady’s descendants in Oakland County. For more information, call Hope at 248-673-3069,