The Captain Johnston Blakeley Chapter, United States Daughters of 1812 met at the University Club in Raleigh recently. Registrar Laura Edwards reported that four new members have joined the Chapter since the last meeting in November.

Historian Lynne Belvin reported that member Sara Easom-Hughes and her daughters, who are both Junior Members, Amber and Lillie Hughes (ages 2 and 10 months) represented the Chapter at the 234th Anniversary of the Adoption of the Halifax Resolves Wreath Laying Ceremony sponsored by the Halifax Resolves Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolutionary in Halifax, N.C.

Chapter Librarian Anne Locke reported that members have read 12 books on the War of 1812 time period and have donated 14 books to the Wake County Library System.

As Veteran's Rehabilitation Chairman she reported that from January to April 2010 she has mailed 3,452 canceled postage stamps for Veteran's rehabilitation and 31,983 food coupons to Germany for Military families.

Mrs. Belvin gave a program on "Francis Scott Key, the Man." Everyone knows how he was inspired to write "The Star Spangled Banner" at Fort McHenry, Md., but don’t know that he was a prominent attorney in Baltimore, was married to Mary Tayloe Lloyd and had 11 children, six sons and five daughters. He served as Vice President of the American Bible Society and hymns he wrote still can be found in the Episcopal Church Hymnal. He often represented people who could not afford his fees and never charged a fee to soldiers who had fought in the Revolutionary War. He served briefly in the Georgetown field Artillery in Maryland in 1813.

Due to resignations, by Chapter President Charlotte R. Carrere appointed Mrs. Elaine Baldasare Chapter Treasurer and Kimberly Froescher, Chapter Recording Secretary.

Members are selling cookbooks, "Savor The Spirit" with proceeds to be their donation to the Furnishing of the N.C. Room at the National United States Daughters of 1812 Headquarters in Washington, DC.

Glinda Saxon represented the Chapter at the "Patriot's Day" wreath laying ceremony at Alamance Battleground near Burlington, N.C. Tom Belvin served as color guard and carried the State United States Daughters of 1812 Banner. This event was sponsored by the Alamance Battleground Chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution