This year, the Liberty Bell chapter of National Society Daughters of the American Revolution honored 11 local high school students and three local military program cadets with awards and medals. The members of the Liberty Bell chapter are proud to recognize these young students and their dedication in becoming good citizens and patriots of the United States.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, each recipient received his or her award, medal and a certificate at a location of their choice.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution Good Citizens committee was created in 1934 as the DAR Good Citizens Pilgrimage. The present-day DAR Good Citizens committee was created in 1952. The Good Citizen Award winners are judged on the qualities of dependability, service, leadership and patriotism by demonstrating these qualities in their home, school and community environments.

The students who received the 2021 Good Citizen Awards are Angelo Daddona, Whitehall High School; Sabrina Safadi, Catasauqua High School; Emily Ann Vaughan, Allentown Central Catholic High School; Keerstin Augustin, Emmaus High School; Jahnia Treadwell, Louis E. Dieruff High School; Aidan Williams, Northern Lehigh High School; Brianna Fritzinger, Northwestern Lehigh High School; Natalia Cao, Parkland High School; Nevaeh Robinson, Salisbury High School; Megan Albanese, Southern Lehigh High School; and Alexis Rounds, William Allen High School.

The National Defense committee of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was established in 1926 and, since 1967, has awarded medals yearly to high school students participating in Junior ROTC programs. In 2013, the National Defense committee established the Outstanding Cadet Medal given to cadets from non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet programs. This medal recognizes a cadet that has distinguished his or her self through outstanding leadership, honor, service, courage and patriotism in a non-ROTC military-affiliated cadet program.

Cadet Seaman Michael Dixon, from Northampton Area High School, received the 2021 DAR Outstanding Cadet Silver Medal for his exceptional efforts and dedication in the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Lehigh Valley division.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, a women’s nonprofit social service organization, was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism through commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans and meaningful community service. The Liberty Bell chapter was organized in 1892 and was granted its charter in November of that year. It became the sixth chartered chapter in the state and the 28th nationally.