Jackie Marcus Honored

Jacqueline “Jackie” Marcus, a member of The Signal Hill Chapter,

NSDAR, (National Society Daughters of the American Revolution),

 is the recipient of the national organization’s

“Historic Preservation Recognition” Award.

The Signal Hill Chapter nominated Jackie for the award. She was then

endorsed by the Elgin History Museum where she serves as a volunteer.

Since 2014, Jackie has concentrated her volunteer efforts at the Elgin

History Museum. Beginning as a docent, she expanded her

volunteerism to attend the annual September Bluff City Cemetery

Walks in 2016, 2017, and 2018, working vignettes discussing the

significance of angels on cemetery markers, the story of NSDAR and its

cemetery marker, and as a general greeter to ticket holders,

respectively. Prior to her work at the Elgin History Museum, she

volunteered as a docent at the George Fabyan Villa/Estate in Batavia,

Illinois for Preservation Partners of the Fox Valley.

During the past four years, Jackie has expanded her volunteer role at

the Elgin History Museum to work in various capacities under the

direction of the curator of collections. She was instrumental in fulfilling

a grant, which funded the scanning, data entry, and uploading of over

3500 historical photographs (Elmer Gylleck Collection) of Elgin, Illinois.

She has learned to navigate the Museum’s Past Perfect database

program, editing existing data entry, scanning and merging digital

imagery to database entries, adding new collections, and assisting her

husband, Ira Marcus, (also a volunteer) in photographing the thousands

of archived objects on display, for digitized records of off-view holdings.

Jackie also worked on cataloging artifacts found in an archeological dig

at the Nancy Kimball Cobblestone House built in Elgin, IL in 1846. Her

dedication to restoring this historic home has led to three different

donations from NSDAR toward the reconstruction.

During 2020 pandemic, Jackie volunteered at the Museum when

updated guidelines allowed volunteers to return.

The Elgin History Museum is housed in an 1856 landmark building

known as Old Main that was once part of the Elgin Academy campus.

The museum has a staff that helps welcome visitors to the museum,

educates the public about Elgin history and assists with research

inquiries. The Elgin Area Historical Society, which was founded in 1961,

is a thriving organization that operates within the museum. The society

has a board of directors with a mission that is driven to preserve and

educate the community about Elgin history.

Signal Hill Chapter, NSDAR, presented Lauren Rae Constantino the DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal for National Defense at their March 2021 “Virtual” Chapter Meeting. Lauren has distinguished herself in her commitment to service and patriotism via her military service, her first responder service, and her charitable service. As a female in mostly male dominated fields, she has demonstrated leadership.Lauren, a senior at Indiana University-Bloomington with a double major in Criminal Justice and International studies, will graduate in May 2021. She is an Army ROTC Cadet and a member of the Indiana National Guard. Lauren has pursued and persisted in accomplishing her goals of becoming a campus police officer, to “serve and protect” demonstrating both honor and courage. Also, Lauren is 2nd Vice President of Shield 23 Foundation, Inc., a 501 (c) (3) organization that was formed in her father’s memory. It raises funds for and gifts funds to firefighters battling cancer and the families that stand beside them (www.Shield23Foundation.org).

The Distinguished Citizen Award consists of two items: a Certificate from the DAR National Headquarters and a two-piece ribbon and bar. DAR Illinois State Regent Sharla Luken and DAR Illinois National Defense Chairman Sheila Albright also attended the Zoom meeting to congratulate Lauren, then the certificate was presented to her. Signal Hill DAR treasurer and Lauren’s grandmother, Donna Cardwell, had the honor of pinning on the medal and bar. Other present for the ceremony were Signal Hill DAR Patriot Chairman and Lauren’s mother, Shenandoah Constantino; Signal Hill 2nd Vice Regent Susan Olund (her great aunt) and DAR American 250! Chairman Jackie Marcus.The DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal for Defense was introduced in 2013 to recognize individuals, eighteen years of age and older, who fulfill the qualities of honor, service, courage, leadership, and patriotism. The Medal is awarded to emergency first responders; active duty military and veterans of the United States Armed Forces; and citizens who have contributed to the defense and security of the community, state, or nation in an exceptional manner. This is the first time the Award has been presented by the Signal Hill Chapter, NSDAR.

The Signal Hill Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) was founded in Barrington, IL in 1972. NSDAR is a volunteer women’s service organization headquartered in Washington, D.C. Since its founding in 1890 over one million women have joined both nationally and around the world. The local Barrington Chapter raises funds throughout the year and distributes them to 501 (c) (3) organizations whose missions support that of NSDAR: historic preservation, education, and patriotism. Membership in NSDAR is open to any woman age 18 and over who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. For more information: https://signalhilldar.com 

PHOTO: Sue Olund (great aunt), Donna Cardwell (grandmother), Lauren Rae Constantino (medal recipient), Shenandoah Cardwell-Constantino (mother), and Jackie Marcus (Signal Hill member)