Gov. Herbert awarded DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal by Utah State Society Daughters of the American Revolution

The Utah Society of the DAR at award ceremony for Gov. Herbert, Aug. 21, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah | Photo courtesy of CCCDAR, St. George News

SALT LAKE CITY — In recognition of his service to the citizens of Utah, Gov. Gary Herbert was awarded the prestigious DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal by the Utah Society Daughters of the American Revolution during a ceremony at the State Capital.

Susan Holt, Utah State Society DAR regent, presents award to Gov. Herbert, Aug. 21, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah | Photo courtesy of CCCDAR, St. George News

This gathering took place in the Gold Reception Room with Utah Daughters representing 10 statewide chapters in attendance. Susan Holt, State Regent of the Utah State Society DAR presented Herbert with the award.

The DAR Distinguished Citizen Medal recognizes worthy citizens for their extraordinary service in the defense, promotion, and/or preservation of our American heritage of freedom at the community, state or national level in an exceptional manner, a press release for the event stated. This award was first introduced in 2013 by the National Defense Committee of the National Society DAR and is administered by the appointed state chairs.

Herbert is the first citizen in the state of Utah to be recognized for this award by the DAR. Herbert received this award for his exemplary work in assuring the security, safety and well-being of Utah students and citizens at large. He was instrumental in allocating the funds enable schools to install security doors, surveillance cameras and video door bells.

Additionally, in March 2018, he signed H.B. 264 authorizing the Utah State Board of Education to award matching grants to school districts and charter schools to help increase the number of counselors at elementary schools. The main focus of these measures is ensuring the safety of our Utah students from physical, emotional and mental harm.  

Protecting Utah citizens from cyberattacks is another priority item on Herbert’s agenda. In response to the health and Medicaid State data breach that took place in the Spring of 2012, the he called for a comprehensive, independent security audit of the state’s information technology systems. This audit resulted in the installation of a multi-facet infrastructure that polices and wards off pending threatening attacks in the cyber world.

He also promoted and encouraged the influx of cyber security companies in Utah thus creating Silicon Slopes which houses companies such as Adobe and Proofpoint.  These agencies work very closely with the Utah government who is presently experiencing over 800 million attacks per day on its internal data systems.   

The Utah State Society of the DAR at award ceremony for Gov. Herbert, Aug. 21, 2019, Salt Lake City, Utah | Photo courtesy of CCCDAR, St. George News

The Utah Daughters expressed great appreciation for the time given to them by Herbert, the release stated. Holt remarked that “he is very personal man and we especially enjoyed hearing about his own family heritage that includes ancestral ties to Benjamin Franklin.” 

Herbert also mentioned high school graduation requirements were recently changed in the state of Utah, now requiring senior students to take civics and American History classes which happens to include a study on the U.S. Constitution. As DAR members across the nation prepare to observe U.S. Constitution week in a few weeks, this comment was welcomed news. 

Adding to their celebration, as requested by the Color Color Country Chapter DAR, city of St. George mayor Jon Pike proclaimed Sept. 17-23 to be recognized officially as Constitution Week.

The National Society DAR was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism.  Its members are descendants from patriots who fought or provided aid during the Revolutionary War. With more than 186,000 members in approximately 300 chapters worldwide, DAR is the world’s largest female genealogical and service organization. Members are committed to volunteer service having served more than 12.5 million hours in communities throughout the world during the past three years.

To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit their website or connect DAR on social media at Facebook, Twitter and Youtube.

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