ARDAR Members Donate $47,000 for Veterans Cottages

11/11/2025

JONESBORO - A donation of $47,000 was made Friday by the Arkansas Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution (ARDAR) to the Veterans' Cottages.

The cottages, an effort among the City of Jonesboro, Arkansas State University and the Beck Center for Veterans, offer transitional housing for veterans in need.

Gale Markley, who served as state regent of the ARDAR for the past three years, said part of their mission is to support active duty service members and veterans of the military.

"Historically, state regents selected projects to benefit causes in the central and northwest areas of the state. This is the first time a project was selected that benefits the northern and northeast parts of the state," said Markley, who currently serves as honorary state regent for ARDAR.

"She made the Veterans Cottages her personal project, which they allow them to do to raise funds," said C.H. Overbay, who is secretary of the advisory board for the Beck Center for Veterans. "Since the cottages opened in 2021, the ARDAR has repeatedly helped with different projects. They have supplied Christmas gifts and any needs that existed. Almost every year, they do something to assist the Veterans Cottages."

Accepting the funds were Jonesboro Mayor Harold Copenhaver and representatives from the Beck Center for Veterans.

"This way we can grow community support because there are challenges with the community and understanding our veterans. As times change, so do the needs for our veterans," said Copenhaver. "This $47,000 is a big boost for the cottages, but more importantly, for the ultimate concern, our veterans."

Retired Brig. Gen. Keith Klemmer, who is chair of the Beck Center for Veterans board of directors at A-State, said the Beck Center has become one of the primary organizations for veterans in this region, and he is happy to have this opportunity to continue to provide this needed support.

"This is going to help us support our veteran community through the cottages for the foreseeable future in partnership with the city of Jonesboro," said Klemmer. "I think the main takeaway is those organizations collectively working together for the veterans that help us at the Beck Center to really serve our veterans."

Overbay said there are no restrictions on what the funds can be used for, but said this donation will be a huge help for the cottages.

"I plan to sit with the team and hopefully Gale to ask what her vision is," said Jana Haskins, director of the Beck Center for Veterans.

"This is going to be a reboot for the Veterans Cottages. We've worked with the mayor and the city remapping what their goals and objectives are," added Overbay, who noted the cottages provide temporary housing for veterans. "It's not long-term, but what the Beck board does is to act as a referral and a clearing house for individuals who need this assistance," Overbay continued.

The Beck Center for Veterans, established in 2007 by Buddy and Charlotte Beck, is a non-profit agency that works to provide services to supplement the needs of veterans who are eligible for government benefits and fill in gaps where they exist.

The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political service organization made up of female volunteers. The organization, founded in 1890, is dedicated to historic preservation, education and patriotism. The ARDAR was organized in 1923 and is host to 39 chapters across the state.

Helping organizations like the Veterans Cottages is just one of many projects the ARDAR participates in each year.

"All Arkansas DAR members and chapters contributed to this project, not just one chapter, but all 2,200 members in the state," Markley added.

Speaking on the importance of this donation, Klemmer added, "It takes a village to keep a village going."

From left to right: Dr. Erika Krennerich Chudy, vice chancellor for advancement; retired Brig. Gen. Keith Klemmer, chair of the Beck Center for Veterans board of directors; Jana Haskins, director of the Beck Center for Veterans; Gale Markley, honorary state regent for ARDAR; Mayor Harold Copenhaver; David Sales, vice chair of the Beck Center for Veterans; and Dr. Stacy Walz, interim dean of the College of Nursing and Health Professions