Bend HS senior wins national DAR award

The Bend Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution recognized Bend High School senior James Siemens on Saturday.

James was the chapter’s local winner of the NSDAR Outstanding Youth Volunteer for Service to Veterans, the Oregon state winner, and was recently named as the DAR’s National Winner.

James served as a Guardian and Team Leader on a 2014 Honor Flight trip and subsequently worked with others to visit Central Oregon middle schools to educate students about the contributions of WWII veterans.

James is the first Boy Scout in the nation to receive his Eagle Scout designation as a result of service to the National Honor Flight program.

James will be presented his award in Washington, D.C., at the DAR Continental Congress, National Defense Night, in Constitution Hall on June 27 . Soon afterward, James will be entering Marine Corps boot camp.