America’s tradition of strong women began with the Mayflower. One of the best-loved examples in American history and literature is Priscilla Mullins (later Priscilla Alden).

The great poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, himself a descendant of John Alden and Priscilla Mullins Alden, made their romance the center of his great epic “The Courtship of Miles Standish”. He vividly imagined a scene in early Plymouth Colony. Two Mayflower passengers, the shy (and handsome) John Alden and the gruff and inarticulate Captain Miles Standish, have both fallen in love with the lovely Priscilla Mullins. The Captain beseeches John to approach Priscilla on his behalf. John, bound by friendship and duty, reluctantly agrees to set aside his own strong feelings. Priscilla, however, makes her own choice. She asks, in her own gracious, charming, modest, but absolutely determined way - “Why don’t you speak for yourself, John?”

The Speak for Thyself Award honors exceptional women, women who – in the spirit of Priscilla Mullins – make their own choices. The Award recognizes the role of women in America as Pilgrims, pioneers, advocates, community organizers, politicians and business leaders, as well as mothers, sisters, wives and friends, women whose daily lives are a reflection of America.  The Speak for Thyself Award puts a face on these women while maintaining a presence in the 21st century for a family and a homestead of the 17th century.

We are delighted to invite you to our 4th Annual Speak for Thyself Awards Dinner to pay tribute to three exceptional women whose lives are representative of Priscilla’s strenght and character.

This year’s honorees will be:

• Tania Cooper Patriota, UN Population Fund Representative in Haiti and wife of Brazilian Ambassador Antonio de Aguiar Patriota;
• Therese Murray, President of the Massachusetts Senate;
• Dorothy “Dolly” Snow Bicknell, President of Project Gurnet & Bug Lights and Duxbury community leader, and
• Joanne Moore, Director of Council on Aging, Duxbury Senior Center.
  

Join us for a delightful evening at the Senior center with Master of Ceremonies, Jim Fagan.

Questions? call Alden “Rink” Ringquist 781-934-2879

Support from the Alden Kinfolk for this important event! We Speak for Ourselves ($100) - Edward Delano Sullivan Women in History ($75) - Linda J. Osborne Modern Priscilla ($50) - Benjamin G. Proctor, Jr.; Linda L. Hill; Holly Morris, in memory of Lansing Bennett

More information about the Speak for Thyself Awards