Nancy Fassbender of Gold Canyon recently received the Daughters of the American Revolution’s community service award.

She is a former board member and historian for the Pinal County Veterans Memorial Foundation and author of “My Fallen Hero,” a book that tells the story of those from Arizona who have made the ultimate sacrifice.

Fassbender was nominated for the award by the DAR Apache Trail Chapter in Apache Junction.

She is a Lincoln, Nebraska, native who joined the Army National Guard in 1975 as a helicopter mechanic. She moved to Arizona in 1998 and began her volunteer work for veterans in Arizona, according to a release.

“She has held many leadership positions and has done a multitude of things for veterans in Arizona for many years. She is a lifetime member of the American Legion (Post No. 342), an honorary member of East Valley Ex-Prisoners of War Chapter, Pinal County Veterans Memorial Foundation historian, lifetime member of the Military Order of the Purple Heart Auxiliary and in 2020 she was inducted into the Veterans Hall of Fame Society. The Veterans Hall of Fame Society has only one 10th of 1% of veterans in Arizona who have received this high honor. She is also currently serving as a board director to the Arizona Veterans Hall of Fame Society Board,” the release states.

She consistently supports the community and is an ambassador with the Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce. In 2022 she was awarded the Apache Junction Area Chamber of Commerce Community Cup Award, it states.

Fassbender’s volunteer activities have included becoming the site coordinator for Wreaths Across America at Mountain View Funeral Home and Cemetery in Mesa, where 1,800 veterans are interred. She has also supported the Pinal County Veterans Stand Down and Ride for the Warriors, a veterans’ support organization in Pinal County.

She has supported the Vietnam 50th Commemoration with more than 60 pinning ceremonies including at the Mesa Marketplace Swap Meet and was the lead coordinator for the Vietnam Veterans Welcome Home event at the Mountain View Cemetery in Mesa. During this event Fassbender was honored by the Quilts of Valor National organization and presented her own quilt which recognized her efforts to support veterans in Arizona.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and education.

DAR has members in chapters across the U.S. and internationally. Any woman 18 years or older — regardless of race, religion or ethnic background — who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership.

For information on the DAR Apache Trail Chapter in Apache Junction, go to apachetrail.arizonadar.org.