Army Chief Jackie Key arrived Tuesday for a free Martha’s Vineyard vacation arranged by the Daughters of the American Revolution.

With blaring sirens, waving flags and shouts of welcome, Master Sgt. Gerard Thomas and his wife Antonya arrived Friday for their first visit to the Vineyard.

Last week Doris Clark of Vineyard Haven became the first African American to lead the Martha’s Vineyard Seacoast Defense chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

The Marthas’s Vineyard Seacoast Defence Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), sponsored the wreath-laying ceremony in front of the Edgartown courthouse Monday.

The closing ceremony for the yearly American Heroes Saltwater Challenge had passed, but there was still one more award to hand out.

Sarah and Bob Nixon and their family were awarded the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Community Service award on Friday night. The family was honored for their work hosting the challenge. Now in its fifth year, the Nixons bring a group of recovering wounded service men and women and their families to the Beach Plum Inn and to fish the Martha’s Vineyard Striped Bass and Bluefish Derby.