Overview: Daughters of the American Revolution

Let me tell you 'bout D.A.R.

By Brianna Duff
QuailBellMagazine.com

You’ve probably heard of the D.A.R (Daughters of the American Revolution) – growing up in the triad of Richmond, Jamestown and Williamsburg, Virginia, I certainly had. But who are the D.A.R really? Are they all just older women clinging to the long-gone past? Or are they something more? Read on to find out!

What: The Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism and preserving American history. At its most basic level, the D.A.R seeks to education and promote our earliest history as a country. The organization, however, does more than just remember the past. They clock more than 250,000 volunteer hours annually for veteran patients and award thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid to students and schools for underserved children. They also work with restoring and maintaining historical sites, up-keeping genealogical records and historical documents, locating and marking Revolutionary War patriot grave sites, and celebrating with new citizens at naturalization ceremonies.

When: The D.A.R was founded in 1890 and incorporated in 1896 by an Act of Congress.  

Three Objectives: Historic Preservation, Education and Patriotism

Motto: God, Home and Country

Who: The D.A.R boasts 170,000 members and fills 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain, and the U.K. Any woman 18 or older – regardless of race, religion, or ethic background – can join their respective chapters. The catch? You must be able to prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution. This means anyone from signers of the Declaration of Independence to veterans to participants in the Boston Tea Party. As my mom can attest from proving our lineage after hours of genealogy research, its no easy task – but who knows? Maybe you’re related to George Washington or Thomas Jefferson! And, if you are, you can join this group that lays claim to members including First Ladies, actresses, authors, reformers, humanitarians, doctors, engineers, and pioneers in space.

Why:  If you like doing service for others, particularly service that lends itself to your patriotic side, the D.A.R is the place for you! You can follow in the footsteps of your Washington or Jefferson relative and help make a difference in history and how history is received in today’s communities.

How: Interested in joining the D.A.R? Think you have an American Revolution patriot in your family? Check out this site for more information!