Today's DAR
I know that you will share my pride in knowing that the Inaugural Committee has requested the use of the historic DAR eagle lectern this week. During the four previous Presidential Inaugurations, the lectern was used during the Inaugural Luncheon held in Statuary Hall in the U.S. Capitol immediately following the Oath of Office ceremony. This year, however, we are not quite certain if, when or where our beautiful lectern might be used….
That’s because the traditional luncheon was recently canceled due to pandemic concerns; however, that decision occurred after the DAR lectern had already been borrowed from DAR Headquarters. So, we hope that the Inaugural Committee will be using the lectern in another capacity – so, I encourage you to join me in watching for it to turn up in some of this week’s coverage! Keep an “eagle eye” out for our eagle, please!
The DAR lectern was previously borrowed for President Donald J. Trump’s Inauguration in 2017; both of President Barack Obama’s Inaugurations in 2013 and 2009; and President George W. Bush’s Inauguration in 2005. The striking bronzed eagle was the official podium used in Memorial Continental Hall and was presented to the 14th DAR Continental Congress in 1905 by the Flintlock and Powderhorn Chapter of Rhode Island as a pledge of “loyalty to the organization, and in the interest of purity, patriotism and peace.”
“This chapter of 52 members has sent to the Memorial Continental Hall a beautiful brass lectern, and exquisitely bound Bible, as a free gift to the whole organization. In this unique and beautiful offering the chapter honors not only itself but the state and its State Regent, who thus tenders publicly the thanks already sent in private,” said Rhode Island State Regent Margaret Lippitt in making the presentation 116 years ago.
