Today's DAR
Happy Independence Day! It’s my favorite holiday of the year! Please make some time today to recall the sacrifice of your own Patriot ancestor who sacrificed so that we might enjoy freedoms that remain the envy of the world.
Celebrating Independence Day & the 130th Continental Congress
I hope you agree that last evening’s National Defense Night was inspiring. I was moved by the words of Secretary Lloyd Austin and Medal of Honor recipient David Bellavia. What a privilege to share the evening with such heroes. It would also be impossible for me to adequately express my gratitude for your commitment to honoring the servicemen and women like them who selflessly serve our country all year round – so please accept a heart-felt thank you from this Blue Star Mother.
Missed last night’s program or want to see it again? You may view the entire National Defense Night Ceremony here. I hope you especially enjoyed seeing your Executive Officers process down our famous center aisle! That fun rite was made possible because nearly 2,400 of you sent the “Congress Cut Outs” that created the audience magic. Thanks to every one who “attended” and perhaps even brought a guest. Our cut out audience raised approximately $200,000 toward the Next Act – I am so grateful!
We continue our official business this morning with our annual Memorial Service, followed by the Installation Ceremony for new State Regents, Vice Regents, one Honorary Vice President General and seven Vice Presidents General. Our Congress will formally conclude with live closing remarks and the final rap of the gavel. It has been a privilege for me, throughout the week, to use the historic gavel rapped by President General Edith Magna when declaring the debt had been paid to construct DAR Constitution Hall nearly a century ago.
While it may have appeared seamless on the screen, I assure you thousands of hours and hundreds of staff members and volunteers worked behind the scenes for months in order to produce our second virtual Continental Congress. I will be forever in their debt – especially because I had the easiest job of all due to their exacting preparations and thorough professionalism. I am so very proud of all who made it possible.
Final Announcements:
1. Our new Our Patriots DAR Podcast premieres will officially launch today at 10 a.m. ET! You can listen to the first episode here!
2. If you missed anything from our Virtual Congress this week, no worries! All Congress events and sessions will be available on the Virtual Congress Hub for the next few weeks.
3. If you attended at least one daytime and one evening ceremony, by the power invested in me, I hereby provide you with continued “bragging rights” that you have attended X number of consecutive Continental Congresses. And no one, and I mean no one, wants to see us all extend that streak IN PERSON next year more than your President General.
Join me today to close our 130th Continental Congress – and plan now to be a part of our 131st next June – it will be a celebration three years in the making, and I promise you that we will make up for the disappointment of having kept you distant for two long years.
