Extra Sunshine Warms October Board Week

Denise Doring VanBuren, President General

October 13, 2021

Early October is a special time on the official NSDAR calendar – an annual opportunity to welcome members of the National Board of Management, National Chairs and key committee members back to our headquarters.

Well, it WAS an annual opportunity– but the pandemic, of course, eliminated those traditional plans in 2020. That only served to make this year’s return to Washington, D.C. last week all the sweeter, as we greeted one another and gathered in person for the first time in 20 months (i.e. from February 2020). What a joy to welcome these women back to our National Headquarters, especially to see our newly restored DAR Constitution Hall.

Recognizing that many of these leaders had missed so many of the traditional experiences of being elected or appointed to our highest offices/responsibilities during this term, I hoped that we could provide some “extra sunshine” this week to brighten their memories of their time in office. Imagine my delight when National Chair of National Board Events Jacqueline Leahy compiled a schedule that included 15 special events, 10 meals and a week of camaraderie that had been so sorely missed. I express my deepest appreciation to Jacqueline and her amazing committee volunteers for helping these women make some astounding memories of having served in these positions during this unique time in our nation’s history.

Our visits included travel to the new Museum of the United States Army, Mount Vernon, the national monuments by bus, the new World War I Memorial, Arlington National Cemetery (to honor Revolutionary soldiers buried there and for our 101^st consecutive wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unknowns), two Honor Flight arrivals and a reception at the residence of the French Ambassador to the United States, the last featuring a wreath laying in honor of the Marquis de Lafayette. Other special events included a Constitution Hall “sashing ceremony” to formally present this important symbol to those who had taken their oaths of office virtually during the last two Congresses. We also marked the 125^th anniversary of the DAR Library and the Centennial of the DAR Administration building. A very special highlight featured a wreath laying on the grave of NSDAR Founder Mary Smith Lockwood.

In addition to these events, there was plenty of business conducted by your executive officers and informative sessions provided by the members of the DAR Leadership Training Committee. We also honored October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month by wearing pink as part of our Women’s Issues Committee efforts. In addition, we staged a drop-in service project to collect books for children and made posters to welcome home the Vietnam and World War II veterans whom we greeted at their memorials.

A particular highlight for me was to host these women for a special reception in their honor on Friday evening. In addition to photo opportunities in the President General’s Reception Room and a keynote speaker about the First Ladies from the White House Historical Association, we enjoyed “Dinner Under the Stars” through a delicious catered meal on the stage of Constitution Hall – complete with the stars of the restored overhead laylight twinkling above.

It was a magical evening – one that I hope these women, who were deprived of so much due to the pandemic, will remember as a very special opportunity during our unique term in office. Yes, we faced more than our share of disappointments over the course of the last 18 months. But we will forever be “Sol Sisters” for having led our Society and its states and chapters through this situation together – what a privilege to serve alongside them in support of our important mission. Huzzah, ladies, and thank you for your shining example of leadership!

(P.S. Please enjoy lots of photos of these and other events here and on my DAR President General’s Facebook page.)

Send Us a comment