Today's DAR
On Sunday, April 23, 2023, the President General and Executive Committee observed the National Society’s 107th Annual Pilgrimage to Mount Vernon to honor the memory and service of George and Martha Washington. One hundred and ten years ago the National Society adopted a resolution to honor George and Martha Washington annually by laying a wreath at their tomb in their honor and memory. Assisting with the ceremony were the DAR Tours and Events Committee, Rebecca Grawl, Chair and Elizabeth Killian, Vice Chair. Members of the Mount Vernon DAR Chapter were also in attendance as well as Jo Carol Porter, Advisor to the President General and Past Chair, Life Guard Society of Historic Mount Vernon. The wreath was laid by the President General and Treasurer General, Dr. Sherry Edwards. George Washington’s prayer for the Nation of June 8, 1783, was read by the Corresponding Secretary General, Janet McFarland.
107th Annual Mount Vernon Pilgrimage
Immediately following the service, a second wreath laying ceremony was conducted at the Slave Memorial at Mount Vernon. The Memorial is located approximately 50 yards southwest of George and Martha Washington’s tomb, on a bluff above the Potomac River. This sacred ground was used as a cemetery for those enslaved and a few free Black Americans who worked at Mount Vernon in the 18th and 19th centuries. Joining the President General in laying the wreath was the Registrar General, Rhonda Kren. This event marked the first time in the history of NSDAR that the Daughters have conducted a ceremony to recognize and honor the value and significance of those faithful servants of the Washington family who lived and died at Mount Vernon and are buried on this site. The Chaplain General in her remarks paid tribute to those enslaved people whose skills, talents, and spiritual strengths were an integral part of the formation of our nation.
Following the ceremonies, the group was invited to tour the George Washington Presidential Library to view special collections and rare documents. Among those available for viewing and photography were original letters from George and Martha Washington, as well as the Marquis de Lafayette. Of particular interest was Washington’s bound copy of the U.S. Constitution with marginalia.
Lunch was enjoyed at the Mount Vernon Inn where the President General was joined by Allison Wickens, Vice President for Education at Mount Vernon.
Thanks are expressed to the President General’s Personal Pages, Rebecca Hough, National Chair, Pages, Paula Eichenbrenner, National Vice Chair, Pages and Jacqueline Leahy, Chair, President General’s Communication for their invaluable assistance.
