With 2017 coming to an end, I thought it would be interesting to take look back at all DAR has accomplished this year. As I was putting together this list, it’s amazing to think that this is just what has been done on our National level, it doesn’t include all of the incredible work DAR members are doing in their states and chapters every day. DAR’s reach is truly nationwide. Take a look at this list below and click on the links to learn more.
- DAR members participated in the 3rd annual National DAR Day of Service
- The 126th Continental Congress was a huge success with an incredible lineup of evening ceremony speakers and honorees
- American Spirit magazine was once again awarded APEX Awards
- DAR was honored to sponsor the Siege of Yorktown painting at the new Museum of the American Revolution and participate in their grand opening ceremonies
- Honorary President General Lynn Young was appointed as a Commissioner to the US Semiquincentennial Commission
- The restoration of the Constitution Hall lobby and the DAR Library Lay Light won an American Institute of Architects (AIA) DC merit award for Historic Resources/Preservation
- The DAR Museum made their searchable database available online for researchers
- Following the tragic collision of the USS Fitzgerald, DAR made a $20,000 donation to the Navy-Marine Corps Relief Society to support the crew and their families
- The special Americana Collection exhibit, “Women of Resilience: DAR Service in WWI” detailing DAR members’ work in WWI was debuted
- In order to ready our chapters for the influx of members we hope the Semiquincentennial will bring, the America 250 Membership Task Force was formed and “The Road to 250” was presented at Continental Congress
- The DAR Museum hosted a World’s Fair event this summer that was attended by 900 people
- National Committee Video Presentations were created as a way to help more members become involved in the work of the committees
- The DAR Library and American Spirit magazine both started Facebook pages
- As a Community Program Partner, the DAR Museum created a new Girl Scouts program focusing on women’s suffrage
- When the awful hurricanes hit this fall members were eager to help those in need
- DAR donated 76 trees to the Independence National Historical Park in celebration of the upcoming Semiquincentennial and participated in the ceremonial planting of the first of the 76 trees
- While the DAR Museum Gallery was under construction, the wonderful costume exhibit, An Agreeable Tyrant, was showcased in the DAR Museum Period Rooms
- The Constitution Hall stage underwent a major restoration
- After new information was revealed at the Margaret Corbin gravesite at West Point, DAR began coordinating a special rededication ceremony to be held in May to honor her legacy
- DAR hosted its 16th annual Christmas Open House, where we welcome the public to our Headquarters for an evening of Christmas cheer
- We held the first ever Units Overseas conference, which served as a great opportunity for many of our international members to meet
Thank you to all DAR members who made this year a success for our organization. I look forward to seeing what we can achieve in 2018. I wish you all a Happy New Year!