Local women attend 123rd Continental Congress in DAR Constitution Hall
The nation’s capital welcomed more than 3,500 members of one of its foremost service organizations during the last week of June with the arrival of the Daughters of the American Revolution for their 123rd annual Continental Congress. Attending the congress were Regent Nancy Barlow of Rehoboth Beach, Marjorie Frampton of Lewes, and DiAnne Gatts of Lewes, all members of the Col. David Hall Chapter in Lewes.
Highlights of the weeklong event included welcoming respected keynote speakers and award winners during the gala evening ceremonies. The keynote speaker for the Opening Night Ceremony was author and historian Alexander Rose, who discussed his book, "Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring," and the ordinary people who did extraordinary things to help secure American independence. The ceremony also welcomed executives from AMC’s television show, "TURN," who were presented with the DAR Media and Entertainment Award. The DAR Medal of Honor was presented to historian and well-known battlefield tour guide Ed Bearss.
On National Defense Night, an evening that honors the nation’s military personnel and veterans, the distinguished speakers were Vice Admiral Michelle Howard, U.S. Navy, deputy chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans & Strategy; and retired Gen. Norton Schwartz, former chief of staff of the U.S. Air Force. Retired Lt. Gen. Claude “Mick” Kicklighter, U.S. Army director, DoD Vietnam War 50th Anniversary Commemoration, provided remarks about the efforts of the commemoration program. Additional awards that evening were presented to the Army Nurse of the Year, the Margaret Cochran Corbin Award for distinguished women in military service and outstanding volunteers for veterans.
Other honorees recognized during the event included exceptional students and those committed to education such as the national American History Essay Contest winners, the DAR Good Citizens, the American History Scholarship winner and the Outstanding Teacher of American History.
The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored tradition that has been held in Washington, D.C., as the annual national meeting of the membership since the organization’s founding. National, state and chapter leaders as well as other members from across the country and around the world meet at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends. The convention consists of business sessions, committee meetings, and social functions, and is topped off with formal evening ceremonies at which national DAR award winners are honored.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR and youtube.com/TodaysDAR.
