Local DAR Members of the Polly Cooper Chapter Attend 135th Continental Congress

WASHINGTON, DC - Nearly 5,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution convened this week in the nation’s capital for the 135th Continental Congress, the longstanding service organization’s annual meeting. The week-long convention included business sessions, committee meetings, and social functions, and was topped off with formal evening ceremonies at which national DAR award recipients are honored.

Among them were Honorary Regent Kathy Schreiber, Honorary Regent Rosemarie Schmidt, and Aleta Wolf. Schrieber served on the House Committee and Schmidt on Congress Doors, and members attended Illuminate Our Service Night, National Defense Night, New York State Luncheon and all business sessions. Attending the Continental Congress was very meaningful for Schmidt, who said, “As our nation marks 250 years of independence, every Daughter has the opportunity to be part of history. Attending Continental Congress is a chance to celebrate our shared heritage while recommitting ourselves to the DAR mission."

“Continental Congress is a time-honored tradition and opportunity for our members to come together to celebrate our country’s rich history, share ideas, and mark their past year in service. With our nation commemorating its 250th anniversary this year, DAR chapters have been sharing the history of those inspiring individuals who contributed to American independence,” said Ginnie Sebastian Storage, President General.

“Service to our country is at the heart of everything DAR does, and it is always inspiring to welcome thousands of Daughters to our historic headquarters in Washington, DC. Working together, we are dedicated to advancing historic preservation, education, and patriotism for generations to come,” said Storage.

At the Opening Night Ceremony on Wednesday, June 24, America’s 250th birthday was a prominent part of the festivities. The acclaimed PBS documentary “The American Revolution” by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein and David Schmidt received the DAR Media and Entertainment Award. Ken Burns was also recognized for his 50 years of historical filmmaking with the DAR Medal of Honor.

The National Defense Night Ceremony, celebrating our nation’s military personnel and veterans, featured a 25th anniversary commemoration of September 11, 2001. This event honored the organizations and individuals that work to preserve the memories of those lost, support families affected, and shape the future narrative of 9/11 around remembrance through service. As part of the commemoration, the President General’s Medallion was presented to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum, the New York Medical Examiner’s Office/World Trade Center DNA Identification Office, VOICES - Center for Resilience, and 9/11 Day.

The DAR Continental Congress is an annual gathering that has been held in Washington, D.C. since the organization’s founding in 1890. 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.

To learn more about DAR activities or to inquire about membership, please email info@pollycooperdar.org.
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), a nonprofit, nonpolitical women’s service organization, was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. With approximately 190,000 members in nearly 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR remains one of the largest and most active volunteer service organizations. To learn more about Today’s DAR, visit dar.org.
As the United States approaches its Semiquincentennial—the 250th anniversary of our nation’s founding—now is the perfect time to discover whether you have an American Revolutionary War Patriot in your family and to help preserve the symbols that tell our nation’s story.