Somerset Inn hosts 124th annual conference for DAR of Michigan

TROY — An organization founded in 1890 met in Troy recently for its 124th anniversary.

The Daughters of the American Revolution of Michigan gathered at the Somerset Inn for their annual state conference Sept. 12-15.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded 134 years ago and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. The nonprofit, nonpolitical volunteer women’s service organization is dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history and securing America’s future through better education for children, according to the group. DAR members may participate in a wide array of activities, such as:

• Restoring and maintaining historical sites, as well as Revolutionary War (patriot) grave sites and headstones.

• Supporting major restorations, commemorations and memorials.

• Placing monuments around the world to observe different people and events throughout American history.

• Preserving genealogical records, artifacts and historical documents, and making these items available to the public.

• Promoting education efforts through donations, scholarship opportunities, youth programs and essay contests, among other activities.

• Volunteering with veterans groups and supporting people currently serving the country.

• Participating in naturalization ceremonies.

DAR has over 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally, with around 190,000 members. Membership is open to women of any race, religion or ethnic background who are 18 or older. Potential members must also be able to prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.

“I was skeptical of joining this organization, but I had a lot of fun with the local chapter, and it was a good evening for me,” State Regent Dawn Brady, of West Branch, said.

Brady was encouraged by her great-aunt Jane to join the organization and has been involved with DAR for 14 years.

For DAR’s state conference, the event was presided over by Brady, who encouraged members to forge bonds of friendship through service to the society and their communities. The theme for the conference was “For the Love of DAR,” and members participated in state business sessions and educational sessions throughout the three-day event.

One of the notable activities available during this event that members participated in was assembling goody bags for female veterans during the conference’s opening night. The bags were filled with a variety of items that will benefit veterans at VA hospitals and veterans homes all over the state, including Ann Arbor, Battle Creek, Iron Mountain, Saginaw, Chesterfield, Grand Rapids and Marquette.

“I am a woman veteran, but I didn’t want to presume what they needed,” DAR’s State Chair of Service for Veterans Patricia Drury said in a press release. “We are suiting the items for an actual, declared need.”

Drury contacted veterans homes and VA hospitals to determine what the women need. The answers included note cards, manicure sets, journals, hand cream, mints, combs, lip balm, a bauble in a gossamer bag and other items. Many Daughters contributed to the goody bags via an Amazon wish list created to gather the items.

Drury teamed up with Service to America State Chair Nancy Kramarczyk for the event, and together they partnered with DAR VA Veteran Service representatives to help deliver the goody bags.

Pamela Rouse Wright, the president general of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution, delivered the keynote address. Wright has been involved with DAR for over 30 years and was encouraged to join by her grandmother as a way to make friends after moving to Houston.

Wright has expressed an interest in continuing to grow DAR’s membership, assisting in naturalization ceremonies, providing funding for initiatives that support preserving history, and helping students and veterans as they are able to.

“We welcome any eligible women that come from different backgrounds who are interested in promoting the United States,” Wright said.

Brady presented her with a $1,250 check for the President General’s Project, which supports the restoration efforts of Memorial Continental Hall, in Washington, D.C., the original headquarters for DAR that is still utilized for research and educational purposes. Other aspects of this project include providing funding for DAR initiatives and celebrating the birth of the U.S. as a nation.

During the event, Brady also presented the DAR Community Service Award and announced a donation to the Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency to support the third annual Women Veterans Conference in Novi Oct. 3-5.

For more information, visit dar.org or michdar.org.