Working with the DAR and who are they?

In December. The House of Hope had the pleasure of working in conjunction with the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) and the TS DAR.

 The Crab Orchard DAR helped organize and transport record-able books donated by the House of Hope to soldiers at the Fort Campbell, KY base.  The books will be recorded by the active military members for their children telling them a story that reminded them of all the things they would do if they were home such as “give them a hug”, “play games with them”.  

On Saturday, November 5^th, 24 Junior Members of the Tennessee Society Daughters of the American Revolution (TSDAR) gathered in Crossville, TN for their annual Junior Membership Retreat.  Membership in the DAR provides many opportunities to serve in a variety of projects promoting the motto of God, Home, and Country.  As part of their annual retreat, the members volunteered their time at the House of Hope and Threads of Hope Thrift Store.  Some members worked sorting items at the store while others gave their time to clean and assist at the House of Hope.  A Junior member is a DAR member age 18-35.  Junior Members are encouraged to learn and to lead in support of DAR objectives.  For additional information about the TSDAR, please visit our website, www.tndar.org. 

This is the first time the DAR and House of Hope have joined efforts and I was intrigued to know more about them.  I see the DAR words in the paper quite a bit and am also an American Revolutionary patriot ancestor, yet I know absolutely nothing about the group or what they are.  I contacted Emmy Edwards and the Crab Orchard Chapter Regent Jayne White and asked to meet with them and find out more.  I was amazed at all the things they do not only for our county but nationally and worldwide as well.

I was under the impression that these ladies sit around and have tea, talking about our ancestors and the wars. I was so out of the ball park on that.  They work hard at preserving our most important history of the inception of the Unites States of America.  The war that united our country together for freedom and independence and something we should continue to remember and celebrate especially in a time when there is so much separating us. 

 The Crab Orchard Chapter isn’t necessarily from Crab Orchard.  The name was chosen for this area due to the significance of historical events that took place there as is with most chapters’ names.  The Crab Orchard station was a popular resting place for travelers on the Avery Trace. Among those travelers were Presidents Jackson and Polk.

The DAR not only helps to maintain historical records, artifacts and monuments, they work tirelessly with veterans of all wars, active military personnel and their families. They are dedicated to betterment of our country through education and working with our school children is a huge passion for this group.  They offer scholarships in history, music, nursing and medical. 

Many of our counties members read to the children in local schools and host celebrations for Washington’s birthday creating the atmosphere that is fun for all and the kids get to learn all about our founding fathers and our country’s beginnings.  They also sponsor our high school girls to go to Girls State in Nashville.  I was really amazed at the continually work they do in the county as well as in the nation.  The women would also travel to our nation’s capital for events and representation of our area.

To be a member of the DAR, you will need to prove heritage association to a patriot that served during the American Revolution.  Not only a service member, but may also be a civilian that aided the cause.  If a descendant had previously been in the DAR, you would only have to prove heritage to that descendant.

I have found, through meeting these women, it is exactly what we need as a country to come together and never forget the courage, dedication and sacrifice it took to be who we are now.  The DAR continues to embrace that unity and the foundation that built this country. Even though many times we are divided in opinion, we will always be united as Americans in the shadow of what our ancestors achieved.