DAR members show their proud devotion to America
If you drove by the National Cemetery in December, you would have noticed a beautiful, fresh evergreen wreath draped over each headstone. Did you wonder how they got there? Who puts each one on the headstone, whose headstone is it, who is lying under there?
I am able to tell you. The Stephan Watts Kearney Chapter of the DAR supplies the wreaths and puts them on ... . The Daughters of the American Revolution is certainly the oldest 501-C(3) I know of or that I’ve had occasion to write about, started in 1890. The objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same for the past 125 years. (Not many organizations have this gravitas and continual dedication!)
Those objectives are: Historical — to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; Educational — to carry out the injunction of George Washington in his farewell address to the American people “to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened public opinion … ”; and Patriotic — to cherish, maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty.
Santa Fe has a lively and dedicated DAR chapter. And they put all those wreaths out there! These days, you have to sort of scope out people’s philosophies and political persuasions before you express much of an opinion for fear of “an awkward moment.” You don’t ever have to wonder with ladies of the DAR. You always know where they stand. Having inspected the evidence and facts, you will find that America is the most satisfactory system available. Honor the patriots that got us here. Teach the children the value of freedom and liberty. Respect for what the flag stands for. God and Country.
If you are a female who relates to these philosophies and principles, you are halfway to becoming a member of the DAR. The other element is to have had an ancestor who actually participated in the American Revolution. If you can trace your genealogy back to a Revolutionary soldier, generation by generation through the family tree, you can join. It is not an elitist thing — it is an accident of birth that joins these folks in a common bond.
The DAR Annual Holiday Luncheon and Wreath Unveiling ceremony in the Capitol Rotunda featured Secretary of Veteran’s Services Brig. Gen. Jack Fox speaking on “Remember, Honor, Teach.” OK, maybe it sounds dry, but wasn’t! It was extraordinarily scintillating about some mind-blowing experiences of soldiers serving the USA, particularly in wars. I was glued to my chair! Gen. Andrew Salas also spoke, reminding us to recognize the sacrifices made by all who wear the uniform ... . Such really interesting, important talks you don’t hear every day; I hope they’ll go viral on YouTube as it was attended by just around 120 people. After the uplifting ceremony at the Roundhouse, everyone headed over to the Inn at Loretto for a festive holiday luncheon.
In 1992, Mr. Morrill Worcester of the Worcester Wreath Company started donating wreaths to the DAR for veterans’ graves at Arlington National Cemetery because he felt so strongly that those soldiers should not be lying alone and forgotten at Christmas. The program grew exponentially and, today, the company provides 170,000 wreaths to the DAR at their cost for cemeteries across the country.
This year, 2,025 commemorative wreaths embraced the Santa Fe National Cemetery. In the fall, you can order one through the DAR for an unnamed grave, or make a grave-specific bequest.
In an era when America-bashing has become celebrity de rigeur, there are folks who are proudly devoted to America. Some of them are the DAR ladies, walking the cemetery draping wreaths on soldiers’ graves.