New DAR Chapter organizing in Lake Saint Louis

Tracing your family roots back further than two or three generations can be a daunting challenge. However, if you manage to connect your ancestral line directly to a patriot of the American Revolutionary War, you could be eligible to join the new Daughters of the American Revolution Chapter currently being organized in Lake Saint Louis.

According to Susan Russ, Organizing Regent, the theme for the new chapter will be “A Tapestry of Service.”   For more than a century, the members of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution have dedicated themselves to historical preservation, promotion of education, and encouragement of patriotic endeavor. These goals are as relevant in today’s society as they were when the organization was founded in 1890. Since 1890 DAR, has welcomed more than 900,000 members.

The National Society of DAR is headquartered in Washington, D.C. It currently has 168,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the U.S. and internationally. Their common bond is their lineal descent from patriots of the American Revolution. Any woman, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background, who can prove this lineage, is eligible to join. The term patriot is not limited to just soldiers, but includes anyone who helped with the American cause for independence.

“DAR is a patriotic organization honoring the men and women who formed the roots of this country,” Russ said.

The objectives of DAR have remained the same in the 100-plus years of active service to the nation. 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 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…”;

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.

While always interested in family genealogy, Russ first became involved with DAR after discovering her personal connection with the American Revolution in New Jersey.  Her great-great-great-grandfather Henry Weaver, on her maternal side, served as privateer on a war ship and received the Letter of Marque for his service.  He was eventually captured and served out the remainder of the war in a British prison. After the war he traveled west to Ohio and became a Justice of the Peace.

The State Society was approached after Russ realized the Lake Saint Louis area needed to be serviced by DAR.  Permission was granted at the state and national level to proceed with organizing a chapter, and she was confirmed as Organizing Regent. The goal is to help others find their connection to the birth of America and to carry out the work of the Society and its objectives relevant to local history and activities of this area which supporting state and national DAR.

“We hope to perpetuate the memory and spirit of men and women who achieved American independence,” Russ said.

The group plans to honor veterans, provide information on the importance of the Constitution and the proper care for and display of the flag. It hopes to educate the community on DAR and their objectives at the national, state and local level in their many activities.

Women who believe they have a connection to a patriot of the American Revolution can get help from the group organizing application materials for the National Society. As Russ puts it, tracking your family’s roots is “just like a puzzle and you keep working your way back,” one piece of information at a time. If people enjoy history and want to help perpetuate our beginning roots this is the place you should be,” she said.

Contact Organizing Regent Susan Russ at 978-1869 for more information.