Not your grandmother’s DAR | Guest post

David Douglas Chapter, National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR), announces the election of Redmond resident Danielle Lyon Carson as Chapter Regent. Lyon Carson joined the DAR in 2019 and served as Chapter Vice Regent for two years. She takes the Regent office in June at the end of Regent Jennifer Davis’s term.

The role of Chapter Regent involves leading in the NSDAR’s main areas of focus, which include education, patriotism, and historic preservation initiatives. Within the primary initiatives, chapters across the country are very involved in the recognition and appreciation of veterans and veterans’ issues. There are 34 chapters in Washington State.

“The DAR is a non-political organization open to women over the age of 18 who can prove a linear descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving America’s independence. Founded in 1890 there are over 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters in the United States and abroad. This bloodline link to a patriot must be proven with birth, marriage, and death certificates for every generation,” stated Lyon Carson. “But I love to tell people, ‘This is not your grandmother’s DAR!’”

Lyon Carson continues, “Today’s DAR is dedicated to researching and promoting how diversified participants assisted in the creation of our nation, and to better telling the stories of these Patriots. For decades, the DAR has worked to expand research on the experiences of people of color, including Patriots of African, Indigenous, and non-European or mixed-heritage descent. In 2020, DAR launched its ‘E Pluribus Unum Educational Initiative,’ to provide more historical, educational, and genealogical resources about people of color and women during the colonial period, in an easily accessible way to DAR members and the public alike. I believe it’s important that people know the DAR’s goal is enriching our understanding of the different people behind the effort of the colonies to win independence and recognizing those who have been left out of the historical narrative.”

“I am really honored to be selected as the incoming Regent of this vibrant Chapter and I am humbled to follow in the footsteps of the ladies who founded the David Douglas Chapter in 1981,” said Lyon Carson. “As a Chapter, we look forward to continuing serving our community by way of the Good Citizens Scholarship Contest for local high school seniors, our Constitution Week display at the Redmond Regional Library, hosting and participating in the National Wreaths Across America Day ceremony at a local cemetery, and through a variety of literacy promotion and other hands-on projects throughout the year. It’s through our work we hope to inspire more women to research their own lineage and connect with their past, and we encourage them to also consider membership in the DAR. It’s a wonderful way to enrich your life, familiarize yourself with your community, explore leadership opportunities, and connect with women from all walks of life who enjoy honoring their revolutionary ancestors and making a positive difference in the community. As a ‘Daughter’ I am an enthusiastic DAR advocate!”

For more information on the NSDAR and its programs, visit dar.org or the David Douglas Chapter website at daviddouglasdar.com.