WASHINGTON, DC – DAR members from coast to coast celebrated the 125th anniversary of the founding of the Daughters of the American Revolution on October 11, 2015, by participating in the National DAR Day of Service. In celebration of the DAR’s 125 years of service to America, members came together throughout the country to give back to their communities.

During the three-year administration coinciding with the 125th anniversary celebration, the organization issued a challenge to members to complete 12.5 million hours of service to America – with 10 million hours having now already been performed in just the first two years. While the National DAR Day of Service is one day of nationwide service, it is just an example of the work that DAR members have performed year-round for the past 125 years in communities across the nation.

“I am extremely proud and moved by the breadth of our members’ efforts on the National DAR Day of Service,” said Lynn Young, DAR President General. “The thousands of DAR service activities that took place over our anniversary weekend were a powerful demonstration of the vibrancy of today’s DAR and the significant impact DAR is making on communities big and small throughout the country.”

Members used the hashtag #DARDayofService on Facebook and Twitter to post photos of their chapters volunteering in their communities. View some of the many chapter activities in the DAR Day of Service slideshow at www.dar.org/dardayofservice.

A small sampling of the many DAR Day of Service projects that took place include:

• Rhea-Craig Chapter in Tennessee supplied food for the local food pantry
• Black Eagle-Assinniboine Chapter in Great Falls, MT, assembled items for military care packages
• Piankeshaw Chapter of New Albany, IN, collected under-donated items such as underwear, socks, and pajamas for underprivileged youth of S. Ellen Jones Elementary School's Family Resource Center  
• Mecklenburg Chapter in Charlotte, NC, planted 360 daffodil bulbs from the Daffodil Project in memory of children who died in the Holocaust
• Hudson River Patriots Chapter ran a food drive at Dobbs Ferry Food Pantry in New York
• Southeastern District of the Pennsylvania State Society weeded and tended to the grounds at Valley Forge National Historic Park
• California District XIV delivered more than 6,000 items to the Navy Medical Center San Diego for families with newborns
• Chicago Chapter participated in an archaeological dig at Camp Douglas, the former Civil War POW Camp
• Washington Crossing Chapter collected and prepared books for a children’s literacy program at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
• Perrin-Wheaton Chapter prepared and served dinner to the men who live at the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Veterans in Wheaton, IL
• Wadsworth DAR Chapter in Connecticut cleaned out Middlefield’s Old North Cemetery 
• Green Mountain Boys Chapter in San Antonio, TX collected and delivered jackets and sweaters needed by the residents of Seton Home, a residential facility that provides housing and supportive services for homeless teens ages 12 – 17 who are also pregnant and/or parenting
• Alaska Chapter in Fairbanks, AK served food at a local soup kitchen
• Susannah Smith Elliott Chapter, in Summerville, SC, made 125 mastectomy pillows and donated them to the Women's Cancer Ward at Trident Hospital
• Washita Chapter planted 125 bulbs at the Veterans Center in Clinton, OK
• Champoeg Chapter helped Meals on Wheels in Shetwood, OR
• Appalachian Trail Chapter in Virginia cleaned grave markers Frazier Family Cemetery
• Valley of the Meramec Chapter hosted a free chicken dinner to first responders from Washington, Union, and St Clair, MO
• Atlanta Chapter worked with a nonprofit organization called Children Read to clean old books, sort books by age group and bag books to be given to preschool children.
• Casa Grande Valley Chapter in Arizona co-hosted a bar-b-que to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War. ALL veterans were invited to this event at the American Legion in Coolidge, AZ.

See a sampling of local media coverage from the National DAR Day of Service at www.dar.org/celebrate125/media.

To watch a short video on member volunteer efforts and the impact DAR is making in communities today, visit www.dar.org/celebrate125/videos.

The DAR, which is comprised of the descendants of the Patriots who won American independence, was founded on October 11, 1890, as a service organization to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. There are currently nearly 180,000 members of the DAR, serving in approximately 3,000 chapters across the nation and in several foreign countries. More than 950,000 women have joined the organization since its founding 125 years ago. To learn more about the history of the DAR and the various anniversary celebrations, visit www.dar.org/celebrate125.

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The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for membership. DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations with nearly 180,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. These members passionately carry out the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism. To learn more about the work of today’s DAR, visit www.dar.org.