(WASHINGTON, D.C.)  The nation’s capital will welcome more than 3,500 members of one of its foremost service organizations this week with the arrival of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for their 120th annual Continental Congress. Highlights of the week-long event will include welcoming respected keynote speakers and award winners during the gala evening ceremonies. The Opening Night ceremonies will officially commence the organization’s year-long commemoration of the 10^th anniversary of the September 11 attacks. In addition to a solemn remembrance of that tragic day, the ceremony will honor the efforts made by outstanding individuals and organizations to promote healing and hope in its aftermath. Representatives will include leaders and first responders whose unique experience on 9/11 will provide perspectives on the day: former White House Situation Room Director RADM Deborah Loewer, former New York Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Joseph Taluto, and Arlington County Fire Chief James Schwartz. The DAR will also recognize representatives from the memorials at Ground Zero in New York, The Pentagon, and the Flight 93 crash site in Pennsylvania, and honor three nonprofit organizations, the New York Says Thank You Foundation, H.E.A.R.T. 9/11, and Project Rebirth.

On National Defense Night, an evening honoring our Nation’s military service personnel and veterans, the keynote address will be delivered by Army General Raymond T. Odierno, one of the United States military’s leading strategists. Awards that evening will presented to one of the last remaining Women’s Army Corps members still serving on active duty, the Army Nurse of the Year, and outstanding volunteers for veterans. The closing award ceremony of the week will include honors to the Outstanding Teacher of American History, exceptional high school scholars, and awards for community service, conservation, and lifelong leadership and patriotism.

"It's inspiring to see more than 3,500 members travel to Washington to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year to preserve the past, enhance the present and invest in the future," said Merry Ann T. Wright, President General. "Learning more about our new program of awarding special project grants in local communities and the presentation of scholarship and award winners from all over the country is of particular interest to our members. Attendees show great enthusiasm to participate in seminars and workshops during the conference to enhance their work of promoting historic preservation, education and patriotism back in their communities. The reports given at our Continental Congress make it clear that the DAR is playing an important role in cities and towns across the country."

The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored tradition that has been held in Washington, D.C. as the annual national meeting of the membership since the organization’s founding. National, state and chapter leaders as well as other members from across the country and around the world meet at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends. The week-long convention consists of business sessions, committee meetings, and social functions, and is topped off with three formal evening ceremonies at which national DAR award winners are honored.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War. With more than 168,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.orgor www.youtube.com/TodaysDAR.