(WASHINGTON, DC)  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 123^rd annual Continental Congress. Highlights of the week-long event will include welcoming respected keynote speakers and award winners during the gala evening ceremonies. The keynote speaker for the Opening Night Ceremony will be author and historian, Alexander Rose, who will be discussing his book, Washington’s Spies: The Story of America’s First Spy Ring, and the ordinary people who did extraordinary things to help secure American independence. The ceremony will also welcome executives from AMC’s television show, TURN, which will be presented with the DAR Media and Entertainment Award. The DAR Medal of Honor will be presented to historian and well-known battlefield tour guide, Ed Bearss.

On National Defense Night, an evening that honors our nation’s military personnel and veterans, the distinguished speakers will be Vice Admiral Michelle Howard, US Navy, Deputy Chief of Naval Operations for Operations, Plans & Strategy, and General Norton Schwartz, US Air Force (Ret.), Former Chief of Staff of the US Air Force. Lieutenant General Claude “Mick” Kicklighter, US Army (Ret.), Director, DoD Vietnam War 50^th Anniversary Commemoration, will provide remarks about the efforts of the commemoration program. Additional awards that evening will be presented to the Army Nurse of the Year, the Margaret Cochran Corbin Award for distinguished women in military service and outstanding volunteers for veterans.

Other honorees recognized during the week-long event include exceptional students and those committed to education such as the national American History Essay Contest winners, the DAR Good Citizens, the American History Scholarship winner and the Outstanding Teacher of American History.

"It's inspiring to see more than 3,500 members travel to Washington to celebrate the accomplishments of the past year to honor our heritage, focus on the future and celebrate America," said Lynn F. Young, President General. "Attendees show great enthusiasm to participate in forums 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 America."

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 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 177,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. Commitment to volunteer service is a cornerstone of the organization and a highlight of the administration of President General Lynn Young. DAR members contributed to a more than 3.5 million community service hours in 2013 alone. To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org or connect with DAR on social media at facebook.com/TodaysDAR, twitter.com/TodaysDAR and youtube.com/TodaysDAR.