DAR Headquarters will be closed from March 16 to March 20. We will reopen on March 21. 

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution will mark the 250th anniversary of the Boston Massacre, an event that lit the spark in the nation’s fight for independence. The deadly riot occurred on March 5, 1770, on King Street in Boston. What began as a street brawl between American colonists and a lone British soldier quickly escalated to a chaotic slaughter. Historians agree that the conflict energized anti-Britain sentiment and paved the way for the American Revolution.

“Nearly two hundred Daughters from across the United States will gather with us to commemorate the anniversary of the Boston Massacre,” said DAR President General Denise Doring VanBuren. “In fact, it will mark our first formal 250th anniversary event associated with the nation’s semiquincentennial celebration, and we are honored to visit Boston, where so much Revolutionary War history took place.”

The National Society’s 250th commemoration will be a two-day event:

 

Wednesday, March 4, 2020
6:00 - 10:30 p.m.

A Commemorative Dinner will be held at the historic Omni Parker House Hotel featuring keynote speaker Robert Allison, author of the book The Boston Massacre. Other speakers include DAR Honorary President General, Lynn Forney Young, who will offer an update on the U. S. Semiquincentennial Commission, on which she serves.  The Commission, established in July 2016, is facilitating nationwide plans to observe the 250th anniversary of the United States.   Members of the Daughters of the American Revolution and representatives of various lineage societies from across the country will be in attendance for the commemoration.

Thursday, March 5, 2020
9:00 a.m.

A formal service by the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will take place at the grave of the victims of the Boston Massacre in the Old Granary Burial Ground. A DAR wreath-laying will be conducted at the grave of Crispus Attucks, Samuel Gray, James Caldwell, Samuel Maverick and Patrick Carr.

9:30 a.m.
Tour buses will take DAR members and guests on tours of the Old State House, Paul Revere House, Old North Church and Faneuil Hall.

12:30 p.m.

Lunch will follow at Faneuil Hall with a tour of the Ancient and Honorable Artillery Company museum. 

The event is fully booked at this time but media are welcome to attend the public wreath laying ceremony on March 5 at 9 am. For additional information, please contact:

Julia R. Eacott
National Vice Chair
250th Boston Massacre
[email protected]

Karen Smith
250th Boston Massacre
Public Relations and Media
617-417-4180
[email protected]

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DAR members come from a variety of backgrounds and interests, but all share a common bond of having an ancestor who helped contribute to securing the independence of the United States of America. 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 to join.

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.

Most of DAR's volunteer work is accomplished by the grassroots efforts of chapters on the local level which focus on the mission areas of DAR by encouraging members to become involved in these initiatives in their local communities.  

 

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