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One Lunenburg County group celebrated their 70th anniversary recently, doing so with some distinguished guests from across the Commonwealth. This would be the William Taylor chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR), which was chartered in 1955. 

The group’s celebration luncheon was held in the Dogwood Room of the 313 Franklin Restaurant in South Hill on Saturday, April 26. Lena P. Allen was the organizing regent for the chapter, located here in Lunenburg County. Group members said Allen worked tirelessly to secure the necessary number of charter members for a new chapter to be formed back in the 1950s. When the charter was issued, the chapter had 14 members. The group has grown over the years and now has 98 members who primarily reside in the counties of Lunenburg, Mecklenburg, Brunswick, Nottoway and Amelia.

The motto of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is “God, Home and Country.”  The society has three main emphases: education, historic preservation and patriotism. 

Looking over the last 70 years

Over the past 70 years, the chapter has completed numerous projects in these three areas.  Chapter members say that each year, the group strives to educate young and old alike on the importance of the Constitution and proper flag etiquette, as well as sponsoring DAR Good Citizens in area schools and American History essay contests, and numerous state and national scholarships.  

The chapter raised the money to have the first flag poles installed at the historic Lunenburg County Courthouse and has donated funds for the preservation of many historical records in area courthouses.  Veterans and current military members are important to DAR and group members say many of their projects strive to provide necessary items to make the lives of veterans better. Paws for Purple Hearts and Semper Fe Canines are two groups supported by DAR to provide service dogs to veterans who have been wounded during their service to our country.  Items have been donated to the local VA hospitals and coupons and care boxes have been sent to active-duty military.

What is DAR?

DAR is a linage society and membership is open to women 18 years of age and older who can trace their family to at least one Revolutionary War patriot. They are the daughters of the brave men and women who sacrificed much so that we can live in the “land of the free and the home of the brave.”