The DAR is kicking off America 250 weekend in Washington, DC under the leadership of President General Mrs. Ginnie Sebastian Storage and her administration’s guiding theme, “Illuminate Our Legacy.”  We highlight the weekend’s signature events—including a free public celebration at DAR Headquarters (10:00 AM–12:30 PM) and the evening’s ticketed tribute, DAR Celebrates America 250! A Salute to Women Veterans, featuring a recognition program followed by a full concert performance by Ms. Patti LaBelle at historic DAR Constitution Hall.  This episode invites Daughters, chapters, and the public to take part in commemorating our nation’s founding, honoring women’s service across 250 years, and carrying the light of legacy forward—together.
Concert: DAR Celebrates America 250! A Salute to Women Veterans
Patti LaBelle at DAR Constitution Hall, Washington, DC
Saturday, April 18, 2026 — 7:00 PM
Begins with a short recognition program, followed by the concert
Free public event: April 18, 2026 — 10:00 AM–12:30 PM at DAR Headquarters
Tickets: publicly announced sale timing and ticketing details are posted by DAR and major ticketing platforms
Military Women's Memorial | https://womensmemorial.org/
What if America's next chapter isn't written in textbooks, but told through voices, markers, music, and memory, just like we are doing here at the podcast? As we begin America 250, we lean into history the way storytellers like Ken Burns remind us it lives, human, unfinished, and worth remembering.
Welcome to the DAR Today Podcast, the official podcast of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution. I'm your host, True Lewis, and each episode highlights the work of daughters across the country as we preserve history, promote education, and celebrate the spirit of patriotism.
As America approaches its 250th anniversary, communities across our country are preparing to reflect on the people, principles, and sacrifices that shaped our nation. In this episode, we explore how the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, is commemorating this milestone, from nationwide events and historical markers to a special tribute honoring women veterans of this nation.
And we hear from the leaders helping guide DAR's role in illuminating America's story for the next generation. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution proudly announces a landmark event in honor of our nation's 250th anniversary. DAR celebrates America 250, a salute to women veterans, featuring legendary artist,Ms. Patti LaBelle. The concert event will take place on April 18th at 7 p.m. at historic DAR Constitution Hall, Our House Beautiful in Washington, D.C. As part of DAR's ongoing commitment to patriotism and service, this special evening will honor America's military women, past and present, by paying tribute to their courage,sacrifice and contributions to the nation's defense over the last 250 years.
The event will highlight the work of the Military Women's Memorial in preserving and honoring the experiences of service women. So please go to their website for more information and how you can be involved. And we will have a link in our podcast notes.
Proceeds from the concert will support DAR's grant program for organizations serving homeless and indigent women veterans. In celebration of our country's 250th anniversary, we are privileged to present this special event which will underscore the immense contribution of military women and again spotlight the impact that they have made throughout our nation's history. A quote said by President General Mrs. Storage, we are thrilled to welcome back to DAR Constitution Hall the iconic Patti LaBelle in concert to help us celebrate America's milestone anniversary and honor our nation's women's service members and all veterans on this special night.
The evening will begin now. Mark these down on your calendar, put them in your iPhones and your Androids. The evening will begin with a short program recognizing women veterans and organizations that support them. Followed by that full length concert by Ms. Patti LaBelle. She's widely celebrated as the godmother of soul.
Miss LaBelle will bring her powerhouse vocals and all her timeless elegance to our DAR Constitution Hall in the nation's capital. So fans can expect an unforgettable evening of music that just spans decades of hits, from her early days with the Bluebells to her iconic solo career. And you all know the hits, Lady Marmalade, On My Own, If Only You Knew, and more.
So concert tickets have been available to the public since December 19th at Ticketmaster.com. The DAR celebrates America 250. Those weekend festivities begin. We're going to have a free public event on the morning of April 18th from 10 to 12:30 at our headquarters. And we'll have family activities in the DAR library and our DAR museum along with cupcakes and refreshments to celebrate America's birthday. So additional details about these special DAR America 250 events are available on our website. You just go to dar.org slash celebrate 250. Daughters, just a quick reminder as we move toward America 250, celebrations are happening all across the country.
Be sure to visit the America250 page on dar.org and check out the Nationwide Events Calendar to see what chapters are doing from coast to coast. And don't forget to submit your own events so we can celebrate together. One of the ways daughters have been marking their mark in celebrating America250 is with our historical marker placements. The America250 commemorative marker was unveiled
Remember now, in 2020 at the 129th Continental Congress. So now, over 400 America 250 Patriot markers have been approved for placement across our country. These bronze markers share a unifying message of DAR's commitment to Illuminate our Legacy for our Revolutionary War soldiers. The Historian General's office they have been receiving a constant stream of applications to place these markers with many dedications planned now for July of this year. Some chapters have placed markers to commemorate specific America 250 events in their hometowns and all that was done through a partnership with the William G. Pomeroy Foundation. That is a private philanthropic organization located in Syracuse, New York.
So these markers allow chapters to D.A.R. identify sites of interest that celebrate stories of underrepresented patriots and just to bring more awareness to the events and contributions of lesser known people who helped secure the nation's independence. We are placing these markers. It affirms our mission to celebrate the fullness of what America 250 means to all Americans.
So since 2022, 40 total requests for Pomeroy Foundation markers have been received by the Historian General's office and 30 have been approved for placement. So, Daughters, to learn more about how your chapter or state can place a marker to commemorate America 250, you know what you gotta do. Visit the Historian General's page at dar.org.
And I especially wanna thank my National Vice Chair, Haley Lancaster for all this information and reporting to the podcast for you all to have this information.
She really does a lot, her and Jennifer in the background. You don't see her, but this is their work. So thank you, Haley.
On November 16th in 2025, that new six part 12 hour documentary series titled The American Revolution premiered on PBS.
It was directed by Ken Burns, Sarah Botstein, and David Schmidt. This in-depth work examines the war from the perspectives of soldiers, civilians, African Americans, and Native Americans. President General Mrs. Storage attended the reception and film preview for the American Revolution at George Washington's Mount Vernon.
And the DAR is sponsoring the film in 13 markets across the country where commercials about DAR sponsorship have aired before and after each episode. The DAR is an official America250 partner with Honorary President General , Mrs. Lynn Forney Young, serving as a Commissioner.
The United States Semiquincentennial Commission was established by Congress in 2016 to plan and orchestrate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. Appointed by the House and Senate leadership of both parties, the bipartisan commission is composed of 16 private citizens, four U.S. representatives,and four senators, as well as 12 ex officio members from all three branches of the federal government and its independent agencies.
Honorary President General Mrs. Pamela Wright currently serves as the DAR's America250 National Chairman. The DAR has a long history of national partnerships and patriotic celebrations.
So during the 84th Continental Congress in 1975, the society was formally recognized as an official partner of the American Revolution Bicentennial Administration. The Arbor banner was presented by Mrs. Marjorie Lynch, Deputy Administrator, Captain Alan Dorfer, Special Assistant, and Mrs. Robert Lacey Jackson, National Chairman of the USA Bicentennial Committee.
In a moving moment during the evening ceremonies, the banner was carried to the main platform by the Mount Vernon Guard. More than 750 daughters attended the Bicentennial Committee meeting during Congress, and that demonstrated a powerful spirit of unity and patriotic community.
Member Spotlight. John Alexander Chapter, Alexandria, Virginia. Regent Megan Jupe. We got together at one of the members' homes for the live broadcast of the first episode and we had a dozen members and a few HODARS. Everyone brought a snack or a beverage to share and I thought we'd chat more during the program but everyone was just spellbound. We talked about our reactions for a few minutes and everyone loved it. That was a quote from one of our members and their chapters during the live taping of the PBS show, American Revolution.
We kind of wanted to give you a sound bite of what chapters and orders were doing around the country at the time that this was airing. And after all that aired, DAR has already seen a spike in membership interest as anticipation for America 250 celebrations continues. So after the premiere,
Again, that documentary, there was a 91.3 % increase in our membership interest forms. And the Discover Your Family History webpage, if you haven't already seen that at dar.org, they saw 87,996 visitors. That's an increase of 120 % from last year.
Daughters, we have come to the segment where we are talking about “What are Chapters doing?” And I wanted to recognize that Alabama Society, DAR's 128th State Conference in Auburn, Alabama. It was truly something to behold. As national chair of the DAR Today podcast, attending as a conference guest for the very first time,
And I do not take that moment or that experience lightly. Madam State Regent, Melinda Williams and her honeybees create a buzz wherever they go. And baby, it showed what took place that weekend among the daughters and attendees. It was just beautiful from the beginning to the service, from the celebration to the spirit in the room, the Alabama daughters, they just showed up in such a beautiful and meaningful way. They're warmth, Their hospitality and their dedication were on full display. It was as sweet as it could be. Their Instagram and public Facebook, it was such a delight. You'll see pictures from the Quilts of Valor that touched me so much. And they just captured so many of the special moments that made the weekend just shine. And you could feel the joy, the pride, and the love of DAR service all throughout that conference.
And it was also a blessing to me to be there alongside National Chair Liz Cirrocchi and Organizing Recording Secretary General, Marguerite Fritch, my Pennsylvania daisies, and to meet so many wonderful daughters along the way. Every conversation, every smile, every act of kindness, the gifts, it just added something to my experience and it was just beautiful.
And the service of the Alabama daughters, it was just, like I said, so admirable. They reflected the very best of what it comes and what it means to come together in our friendship, our purpose, and the love of country. And I just left encouraged, grateful, and I am just full in my spirit. It's been a week, but I'm still overwhelmed by just seeing what the Alabama daughters do.
That was a first for me outside of Kentucky and Pennsylvania. And I was just so thankful and grateful. So Madam State Regent and the Honeybees, the Alabama Daughters, we thank you. We thank you.
As we close today's conversation, we are reminded that America 250 is not simply a commemoration of dates and events. It is our invitation to reflect, to remember, and to recommit. Through the lens of documentary storytelling, voices like Ken Burns reminds us that history lives not only in archives, but in people, in courage, in choices, and in the stories that we pass forward.
That same spirit guides the work of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution under the leadership of our President General Mrs. Virginia Sebastian Storage and the vision and stewardship of the American 250 Committee chaired by Honorary President General Mrs. Pamela R. Wright. And for 250 years, women have served this nation and it's often without recognition, but always with courage.
As America 250 begins, we pause to honor their sacrifice and elevate their stories. Across the country, America250 markers are being placed, not simply to mark where history happened, but we want to illuminate why it matters. So each marker becomes a point of reflection.
It's a teaching tool and it's a promise that the stories of our nation will not be forgotten. So as daughters, you know we are uniquely positioned to serve as guardians of that memory through preservation, education, and service and telling of America's story in all of its depth and complexity. So please subscribe, share with your chapter and your friends.
Visit dar.org, especially for you all daughters. Visit the DOC community, your daughter's online community, and the podcast. We are on that fourth tab, so you can't miss us. I'd also like to extend my sincere appreciation to my national vice chairs for the DAR Today podcast, daughters, the work you do behind the scenes, researching, producing, coordinating, and helping shape each episode makes the program possible. And your commitment to DAR and to sharing our stories with daughters across the nation means more than you know. Thank you, National Vice Chairs.