Washington, District of Columbia
ABOUT US
MEETINGS: The Descendants of '76 meetings are held on the second Wednesday of the month and on Saturday mornings.
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OFFICERS:
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CHAPTER OFFICERS
Regent Brooke Terry
First Vice Regent Jo Porter
Second Vice Regent Sandy Parsons
Chaplain Mary Helmentoler
Recording Secretary Jane DeCell
Corresponding Secretary Linda Ethington / Bonnie Langbourgh
Treasurer Cynthia Toussaint
Registrar Linda Leong
Historian Phyllis Wilson
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Librarian Maj. Samantha Houston Gunn Cantrell
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Honorary Regents Debbie Siebert, Sheri O'Connell, Jo Porter,
Cindy Hays, Kay Elsassar, Karen Falkenstein, Marelen Taggart
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Members Serving DCDAR
DCDAR State Organizing Sec - Sheri O'Connell
National Committees
America 250! State Chair - Sheri O'Connell
American History State Chair - Ellen Schreiber
Community Service State Chair - Cynthia Tousaint
Literacy Promotion State Chair - Allison Ottenbreit
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State Committees
Archives State Chair - Debbie Siebert
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The content contained herein does not necessarily represent the position of the NSDAR. Hyperlinks to other sites are not the responsibility of the NSDAR, the state organizations, or individual DAR chapters. The DAR Insignia is the property of, and is copyrighted by, the National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution.
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OUR CHAPTER
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The Descendants of '76 Chapter, a member of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is comprised of a group of dynamic and interesting women who share an interest in community service and a dedication to patriotism. Our membership history includes one of the first female aviators in the U.S., a space shuttle astronaut, a United States Ambassador, and many other women with significant professional and personal accomplishments. We are the 2nd largest chapter in DCDAR. We enthusiastically welcome new members who bring their energy and ideas to our chapter. We are a multi generational chapter and we look forward to hearing from prospective members and hope that you can join us for a meeting!
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Chapter History
The Sarah St. Clair Chapter was organized on November 3, 1909. It was named in honor of Sarah St. Clair who was the great great grandmother of the man married to the founding regent. She was an American Revolutionary War patriot. On September 11, 1922, several members transferred to the Emily Nelson Chapter. The remaining members selected a new name, “Descendants of '76.”
Interesting Fact! On June 15, 1918, the chapter received into membership Julia Purcell Gray, a Real Daughter, whose father was a boyhood friend and neighbor of George Washington; he served under him in the American Revolution.
History of the Capitol Chapter
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The Capitol Chapter, NSDAR was organized on March 18, 1916, and celebrated its 50th anniversary at a luncheon in March 1966. The Capitol Chapter disbanded in June 1982, and nineteen members of the Capitol Chapter joined the Descendants of '76 Chapter. Descendants of '76 Honorary Chapter Regent Cindy Hays then organized the Capitol Chapter with several Descendants of '76 chapter members in 2013.
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GET INVOLVED
Projects - Freedom Petals
Descendants of '76, NSDAR, learned some flower arranging skills and recognized Vietnam retirees and brightened the faces of other residents at the Armed Forces Retirement Home (AFRH) in November.
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Chapter members made over 50 "Mug Arrangements" then distributed them to residents of the Armed Forces Retirement Home; this included visiting our own Edith Ellington, a 53 year DAR member and resident of the AFRH.
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District of Columbia Boundary Stones
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"The boundary stones are the oldest federal monuments. The Residence Act of July 16, 1790, as amended March 3, 1791, authorized President George Washington to select a 100-square-mile site for the national capital on the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia, and Williamsport, Maryland.
In 1915, the District of Columbia Chapter of the NSDAR, citing Woodward's work, "voluntarily assumed the responsibility of protecting the stones by erecting a tall iron fence around each one. For decades afterward, DAR members visited the stones periodically to perform routine maintenance. Despite care and attention, however, many of the stones fell on hard times during the mid 1900s. Several were repositioned, removed, lost, or buried during construction projects."*
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The DCDAR is active is preserving and restoring these historic landmarks.
*Boundary Stones of the District of Columbia

The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution
DESCENDANTS OF '76 DCDAR
VETERANS
Junior Members
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A Junior is a DAR member age 18 through 35 years of age (until her 36th birthday). She holds full membership in the National Society, state society, and chapter. When qualified, she may serve as an officer and chairman at all levels.
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Our Junior members have paged at NSDAR Continental Congress, participated in the Powtomack Ball and DCDAR junior events, including the Sweetheart and Patriots Ball benefiting veterans organizations.
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Our registrar can assist you with your new membership application or transfer of your National Society of the Children of the American Revolution (N.S.C.A.R.) membership.
JUNIORS / EDUCATION
HISTORIC PRESERVATION