The Washington-Lewis Chapter, NSDAR Upcoming Events
America250 is the nationwide commemoration of America’s 250th anniversary led by the U.S. Semi-quincentennial Commission. NSDAR was the first heritage society to formally partner with America250. Their agreement outlines a number of initiatives developed by the DAR to honor Revolutionary War Patriots, engage youth through contests and educational programming, and support efforts to better tell the story of underrepresented and diverse Patriots who helped to win the American War of Independence. The Washington-Lewis Chapter plans to leave a lasting impact on our community through meaningful local projects and events during this anniversary.
Washington-Lewis’s efforts have included various activities and events. We received an America250 grant to place a historical marker at the monument to Mary Washington, “the mother of the father of our country.” The Mary Washington Monument holds the distinction as the first monument in the United States funded by women to honor a woman. The first resolution, in 1890, of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was a pledge to complete the monument. We met this goal in October of 2023.
Education about the American Revolution
In 2024, as part of the mandate from the National Society’s America 250! Special Committee, the Washington Lewis Chapter (WL-DAR) began to feature Educational Posts about the American Revolution on our Facebook page. The posts, which highlight national (America 250), state (VA250) and local (FXBG250) topics, will continue through July 4, 2026 – when our nation celebrates its 250th anniversary.
Honoring Revolutionary War Patriots
The 2026 Our Hearts Sparkle project will honor Revolutionary War Patriots. These Patriots will be showcased in the windows of FXBG Downtown businesses. In addition to Patriots from our own Washington-Lewis sisters, we will include Patriots shared by local DAR and SAR and C.A.R. Chapters, and the general public.
Telling the Story of Underrepresented and Diverse Patriots
Part of our America250 project includes hosting a series of Genealogy Workshops. Two will highlight unique genealogical resources for those in our African American and American Indian communities. Our goal is to help local residents identify underrepresented and diverse Patriots to showcase during SPARKLE as well as to increase enthusiasm in genealogy and interest in joining NSDAR and NSSAR.
Our partner the Central Rappahannock Regional Library (CRRL) is registering attendees and hosting each workshop. They, along with WL-DAR and our partners Colonel Fielding Lewis Chapter, SAR, Fredericksburg Regional Genealogy Society and Virginia DAR District IX, will present a total of seven workshops. These workshops are presented in memory of John Frederick Dorman, III, 1928-2021, who ranks among the most influential genealogists of his generation.
The following workshops will be held from 9:30am – 12:00pm:
• Saturday, October 4th African American community
• Saturday, November 1st American Indian community
• Saturday, December 6th Research Assistance – workshop attendees
• Saturday, January 3rd Middle and High School Students Register Here
Engaging Youth
This is an exciting part of our America250 project: A Revolutionary Art Contest will be held for area youth that culminates in a Gallery Opening on February 6th (First Friday in Fredericksburg). The art will be displayed all month in the atrium of the CRRL, Fredericksburg Branch. Additionally, the Surgeon Lawrence Brooke Society Children of the American Revolution will share their 2025 C.A.R. Patriot Projects with us to showcase during the February 2026 SPARKLE event.
For more information please contact:
America250 Chair, Kim Harmon at kimrheah@hotmail.com or
Co-Chair, Andrea Kenny at andrea.wldar@gmail.com