DAR chapter celebrates 75 years
ANDREW HARP THE NEWS-ENTERPRISE
The Daughters of the American Revolution is an organization comprised of women who are able to trace their lineage to patriots of the American Revolutionary War.
Although founded in 1890, Hardin County’s own DAR chapter is celebrating 75 years of existence.
Joyce Miller joined the chapter in 2011 and also served as the chapter’s regent from 2016 to 2019. Miller said the organization encourages the preservation of history, education and patriotism.
The chapter, properly named the Captain Jacob Van Meter Chapter, who was a well-known Hardin County pioneer and family, was founded on Jan. 10, 1947.
The chapter currently has 95 members, and they meet eight times a year at the Brown-Pusey House in Elizabethtown.
Protentional members have to provide birth and death certificates for the three last generations of one’s family, with then additional documentation to show that the lineage goes back to someone from the American Revolutionary War.
Miller said some cases are more difficult than others to prove.
She also said research has been hard during the pandemic since many sources and establishments have been closed or have had limited hours.
However, with the internet and computers, she said it’s now easier than ever to find documentation.
She said when she and her sister were younger, they became interested in their ancestry and would look at microfilm in the library. With the internet, it opened them to more documentation.
Since joining DAR, Miller is now the state registrar for the Kentucky Society Daughters of the American Revolutionary War. She helps people throughout the state find documentation to become a member.
“I’ve found that I can be just as excited about helping someone else work on their family history,” she said.
Miller said the chapter has had several projects the past few years, including contributing to the Hindman Settlement School dyslexia summer camp program.
She also said they like to honor veterans through different ceremonies and sending supplies to active duty military overseas. A recent project was the dedication of the American Revolution Patriots Memorial at Freeman Lake Park in May 2021. She said more than 300 people attended the event.
The chapter also has a student essay contest on American history, and they’re involved in schools, including providing materials for Constitution week.
Another project that was recently created was the Van Meter Fort Children of the American Revolution last September. Miller said 26 children are in the chapter, and have been involved in cleaning tombstones at the veteran cemetery and marching in the last Lincoln Day Parade, among other activities.
This upcoming summer, six members will attend the Continental Congress in Washington D.C., and they’ll be able to go to the DAR library to do research and plan programs.
Miller said those interested in DAR and possibly join can reach out to her at joyceleemiller@gmail.com.
Andrew Harp can be reached at 270-505-1414 or aharp@thenewsenterprise.com.