DAR Sets GUINNESS WORLD RECORD for Patriotism
Rhea-Craig Chapter Helps DAR
Collect 100,904 Hand-Written Letters, to Military Personnel in One Month
To celebrate the National
Society’s 125th Anniversary and the culmination of the Celebrate
America! volunteer service initiative, the DAR
channeled its fervor for patriotism and dedicated support of our nation’s
military service members toward an ambitious goal. During the week of the 125th
Continental Congress, held in June at DAR’s Washington,
D.C., headquarters, the organization set an
official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM title in patriotism for “most
letters to military personnel collected in one month.”
DAR
members possess an unwavering patriotic devotion that spans the organization’s
125-year history. During the past three years alone, Daughters have devoted more than 2.2 million hours of service
to veterans, honored more than 288,000 Vietnam War veterans, and donated
more than $250,000 in support of active duty service members and their
families. The GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM attempt served as a test:
Could the membership exceed its already high standards of support for our
military?
Achieving
this ambitious goal required the National Society to collect and then mail at
least 10,000 letters to active-duty service members. Daughters across the
country rallied in support of the effort. Members of RHEA-CRAIG CHAPTER DAR in SWEETWATER, TN contributed by
collecting 50 letters to add to the total. Many DAR members wrote personal
messages, but because individuals could write only one letter each, they also
enlisted help from their communities. Local
DAR members wrote letters and cards, collected letters and cards written by
local schoolchildren, coworkers, friends; by canvassing local residents outside
churches or stores; by asking local officials for help; etc. as appropriate).
As
dictated by the GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM guidelines, all letters had
to be handwritten, addressed to an active duty service member, placed inside a
stamped, unsealed envelope, and delivered in person to one of the designated
stations set up at DAR Headquarters. Chapter Regent
Carrie Ann Bright collected the chapter’s letters so they could be delivered to
Washington, D.C., and hand-delivered
them to a collection station. Letters of appreciation filled more and more
boxes as the week progressed and an official GUINNESS WORLD RECORDSTM
adjudicator arrived to conduct the verification process.
The
carefully tallied total was revealed at the National Defense Night ceremony on Saturday,
June 18, 2016.
As thousands in attendance waited to learn the outcome of the attempt, members
surprised them by carrying in box after box to give a visual representation of
how many letters were submitted. The adjudicator took the stage to announce the
results using a number tally on the big screen. Cheers increased as soon as the
number topped 10,000, but then the audience, including the night’s special
guests, Secretary of Veterans Affairs Robert McDonald and the USO President and
CEO, Dr. J.D. Crouch, all went wild when the tally surpassed 100,000. The DAR had collected 100,904 letters, more than 10 times the
minimum threshold needed to set the record for most letters to military
personnel collected in one month!
“Congratulations—you
are officially amazing!” the adjudicator proclaimed.
This
record-setting achievement provides the latest measure of the collective force
of the DAR’s appreciation for the United
States Military, while simultaneously fostering human connection between the
American people and those who defend our freedom. As devoted stewards of the
legacy of the Revolutionary War generation, Daughters feel equally compelled to
express appreciation for the valor,
sacrifice and commitment of today’s active-duty service members. Each letter
represents the support of a grateful nation, and RHEA-CRAIG CHATER is humbled
by the opportunity to assist in collecting these missives to the defenders of
our country.
By the end of
June, all 100,904 letters will be on the way to active-duty military personnel
serving both at home and abroad. May their handwritten messages of gratitude
and encouragement cheer the spirits of those who have raised their right hand and sworn to defend and protect the United States of America.
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About DAR
The National Society Daughters of
the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to preserve the memory and spirit
of those who contributed to securing American independence. Any woman 18 years
or older, regardless of race, religion, or ethnic background, who can prove
lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible for
membership.
DAR is one of the world’s
largest and most active service organizations with nearly 183,000 members in
approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide. These members passionately carry out
the timeless mission of promoting historic preservation, education and
patriotism. To learn more about the work of today’s
DAR,
visit
www.dar.org.
