On June 6, 2013, at the historic Mac Arthur Museum of Arkansas Military History, I had the privilege of attending a celebration of a lifetime. The 100th Centennial Celebration Gilbert Marshall Chapter’s Daughters of the American Revolution in Little Rock, Arkansas. Now, you may be asking yourself, “What is the DAR? Who on earth is this Gilbert Marshall? What is so extraordinary about this 100th celebration? Well, I’ll tell you what is so fantastical about this particular celebration.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded on October 11, 1890, during a time that was marked by a revival in patriotism and intense interest in the beginnings of the United States of America. Women felt the desire to express their patriotic feelings and were frustrated by their exclusion from men's organizations formed to perpetuate the memory of ancestors who fought to make this country free and independent. As a result, a group of pioneering women in the nation's capital formed their own organization and the Daughters of the American Revolution has carried the torch of patriotism ever since.



The objectives laid forth in the first meeting of the DAR have remained the same in over 100 years of active service to the nation. Those objectives are: Historical - to perpetuate the memory and spirit of the men and women who achieved American Independence; Educational - to carry out the injunction of Washington in his farewell address to the American people, "to promote, as an object of primary importance, institutions for the general diffusion of knowledge, thus developing an enlightened public opinion…"; and Patriotic - to cherish, maintain, and extend the institutions of American freedom, to foster true patriotism and love of country, and to aid in securing for mankind all the blessings of liberty. Since, its founding in 1890, DAR has admitted more than 800,000 members.

The DAR is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women's service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America's future through better education for children. DAR members volunteer more than 250,000 hours annually to veteran patients, award thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and support schools for underserved children with annual donations exceeding one million dollars.

As one of the most inclusive genealogical societies in the country, DAR boasts 170,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the United States and internationally. 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.

My chapter name, Gilbert Marshall, was chosen to honor the ancestor of the Organizing Regent, Mrs. Thomas Dwight Crawford. Gilbert Marshall of Albermarle County, Virginia was the father of John Marshall, 20, who entered the Revolution on April 11, 1776, as an Ensign in Colonel Samuel Miles' Pennsylvania Militia, and retired as Captain in 1783.

This particular celebration was extraordinary not only because it was our 100th Centennial Celebration, all of the women in the DAR in Arkansas and around the United States came to this event. It’s not every day your chapter, anything really, turns 100…it calls for a celebration.



What better way to celebrate 100 years than having a variety of assorted patriotic cakes? Exactly, there is no other way to celebrate. White cake, chocolate, butter cream, Italian, lemon curd as far as the eye could see. How was I to choose which cake to eat? Simple, sample them all. Of course, I didn’t…I surely tried, though. In the midst of this beautiful reception were the melodious tunes of Ragtime, Jazz, Patriotic songs of the past and present echoing throughout the halls of the museum from the piano played by our very own, Euloise Bethea. In ever room you were greeted by one of our members, perhaps in a themed costume from a particular decade. Oh yes, we went all out…with decadent and delicious cakes to themed costumes from our history past (June 6,1913-June 6, 2013)






The service for the 100th Centennial Celebration commenced at 5:00 pm, beginning with the presentation of colors from Central High School’s Jr. ROTC. Followed by singing the National Anthem(Star Spangled Banner), which I had the honor singing.


In this very moment, I was overwhelmed with joy and honor to have the privilege to be a part of this Society and the opportunity to share this celebration with these incredible women.