How quickly time goes!

Holly and Suzanne at the Daughters of 1812 House

            We have been here a little over a week and everyone is enjoying doing their own thing. Holly and I came to attend the DAR Continental Congress and to do genealogy research in their extensive research library. Please visit their web site www.dar.org/ if you want to learn more about the organization and its programs and read about the events at Continental Congress. I found four more families to research – Lane, Griswold, Dean, and Phelps – so that has been fun and interesting.

President Lincoln's Cottage in Washington DC

              Our husbands have spent the week looking for hidden corners to visit. They went to President Lincoln’s cabin, the Naval Observatory (only open afternoons), the American History Museum, Octagon House (headquarters for AIA), walking tour of Alexandria, the old post office building (turning into another Trump Tower), Navy Memorial, National Gallery of Art (highly recommend their cafeteria), Union Station, Post Office Museum, Air and Space Museum in addition to driving all over and looking at monuments and scenery from the car.

            Samantha has spent her time with us at Congress where she is a page. She has to be all dressed in white and help with whatever is needed to keep things running smoothly. Or she has gone with the men to enjoy sightseeing.

We all went to 3 evening events. Opening night was on Wednesday. That night is mostly taken up with pageantry and music. Thursday night was education night and we met the winners of several awards that DAR gives. This includes the winner of the American History Essay Contest, the DAR Good Citizen award, Outstanding Junior Member, Outstanding Teacher of American History, and new this year was the Excellence in American History Book Award. This was given to Andrew Jackson O’Shaughnessy for his book “The Men Who Lost America” – a look at the American Revolution from the British side.

            Tonight was our last night and we heard some moving and inspiring speeches from winners of the Margaret Cochran Corbin Award (distinguished woman in military service), the DAR Medal of Honor, DAR Media & Entertainment Award (Unsung Heroes a documentary about America’s female patriots-go look for it), the Founders medal for Patriotism to J.R. Martinez, Army nurse of the year award, and three awards for volunteer service to veterans