Society Saturday - Continental Congress

Once again, thousands of patriotic women converge on Washington DC at the end of June for the annual meeting of the Daughters of the American Revolution.  Unfortunately, I was only able to attend for 3 days, but it was fun anyway.

This is the 123rd Continental Congress of this organization that is nearing its 125th birthday.

Opening night had the usual long procession of pages, flags, and National Officers to the sounds of the US Marine Corps band.  At the end of the procession, a large flag drops from the ceiling of Constitution Hall.

The keynote speaker for the evening was Alexander Rose.  He is the author of "Washington's Spies: The Story of America's First Spy Ring".  He gave an entertaining talk about some of his research into the Culper spy ring.  If this sounds familiar, his book forms the basis for the TV show "Turn" about the Culper Spy Ring.  Following Mr. Rose's talk, the executive producer of "Turn", Barry Josephson, accepted the DAR Media Award.

The next day, we attended the Units Overseas Luncheon.  Since my daughter is an organizing member of the Mariana Islands Chapter in Guam, and none of their regular members were able to attend, we always help them out with their sales at the International Bazaar.

Society Saturday - 122nd DAR Continental Congress

The annual Daughters of the American Revolution meeting begins with Opening Night.  I had a unique perspective because I was seated on the platform as a presiding officer of another lineage organization. 

 

The evening begins with a concert by the President's Own Marine Band.  They, of course, play Sousa marches and other patriotic tunes.

After all the flags of all the states, and foreign countries where DAR has a chapter are carried in, the National Officers process in.  This is followed by a dramatic unfurling of a large American Flag from the ceiling.

 

The next day, I was at the Units Overseas Luncheon.  I was representing my daughter's chapter in Guam - the Mariana Islands chapter.  Because they are over 8000 miles away, it is difficult for any of them to attend, so I read their report and sold some items as fundraisers for them.

Society Saturday - Embracing the Unknown

Just before the start of the Daughters of American Revolution Continental Congress is the Illinois Supper.  This is always a well attended event.  Our speaker this year was Dr. Sandra Magnus.  Dr. Magnus is the Executive Director of the National Institute for Aeronautics and Astronautics.  She traveled on several space shuttle missions and lived aboard the international space station for 4 months. 

Dr. Magnus gave a very interesting speech summarizing some of her experiences.  She talked about how what we think we know may not be how it really is.  One example that she gave was about gravity.  On her first shuttle mission, she expected to deal with weightlessness after liftoff, but the true experience was not as expected.  Similar examples about re-experiencing gravity when whe came back to earth.  After spending months in space, she learned that her body had forgotten how to jump.  In her words, "If you don't use it, you will lose it".

 

All in all, she kept emphasizing that we should "Embrace the Unknown - Don't let the fear of the unknown keep you from learning something new"

This was a good start to the 122nd Annual Continental Congress.