Nearly 5,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution convened last week in Washington, D.C., for the organization’s 135th Continental Congress. The week-long convention at the national headquarters included business sessions, committee meetings, service projects, and formal evening ceremonies honoring national award recipients.
The opening night ceremony took place on Wednesday, June 24, 2026, at DAR Constitution Hall. The event focused on the various ways members are commemorating the 250th anniversary of the United States through community events and traveling exhibitions.
During the initial presentations, the organization announced a $1 million donation to the George Washington Foundation. The perpetual endowment will fund the salary and benefits for a newly established director of education position.
Several national honors were distributed during the evening sessions. The PBS documentary team behind “The American Revolution” received the DAR Media and Entertainment Award, while filmmaker Ken Burns was awarded the DAR Medal of Honor. The Founders Medal for Patriotism went to Derric Johnson, and the American Eagle Foundation received the President General’s Medallion following a live flight demonstration by a bald eagle named Lincoln.
Subsequent evening programs focused on educational achievements and national defense. Student awards were presented for the American History Essay Contest, and Dr. Karl McCarty was named the 2026 Outstanding Teacher of American History.
The final weekend ceremonies included a 25th anniversary commemoration of September 11, 2001, with the President General’s Medallion presented to the 9/11 Memorial and Museum alongside several emergency response organizations. Retired U.S. Army Colonel Marilyn Wills received the Founders Medal for Heroism for her evacuation efforts at the Pentagon, and retired U.S. Air Force Colonel Nicole Malachowski received the Margaret Cochran Corbin Award.
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