What the SAR Means
to Me: Some quotes from prominent SAR members.
History of the SAR
The Sons of the American Revolution
was incorporated on January 17, 1890, in Connecticut and later chartered
by the United States Congress on June 9, 1906. Prior to this date a number
of state societies were formed in the 1880's. These were led by The Sons
of Revolutionary Sires organized July 4, 1876, in San Francisco. The first
Congress of the National Society was held in Louisville, Kentucky on April
30, 1890, which was the 100th anniversary of George Washington's taking
the oath of office of President of the United States.
The SAR has more than 25,000 living members from all 50
states and 23 foreign countries.
Throughout its 116-year history, SAR has admitted more than 155,000
members. Among them are 16 Presidents
of the United States, including George W. Bush and his father George H.
W. Bush, Jimmy Carter,
Dwight D. Eisenhower, Harry Truman and Theodore Roosevelt. SAR also has
had among its members
Sir Winston Churchill and King Juan Carlos I of Spain, both of whom
trace their ancestry to
Revolutionary War patriots.
The National Society of the Sons
of the American Revolution celebrated its centennial and the bicentennial
of Washington's becoming President on April 30, 1990.
The purposes of the Sons of the
American Revolution are patriotic, historical and educational. This includes:
- Perpetuating the memory of Revolutionary
War Patriots.
- Promoting fellowship among their
descendants.
- Inspiring the community with
a reverence for the principles of government founded by our forefathers.
- Encouraging historical research
of the American Revolution.
- Preserving the records of Revolutionary
War Patriots.
- Marking the locations of the
Revolution events and its soldiers.
- Celebrating anniversaries of
the Revolution.
- Fostering true patriotism.
- Maintaining and extending institutions
of American freedom.
- Carrying out the purposes of
the Preamble of the Constitution.
- Following the injunctions of
Washington's farewell address to the American people.
The National
Headquarters is located in Louisville, Kentucky. There are 50 state
societies including the District of Columbia. There are also societies
in France, the United Kingdom, Canada, Germany and Switzerland. The current
membership is approximately 26,000 active members.
What we do:
- Honor individuals for outstanding
and unusual patriotic achievement on a national, regional and local
level.
- Honor persons for outstanding
bravery and self sacrifice in the face of imminent danger.
- Honor members of the United
States Congress for outstanding service to the nation.
- Honor outstanding high school
students annually with the presentation of a Good Citizenship Award.
- Honor outstanding Junior and
Senior ROTC cadets annually with the presentation of the ROTC Award.
- Honor Law Enforcement officials
for outstanding service with a Law Enforcement Award.
- Select an outstanding Eagle
Scout annually at the branch, state and national level. The national
winner receives a college scholarship.
- Honor an outstanding student
for winning the Knight Essay Contest.
- Assist veterans in Veterans
Hospitals.
- Conduct a national historical
orations contest annually.
- Sponsor Boy Scout troops and
chapters of the Children of the American Revolution.
- Place SAR Markers at the grave
sites of Revolutionary War Patriots and SAR Members.
- Commemorate Revolutionary War
Patriots with appropriate ceremonies.
- Participate in new citizenship
swearing-in ceremonies.
- Observe patriotic anniversaries.
- Cooperate with the
National Society of the Daughters of the
American Revolution,
Children of the American Revolution
and
other hereditary organizations
in the promotion of patriotism.