Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter Begins Preparations for the Nation's 250th Anniversary Celebration
As Libertyville prepares to celebrate Independence Day, the Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter is pleased to announce that planning for the 250th anniversary of the United States in July 2026 has already begun. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will play a significant role in the planning process due to the recent appointment of Lynn Forney Young, DAR Honorary President General, to a prestigious national commission created to plan celebrations and commemorations surrounding the anniversary.
The United States Semiquincentennial Commission, established in July 2016, assumes the task of facilitating nationwide plans to observe the historic occasion. Over the next nine years, this body will play a central role in shaping the anniversary narrative on a national level. Eight members of Congress, 16 private citizens and nine federal officials comprise the committee roster.
The Libertyville community and surrounding areas can get involved in this national commemoration by working with the Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter to generate ideas about how to celebrate, both locally and nationally. Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter can relay promising, nationally relevant suggestions to Commissioner Young, who in turn can pass them on to the Commission, which is tasked with presenting a proposal to the President and Congress by July 2018.
"On behalf of the 185,000 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution, we are honored to have a DAR representative serve on this important commission," said Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter Regent Diane Eubanks. "We look forward to celebrating our nation's incredible history and fostering a renewed appreciation for all of the Americans who founded our nation and ensured its progress through the generations."
The Daughters of the American Revolution, a longtime champion of historic preservation, education and patriotism, is honored to be represented on a prestigious committee with a mission so closely aligned with its own. The more than 950,000 women who have joined the nonprofit organization since its founding in 1890 have worked to preserve historic places, documents and artifacts; to foster an understanding of our nation's past in schoolchildren, new citizens and everyday Americans; and to support the service members and veterans who sacrificed to safeguard our freedoms.
Here in Libertyville, the Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter has worked on community enrichment projects and initiatives for 40 years, such as Honor Flights, Revolutionary Grave sites, and Youth Scholarships.
In the years to come, Ansel Brainerd Cook DAR Chapter DAR Chapter looks forward to working with local organizations and neighbors to help Libertyville commemorate this momentous United States' milestone.
The 250th anniversary of the United States also presents the perfect opportunity for interested women to honor their family members' Revolutionary War service by joining the Daughters of the American Revolution. Documenting and reflecting upon an ancestor's role in the fight for American independence will impart a deeper, more personal level of significance to the upcoming celebration. If you are interested in learning more about your family history but are not an expert in genealogical research, don't worry! Local DAR members can help prospective members research their family history.
Through DAR membership, women can not only strengthen their bond with their ancestors, but also forge new connections to fellow DAR members. The benefits of belonging to a community of women who express pride and gratitude for their shared heritage through a commitment to meaningful public service are limited only by members' boundless imaginations.
To learn more about DAR membership and upcoming events visit, please contact abc4dar@gmail.com.