I think those men and women who want to join either SAR or DAR should be encouraged, but for some members --who I'm sure do not speak for either organization-- to suggest it's a necessary step for anyone who truly loves this country is a bit inclusive, naive, and, in my own opinion, un-American; surely not the goal any of us have in mind. It's when DAR members suggest that they are honoring their ancestors by joining DAR, that they lose me. One woman wrote recently that she joined DAR for her ancestor, not herself, but if that were the case, why is it difficult to learn about her ancestor and all the others recognized by DAR, through DAR? Just where is her ancestor being honored? Surely, planting a flag in a cemetery on Vet's Day, while an honorable thing to do, is not enough. Why, if I were to enter his name in a google search, the odds are that I would not learn anything about him, unless his pension application was included online in Heritage Quest, etc. OR if someone outside of DAR published his bio online? What does DAR do to honor him? I realize this sounds sarcastic, but it's meant as a serious question. Have I missed something that DAR has made available publically that honors individual RWV's? Many genealogists --DAR members and others-- feel that by publishing information about their ancestors online, they can not only honor their RWV, but "share" with other descendants who may not otherwise learn about their family's contribution. And how about the mail list-mother for Botetourt Co. VA, who is publishing all of the pension apps of RWV's she can find for those from that county? She may or may not be a DAR member, but surely her action comes as closer to honoring country and the men who helped build it as taking pride in being a member of any association. Joanne --------------------------------- Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now.

In Washington D.C. is the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier. He was not a Revolutionary War soldier. Many, many RW participants are unknown patriots and soldiers. 1. Not all Revolutionary War soldiers and patriots are on the DAR lists. 2. Not all Revolutionary War soldiers received pensions nor applied for them. 3. Many served in local militias that were formed for a local battle. Rarely do rosters exist for these men and only by hard research are their partipation records located. 4. During the War of 1812 the British destroyed many Revolutionary War Records in Washington, especially the naval records. 5. Many or most are lying in unmarked graves. They did not have body-bags in those days. No DNA testing to identify body parts either. Hence, we honor them when we search the facts and do the hard paperwork and have them added to the DAR or SAR rolls. They won a war that created the United States of America. There is a Viet Nam Honor Wall in D.C. There are battlefields and cemeteries for the Civil War dead. There are cemeteries in Europe where the dead Americans of World War I and II are memoralized. There are NO such places for the men and women who gave their lives, their goods and services for the Revolutionary War. The DAR and SAR are the only organizations available where a patriot's records are archived and maintained for those who want to honor their ancestors by having their war efforts recognized. And yes, I work on their history and prove my lineage in order to Honor them, not myself. When I am dead, they will live on....because they ARE recorded in the rolls of the DAR or SAR. Anyone read a good Revolutionary War history lately? Just finished "Washington's Spies" by Alexander Ross. Good read! If you want to get into the horror of the events try the 4 volume series: "Nothing but Blood and Slaughter" by Patrick O'Kelley. This series will enlighten those who think that the RW was a picnic. The swamps of South Carolina hold the lost remains of many, many a man who never was buried nor received a grave stone. The DAR and SAR will place a memorial marker for these men wherever they may be buried. I haven't asked what they do about those who died in the swamps. I wonder why some folks do not understand the concept of Honor? Tree Mother "She is insane, of course. The family history has become a mania for her." Hercule Poirot http://www.FrontPorchRockerNews.blogspot.com "Truth and reason are eternal. They have prevailed. And they will eternally prevail; however, in times and places they may be overborne for a while by violence, military, civil, or ecclesiastical." --Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson, 1810 ----- Original Message ----- From: "qvarizona" <qvarizona@yahoo.com> To: <american-revolution@rootsweb.com> Sent: Friday, December 08, 2006 10:26 AM Subject: Re: [AMERICAN-REVOLUTION] DAR/SAR > I think those men and women who want to join either SAR or DAR should be > encouraged, but for some members --who I'm sure do not speak for either > organization-- to suggest it's a necessary step for anyone who truly loves > this country is a bit inclusive, naive, and, in my own opinion, > un-American; surely not the goal any of us have in mind. > > It's when DAR members suggest that they are honoring their ancestors by > joining DAR, that they lose me. One woman wrote recently that she joined > DAR for her ancestor, not herself, but if that were the case, why is it > difficult to learn about her ancestor and all the others recognized by > DAR, through DAR? Just where is her ancestor being honored? Surely, > planting a flag in a cemetery on Vet's Day, while an honorable thing to > do, is not enough. Why, if I were to enter his name in a google search, > the odds are that I would not learn anything about him, unless his > pension application was included online in Heritage > > > Quest, etc. OR if someone outside of DAR published his bio online? What > does DAR do to honor him? I realize this sounds sarcastic, but it's meant > as a serious question. Have I missed something that DAR has made > available publically that honors individual RWV's? > > Many genealogists --DAR members and others-- feel that by publishing > information about their ancestors online, they can not only > honor their RWV, but "share" with other descendants who may not otherwise > learn about their family's contribution. And how > about the mail list-mother for Botetourt Co. VA, who is publishing all of > the pension apps > of RWV's she can find for those from that county? She may or may not > be a DAR member, but surely her action comes as closer to honoring country > and the men who helped build it as taking pride in being a member of any > association. > > > Joanne > > > > > > --------------------------------- > Any questions? Get answers on any topic at Yahoo! Answers. Try it now. > List Mom for the AMERICAN-REVOLUTION mailing list: > Diana Boothe philsbarbie1@arkansasfamilies.net > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > > We have archives! Search for your AMERICAN-REVOLUTION information > here..... > http://listsearches.rootsweb.com/cgi-bin/listsearch.pl?list=AMERICAN-REVOLUTION > > ------------------------------------------------------------------------ > Check out other genealogy resources on the net at John Fuller's most > helpful site http://www.rootsweb.com/~jfuller/gen_mail.html > ------------------------------- > To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to > AMERICAN-REVOLUTION-request@rootsweb.com with the word 'unsubscribe' > without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message >