In a message dated 12/7/2006 7:30:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, DaveReed@midmaine.com writes: I thougth about joining SAR, but, I couldn't really find any real reason to...it doesn't seem that they "do" anything, and that membership is pretty expensive considering it doesn't "mean" anything... (If someone can provide good reason to join, let me know!) Today is the 65th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. If you don't think that means anything, then you should not join SAR or DAR. If you care about promoting patriotism and education and preserving our heritage, then you should join SAR or DAR and get everyone you know to join also. You said that SAR was expensive. Freedom is not free. What is this country worth? As the commercial says -- It is priceless! If you would like to know some of the MANY great things that DAR does, go to _www.dar.org_ (http://www.dar.org) . Look around that website, and you will be amazed. There are links to click across the top and all over the site. If you would like to know some of the MANY great things that SAR does, go to _Sons of the American Revolution_ (http://www.sar.org/) SAR and DAR are very similar, and there are many joint activities and project which include both organizations. If you are interested in joining, there are links to click to have someone from the local chapter contact you. There are also people to help you with the application process. Military service of your ancestor is not a requirement for joining. The person must have "aided the cause of American independence" either with military, patriotic or civil service. There were also some women who are classified as Patriots -- in fact I have female Revolutionary ancestors. If the person was born before 1776 and breathing at any time between 1775 and 1783, he or she may have some type of Revolutionary service. If they were breathing, they were never too old. One of my ancestors was 90 when he signed an Oath of Allegiance in NC. If there is a DAR or SAR chapter in your town that does not DO anything, then that means you need to get in there and help them with all the work there is to do. Phyllis in GA

Good Morning, I had previously replied to this post privately, but since the posters post to me went public, I thought it best to make my response public as well. It is exactly as sent to the poster, with some minor information redacted. ---snip--- I felt it was clear from the phrasing of my question that my outsiders opinion of SAR (and not DAR, which I know is active), is that they don't seem to "do" anything, they don't seem to be an active group, except in that they seem to be willing to accept membership funds. I've never even heard of SAR until a few months ago (I grew up knowing about DAR). I've looked at the list of "activities" for our local SAR chapter. They marched in a parade for the opening of a new bridge a few months ago. (I was there, I saw them). But I haven't seen them "do" anything. I haven't seen a SAR group cleaning a cemetery, doing educational speeches at schools, of doing any civic-projects. It's not to say they don't, but, I haven't seen it. Second, if they are in fact based on "God, Home, and Country", and if in fact a requirement in a belief in God is part of their code, I don't want to be a member. I'm an atheist, and proud of that. My ancestors were Presbyterians, and that's fine for them. But I am not. Atheists and agnostics are the second-largest "religious" group in the United States (second Roman Catholics), and this is according to the 2000 United Churches own reports (I looked it up at the local library myself in their own publications). I think the most dangerous thing inside this country are zealots with closed minds. We are a far bigger danger to ourselves than any perceived danger from foreign nationals, foreign nations, and other cultures. If "preserving our heritage" means eliminating the heritage of others, it's not worth preserving. DAR is, I think a wonderful organization who does many wonderful things. SAR, on the other hand, doesn't seem to be doing very much. Especially in my area. If I'm going to have to pay handsomely for the privilege of joining, I want to know that that money does something more than puts me on a list and gets me a newsletter. I want it to do some good. One of my family members, was, in fact, a DAR State Regent. She died in '53, but, I am hopefully building on her wonderful work. I work for a firm that is Veteran-owned, my boss and the owner are both former Marines, both of them with multiple combat tours. My employers firm does high-tech research for various agencies of the Federal government, and I am proud and pleased to work for a firm that is developing technology that will have a very real and very direct application, helping to keep our military and civilian population safe from threats. I served as a volunteer for the US Army Recruiting group for four years. I have several dozen ancestors who have served in every conflict from the French and Indian War to Vietnam (my uncle) and Iraq (cousin). I say this, because I don't have to go to church on Sunday to be a proud American patriot, or for our family to have paid for its share of our freedoms with our own blood. I would be proud to be a productive member of SAR. If they, in fact, are a productive group, like DAR is. I'm just not going to pay large fees just to have my name on a list and get an occasional newsletter. -David ---snip--- -----Original Message----- From: american-revolution-bounces@rootsweb.com [mailto:american-revolution-bounces@rootsweb.com] On Behalf Of PmpGenie@aol.com Sent: Thursday, December 07, 2006 6:52 PM To: american-revolution@rootsweb.com Subject: Re: [AMERICAN-REVOLUTION] DAR and SAR In a message dated 12/7/2006 7:30:51 A.M. Eastern Standard Time, DaveReed@midmaine.com writes: I thougth about joining SAR, but, I couldn't really find any real reason to...it doesn't seem that they "do" anything, and that membership is pretty expensive considering it doesn't "mean" anything... (If someone can provide good reason to join, let me know!) Today is the 65th Anniversary of Pearl Harbor. If you don't think that means anything, then you should not join SAR or DAR. If you care about promoting patriotism and education and preserving our heritage, then you should join SAR or DAR and get everyone you know to join also. You said that SAR was expensive. Freedom is not free. What is this country worth? As the commercial says -- It is priceless! If you would like to know some of the MANY great things that DAR does, go to _www.dar.org_ (http://www.dar.org) . Look around that website, and you will be amazed. There are links to click across the top and all over the site. If you would like to know some of the MANY great things that SAR does, go to _Sons of the American Revolution_ (http://www.sar.org/) SAR and DAR are very similar, and there are many joint activities and project which include both organizations. If you are interested in joining, there are links to click to have someone from the local chapter contact you. There are also people to help you with the application process. Military service of your ancestor is not a requirement for joining. The person must have "aided the cause of American independence" either with military, patriotic or civil service. There were also some women who are classified as Patriots -- in fact I have female Revolutionary ancestors. If the person was born before 1776 and breathing at any time between 1775 and 1783, he or she may have some type of Revolutionary service. If they were breathing, they were never too old. One of my ancestors was 90 when he signed an Oath of Allegiance in NC. If there is a DAR or SAR chapter in your town that does not DO anything, then that means you need to get in there and help them with all the work there is to do. Phyllis in GA 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-REVOLUT ION ------------------------------------------------------------------------ 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

>Freedom is not free. Actually, freedom -- like grace -- is free. The Declaration of Independence says so: "...they are endowed, by their Creator, with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness...." It's world domination that is so blasted expensive. Mark