Honoring the past, serving the future
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MISSION VALLEY — When Bonnie Huber became a member of the Daughters of the American Revolution on Dec. 7, 2002, she knew she was making a commitment.
Not only was she committing herself to an organization whose members volunteer more than 250,000 hours annually to veteran patients, awards thousands of dollars in scholarships and financial aid each year to students, and makes annual donations exceeding $1 million; she was dedicating the almost two-hour roundtrip drive from her Mission Valley home to the nearest chapter in Missoula.
“I would always invite women to go with me,” Huber recalled of trying to gain more members. “It’s a natural step to organize here; it’s close.”
The DAR is a nonprofit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization that dedicates itself to promoting patriotism, preserving history and securing better education for children.
The organization was founded Oct. 11, 1890, and has 170,000 members and 3,000 chapters in all 50 states, in addition to several international chapters in Australia, Austria, Bahamas, Bermuda, Canada, France, Germany, Japan, Mexico, Spain and the United Kingdom. More than 890,000 women have joined the DAR since it was founded.
There are currently 11 DAR chapters in Montana, with the closest ones to the Mission Valley in Missoula and Kalispell.
Huber thought a potential DAR chapter in the Mission Valley could aid members-at-large, like herself, to localize their efforts, and recruit more women to their cause.
“I’ve always been joshed to start a chapter in this area,” said Huber. “I thought it would be fun to see what would happen.”
And what happened was that a number of interested women have showed up to the last three meetings.
“It’s just amazing the ladies that are coming to put their information to become a member,” said Huber, an organizing regent.
In order to become members, women, no matter their race, religion or ethnic background, have to prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution.
Huber said this process is daunting and makes the DAR one of the most exclusive genealogical societies in the country.
“They check everything on that application,” Huber said of the four genealogists who review the information. In fact, the DAR National Headquarters in Washington, D.C., encompasses an entire downtown city block and houses one of the nation’s premier genealogical libraries.
Huber’s tie to the American Revolution was her ancestor Samuel Mower from Massachusetts. Huber said Mower was one of the people who signed the loyalist protest against King George in 1774.
The Mission Valley chapter, which has not selected a name yet, is in the organizing chapter status. They currently have six members-at-large and eight interested applicants in the genealogical process. Twelve members are needed to form a chapter. After a year, members are considered charter members.
“I want to become a member to honor my ancestors that were in the American Revolution,” said St. Ignatius resident Carolyn Corey. Her ancestor was William Corey, a soldier for five years in the American Revolutionary War about eight generations back. “I (also) like the idea of encouraging young people to become interested in the history of the country.”
The organizing chapter is currently planning a visit on April 17 from Montana State Regent Peggy Bennett Salitros. Interested women can contact Huber at 745-3118 for more information.
