New DAR chapter gets off the ground

From the Chinoook Obsersver: New DAR chapter gets off the ground

PACIFIC COUNTY — For many, tracing down their family’s roots farther back than two or three generations is a daunting challenge. But, if you manage to connect your ancestral line directly to a patriot of the American Revolutionary War, you could be eligible to join the new Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) chapter that is just getting started here on the Peninsula.

According to vice regent of the new local chapter, Mary Ellen Langridge, the group’s mission “is similar to maintaining the monuments and memories that represent WWII and the Vietnam War and to keep the memory of those guys and what they did for us. But we go back to the beginning of our roots, to help us remember where we came from.”

The National Society of DAR was founded in 1890 and is headquartered in Washington, D.C. They currently have 168,000 members in 3,000 chapters across the U.S. and internationally. Any woman, 18 or older, who can prove a direct lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution is eligible to join. The term patriot is not limited to just soldiers, but includes anyone who helped with the American cause for independence.

“DAR works to keep the traditions of remembering what people did for us, working towards saving important parts of our history and educating the people about our past,” Langridge says. “It’s a very patriotic organization honoring the people that have formed the roots of this country.”

While always interested in family genealogy, Langridge first got involved with DAR after discovering her personal connection with the American Revolution back in Virginia. Her great-great-great-grandfather John Shook, on her maternal side, served in the American army in the war. Ironically, at the same point in time, her father’s ancestors were on the other side of history. Living in the colonies and loyal to the Queen, they were put under house arrest. Langridge even has a letter sent to George Washington asking for their release. They eventually escaped and fled to Canada.

After being involved with a DAR chapter in Astoria, Langridge and others noticed there were a number of women from the Peninsula in the group and decided to start their own chapter over here. The group plans on doing work relevant to local history while also helping others find their connection to the birth of America. “A lot of it is just educating people about our history and how we came about,” says Langridge. They plan on honoring veterans and local history by maintaining gravestones and placing flags, educating people on how to properly care for and display the flag, and creating small exhibits such as one that explains the importance of the constitution. Langridge says, “The object basically is to perpetuate the memory and spirit of men and women who achieved American independence.”

The chapter is just getting started and had about 18 members at their last meeting, where they elected officers and got people started with applications. People who believe they have a connection to a patriot of the revolution can get help from the group organizing application materials for the national society.

As Langridge puts it, tracking your family’s roots is “just like a puzzle and you keep working your way back,” one piece of information at a time. “If people enjoy history and want to help perpetuate our beginning roots this is the place that you should be,” she says.