To celebrate the National Society’s 125th Anniversary and the culmination of the Celebrate America! volunteer service initiative, the Daughters of the American Revolution channeled its fervor for patriotism and dedicated support of our nation’s military service members toward an ambitious goal.
During the week of the 125th Continental Congress, held in June at DAR’s Washington, D.C., headquarters, the organization set an official Guinness World Records title in patriotism for “most letters to military personnel collected in one month.”
Achieving this ambitious goal required the National Society to collect and then mail at least 10,000 letters to active-duty service members. Daughters across the country rallied in support of the effort. Many DAR members wrote personal messages, but because individuals could write only one letter each, they also enlisted help from their communities.
As dictated by the Guinness World Records guidelines, all letters had to be handwritten, addressed to an active duty service member, placed inside a stamped, unsealed envelope, and delivered in person to one of the designated stations set up at DAR Headquarters.
In total, the DAR collected 100,904 letters, more than 10 times the minimum threshold needed to set the record for most letters to military personnel collected in one month!
This record-setting achievement provides the latest measure of the collective force of the DAR’s appreciation for the United States Military, while simultaneously fostering human connection between the American people and those who defend our freedom.
As devoted stewards of the legacy of the Revolutionary War generation, Daughters feel equally compelled to express appreciation for the valor, sacrifice and commitment of today’s active-duty service members. Each letter represents the support of a grateful nation, and Ripley-Lieutenant Byrd Chapter is humbled by the opportunity to assist in collecting these missives to the defenders of our country.
By the end of June, all 100,904 letters will be on the way to active-duty military personnel serving both at home and abroad.
May their handwritten messages of gratitude and encouragement cheer the spirits of those who have raised their right hand and sworn to defend and protect the United States of America.