The Daughters of the American Revolution is a nonpolitical, nonprofit organization and whose membership is open to any woman age 18 or over, regardless of race, religion or ethnic background who can prove direct lineal descent from a patriot  of the American Revolution. Our New Iberia Chapter DAR was founded in 1925 and our chapter continues to grow.

We are hosting a Membership Inquiry Event, “Sowing Seeds of Friendship,) from 2 til 4 p.m. on Sunday, April 22, in the parlor of the First United Methodist Church. This event is open to any woman who would like to learn more about DAR membership.

I’ve often heard “Oh, my ancestors were in Louisiana back then, I wouldn’t qualify for membership.” During the Revolutionary War, Bernardo de Galvez led the Louisiana Militia against the British, and fielded successful attacks at Manchac, Baton Rouge and Natchez. His militia included men of Acadian, French, Spanish, African, Native American, Swiss, Mexican and German descent. Today, Louisiana members of DAR include many descendants of these and other) patriots. Names like Allain, Barras, Boudreaux, Comeaux, Dupuy, Hebert, Himel, Judice, Landry, Lopez, Miguez, Olivier, Romero, Savoie, Sonnier, and Thibodeaux are just a few of the many names you’ll find in the list of proven Louisiana patriots.

According to USA Today, genealogy is the second most popular hobby in the country, and it is especially fascinating as it makes our history personal. And no matter who we are or where we come from, we realize that our ancestors had their own trials, successes and failures. Through our threefold DAR mission of education, historic preservation, and patriotism, our members make a difference in countless ways, including through grants and scholarships, awards and service.

With over 190,000 members, this is one of the largest women’s service organization in the world. If you’ve ever been curious about DAR membership, I hope you’ll join us on April 22. If you have questions or would like more information, please contact newiberiadar@gmail.com Our chapter website is  www.newiberiadar.org. 

Brenda DeKeyzer Lowry

New Iberia