The nation's capital welcomed more than 2,500 members of one of its foremost service organizations this week, with the arrival of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) for their 115th annual Continental Congress. The opening night ceremony's keynote speaker was entertainer Wayne Newton, who was honored for his dedicated work as chairman of the United Service Organizations (USO) Celebrity Circle.

Later that evening, Sound Portraits Productions was presented with the DAR Motion Picture, Radio and Television Award for its "StoryCorps" project to instruct and inspire Americans to record each other's oral histories for the American Folklife Center at the Library of Congress. Among the others honored by the DAR during the five-day convention were John Gonsalves, whose organization Homes for Our Troops builds and remodels homes for wounded veterans, and Sgt. Leigh Ann Hester, the first woman since World War II to be awarded the Silver Star for valor in combat.

"It's inspiring to see so many Daughters make the trip to Washington to celebrate their hard work in their hometown communities," said Presley Merritt Wagoner, president general. "The reports of our members' enthusiastic dedication to historic preservation, education, and patriotism make it clear that the DAR is playing an important role in cities and towns across the country."

In attendance at the Congress were Christine Burnette, chapter regent; Angela Cox, past chapter regent; Bonnie Glasgow, SC state regent elect; and Sarah Burnette of the Columbia Chapter, which is based in Columbia.

While at Congress, the delegation served as hostesses at the South Carolina Tamassee Dessert Extravaganza. Sarah Burnette and Angela Cox served as Pages. Mrs. Bonnie Glasgow was installed into the office of South Carolina State Regent during a special ceremony on July 2.

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote patriotism, preserve American history, and support better education for our nation's children. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War.

With more than 168,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world's largest and most active service organizations. DAR is also the publisher of the award-winning magazine American Spirit . To learn more about the work of today's DAR, visit www.DAR.org.