Until a few years ago, I didn’t know much about my family’s history. Dad’s side had lived in Texas since before it was a state, and came from Mexico before that. Mom’s side immigrated from Norway after the Civil War. Having moved every few years as a military brat, and later as a military wife, I always felt a little sad about not having any roots, especially having grown up in a culture of patriotism and service.
In 2022, I got a hint from Ancestry.com stating that they had information on a great-grandmother I had never heard of. Within an hour, with a little research, I was reading the story of my 6th great-grandfather, Thaddeus Bowman, who had fought at the Battle of Lexington! Suddenly, I had roots that stretched all the way to the beginning of our country.
The first thing I did with this new information was contact the Daughters of the American Revolution. I was nervous sending off that first email, but within a few days, I was contacted by the registrar and membership chair of Chesterfield Courthouse Chapter, and my journey with the DAR began.
Since my first meeting, when I sat in the back of the room, too shy to speak to anyone, I’ve found many opportunities to grow in service, and have discovered how rewarding it is to work alongside women who share the DAR core values of education, patriotism, and Historic preservation.
With any journey, it’s the companions who make it memorable. Since joining DAR, I’ve had the opportunity to meet Daughters from all over Virginia and the United States, but the most special ones have been our members of the Chesterfield Courthouse Chapter! I hope you will consider joining us as we continue to serve our community, learn about our great nation, and enjoy each other’s company.
Whether your interests lie in helping the community through literacy and scholarship programs, feeding the hungry, caring for women, supporting our military and veterans, or preserving historic sites and artifacts, you will find ways to make a difference with DAR. Please consider joining us at one of our fun and informative chapter meetings to learn more about us!
Jill Belarmino, Regent
Chesterfield Courthouse Chapter NSDAR, Inc. 