It was a busy weekend indeed for over 175 women from every corner of the Bayou State as the Louisiana Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution held its Summer Workshop in Natchitoches’ Events Center Friday and Saturday August 2-3.
The DAR Summer Workshop attendees enjoyed our city’s hospitality as they toured Ft. St. Jean Baptiste, the Roque House, Louisiana Sports Hall of Fame and Northwest Louisiana History Museum, the Old Courthouse, American Cemetery, Cane River National Heritage Creole Tour and other area historic and cultural venues.
Dr. Patti Maclay, the National Chair of the DAR Franco-American Memorial Committee, spoke of the historic ties between France and the United States. One of the major aims of the Workshop was to raise awareness of a major event coming up in 2025 – the 200th anniversary of the Marquis de Lafayette’s farewell tour of America in 1825, during which he spent 5 days in Louisiana. DAR member Denise Bennett of Houston, TX, portrayed Adrienne Marquise de Lafayette, wife of Major General Lafayette in period dress. Dr. Vicki Parish, past president of the Association for the Preservation of Historic Natchitoches and Emeritus Professor of Theater and Dance at NSU, served as the Keynote Speaker at Saturday’s lunch.
Per their website, The Daughters of the American Revolution is: “The DAR, founded in 1890 and headquartered in Washington, D.C., is a non-profit, non-political volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, preserving American history, and securing America’s future through better education for children….” The first chapter in Louisiana was “The Spirit of ‘76”, established in 1895 in New Orleans. Louisiana currently boasts around 3,000 members in 45 chapters. Natchitoches Parish houses two chapters, St. Denis and Cane River.
