La Villita Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution will celebrate its 75th anniversary in December with a come-and-go high tea in same house in which it was organized, which is now owned by Mrs. Reynolds’ granddaughter, Tammy Tiner. Tiner and Regent Leonora Owre along with the 191 members of La Villita chapters will host the tea for members and special guests. Women interested in DAR membership are invited to attend a La Villita Chapter meeting, usually on the second Thursday of each month during the school year. The next meeting will be Thursday, Nov. 14, at the St. Thomas Episcopal Church, 906 George Bush Drive, College Station. Refreshments are at 6:30pm and the meeting is at 7pm.
The City of College Station had been incorporated for only five years when Alma Merwine Bilsing organized the La Villita Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution in December 1944, in the home of Maudames DeSteiguer Reynolds in College Station. Nancy Reynolds Tiner, Reynolds’ daughter and a past regent of the chapter, was 12 years old in 1944 and studying in school about the first permanent Spanish settlement in colonial Texas: La Villita in San Antonio. When her mother and the other ladies discussed naming the chapter, Nancy suggested La Villita ("little village"), because College Station was indeed a little village at the time. Twenty-four women were charter members.
Today, they continue many of their original chapter projects. Each year, they award two students with ROTC medals. They present the DAR Good Citizens award, essay awards, and distribute Constitution Week items in area schools.The chapter's Constitution Week Committee works with many groups in the community to focus attention on this national celebration of our constitution. Each year the chapter sponsors a Constitution Week luncheon jointly with the William Scott Chapter and Come & Take It Chapter. They place U.S. flags in the local cemetery to honor our veterans. Their efforts at historic preservation have continued by helping sponsor the city of College Station’s 80th year celebration last October at Richard Carter Park. Their chapter recognized the 50th anniversary of the Vietnam War by joining with sister chapters, William Scott and Come & Take It Chapters, to place a granite bench at the Clara Mounce Public Library in honor of those who fought in that war. The chapter continues to support patriotic projects in the community by sponsoring the Brazos de Dios Society Children of the American Revolution whose members have served at chapter, state, and national levels. Two La Villita Caroline Mitchell DAR Scholarships are given annually to graduating seniors from the College Station Independent School District or the Bryan College Station Homeschool Association. They recognize distinguished local citizens for their contributions to the community by presenting DAR medals. Members of the chapter place U.S. flags on graves of veterans in the College Station Cemetery on Veterans Day and Memorial Day. Members participate in annual community events such as Boonville Days and the Heritage Park 4th of July celebration. Programs at their meetings promote awareness of literacy, patriotism, history, historical research and preservation, and genealogical research.
National Daughters of the American Revolution is a lineage-based membership service organization for women who are directly descended from a person involved in the United States' efforts towards independence. Members are vibrant, active women who are passionate about community service and dedicated to promoting historic preservation, education, patriotism, and honoring the patriots of the Revolutionary War. The Daughters of the American Revolution is an organization with a deeply rich history while also being truly relevant in today’s world. DAR is projected to surpass one million total members this fall who have joined DAR since its founding more than 125 years ago. They became members to honor their heritage as well as make a difference in their communities across the country and the world. With 180,000 current members nationally, daughters make lasting impressions on their community. Women have found passion and purpose in the DAR’s vibrant, timeless mission. Its motto is "God, Home, and Country."
The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution held the first meeting of the society on Aug. 9, 1890. First Lady Caroline Lavina Scott Harrison, wife of President Benjamin Harrison, lent her prestige to the founding of DAR, and served as its first president general. Having initiated a renovation of the White House, she was interested in historic preservation and helped establish the goals of DAR. DAR was incorporated by congressional charter in 1896. The headquarters complex in Washington, D.C., comprise the world’s largest complex of buildings owned exclusively by women. Memorial Continental Hall and Constitution Hall house a Genealogical Library, DAR Museum Americana Room, State Museum Rooms, National Officer’s Headquarters, and a large auditorium with a seating capacity of about 4,000. When you see a speaker in the media speaking from an eagle podium, that’s probably from the DAR Constitutional Hall.
The first Texas State Regent was appointed in 1894. The first permanent chapter in Texas started in 1895: the George Washington Chapter in Galveston. Texas has more than 200 chapters throughout the state of Texas and more than 18,000 members. Members are the heart and soul of DAR! Any woman 18 years or older, who can prove lineal descent from a patriot of the American Revolution may apply for membership. La Villita DAR web page is www.texasdar.org/chapters/LaVillita/index.html.
