In 1970-71, the need for support of the Reserve Officers Training Corps (ROTC) in colleges and universities, to counter and offset the attacks of the dissident anti-military elements, afforded a new field for the Society's War Service Committee. This Society's Medal was established as an award to be earned by ROTC students of the three services, Army, Navy, and Air Force. The actual arrangements for the provision and presentation of the Medals to the selected ROTC students are made between the Chapters of the Society and the officials of the ROTC units in their States. The publication in pertinent regulations of the availability of the DFPA Medal Award created the need for providing Medals for permanent display to ROTC units in colleges and universities. The National Society adopted the provision of the Display Medals as the most worthy patriotic war service activity.
With the ending of hostilities overseas the War Service Committee was replaced by the Military Education Committee. Its purpose is to continue the presentation of Medals to outstanding ROTC students and to make the Medals available for display purposes to colleges and universities. Over 400 Medals have been furnished by the national Society for display purposes. Approximately 500 Gold Medals are presented each year to outstanding ROTC cadets and Midshipmen, students in ROTC units in college and universities, for outstanding performance.
The National Society presents annual awards for excellence in specified subjects to a graduate in each of the five Unites States Service Academies (Military, Naval, Air Force, Coast Guard, and Merchant Marine).
In the field of Historical Education, Chapters may present a Medal or other awards for achievement in American History to students in grade schools, high schools, colleges, or universities. The presentation of historical books to schools, public libraries, and children's hospitals is a continuing project for chapters. In the early 1900's, books were sent to the Philippine Islands. From 1964 to 1967, recognition of outstanding teachers of American History was a national Society project. Five hundred dollars was awarded annually to the winner, who was selected on the basis of methods of teaching and principles and ideals as a teacher.
Chapters have commemorated special historical events and outstanding achievements of individuals by erecting memorials. Among these are the Bronze Door of Allies (foreign allies of the Colonies during the Revolutionary War) in the Chapel at Valley Forge, Penn.; the large stained glass window in Pilgrim Hall at Plymouth, Mass.; the founders monument in Atlanta, Geo.; and the restoration with old glass of a window over the front door of the Paul Revere House in Boston. The Missouri Chapter placed a tablet at Cahokia, the oldest settlement in Illinois in continuing existence, which started as a French mission in 1699. Near Chattanooga, Tenn., is a marker to the Cherokee Chief Ostenaco Outacite (1700-1787), who served under Colonel George Washington. During the Ohio Sesquicentennial in 1953, the Ohio Chapter, in conjunction with the Ohio State Highway Department, provided a large boulder "In honor of Those Founders and Patriots of the Northwest Territory Who Settled in Ohio and Allen County 1803." The monument is maintained by the Ohio State Highway Department, and the Ohio Chapter carries insurance against vandalism.
Other markers honoring individuals are those of General Nathaniel Woodhull, first President of the Provincial Congress 1775-1776, and Richard Nicholls, first English Governor of New York 1664- 1668, both located at the entrance of the New York Customs House; and of Phillips Brooks, minister, patriot, and author of the Christmas carol "O Little Town of Bethlehem" placed at the Holy Trinity Church in Philadelphia.
Sites marked include the land grant to the Marquis de Lafayette at Tallahassee, Florida; the first school in Chicago on the site of Fort Dearborn; the oldest Town House in Maine at Harpswell; the first Christian Mission in Texas at San Angelo' and the first public school in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Two markers were dedicated in 1967 at the Benjamin Harrison Bridge in Hopewell, Virginia. In the County Building at Milwaukee, a plaque commemorates the 150th anniversary of the Signing of the Constitution of the United States. The Oregon Chapter participated in restoring a historic home.
The National Society shared in observing the Tercentenary celebration of Yorktown, Virginia, in 1931, and the Jamestowne 350th anniversary in 1957, at which time two chairs for the clergy were presented to the church. In two historic churches, Bruton Parish in Williamsburg and the Falls Church in Falls Church, Virginia, an alter and other restorative work were accomplished with assistance from our Society. The national society is a member of the Yorktown Day (VA) Association and was the hostess organization at the annual observance on October 19, 1983 and 1993. In 1966 the flags of the Thirteen Original Colonies were placed in the Independence Garden at Freedoms Foundation at Valley Forge, Penn.
The honoring of Clara Barton, founder of the American Red Cross, and of Major Pierre Charles L'Enfant, Revolutionary War officer an engineer invited by George Washington to lay out plans for the National Capital on the Potomac (1791), was promoted by the Society. For ten years the Society was affiliated with the Women's Patriotic Conference for National Defense and was a member of the National Flag Association, which proposed the Flag Code. The Society continued this patriotic work by urging the presentation of Flags, the teaching of proper respect to the Flag, and a more general knowledge of Flag history. The Society was influential in having June 14 declared National Flag Day. Also, members should remember that on June 14, they are celebrating the day of incorporation on June 14, 1898, of the National Society.
Each year the flowers from the memorial service, held during General Court for deceased members, are taken to Arlington Cemetery and placed at the Tomb of the Unknown or placed on the graves of former National Presidents of the Society or of persons of importance in the history of our country. In October 1987, National President Mrs. G. H. Bryan, Jr., presided at the dedication of a Yosahimo cherry tree at Arlington national Cemetery. A bronze plaque marks this memorial gift from the National Society. One thousand dollars was contributed toward the erection of the Bell Tower at the Nation's War Memorial at the Cathedral of the Pines, Rindge, New Hampshire. The Society makes an annual donation toward the upkeep of the Memorial and is represented at the annual Memorial Day Service held on May 30th.
Collection, restoration, and preservation of public and private records, with emphasis on the earliest periods of American growth and limited to records of the Original Thirteen Colonies, has been an ongoing program of the National Society. Monetary contributions were given for the restoration and preservation of eighteen volumes of the General Court Proceedings of North Carolina; of the town records and deeds of Sutton, Vermont; the Moses Brown papers in Providence, Rhode Island; early records in several Virginia county court houses; the John Hanson account books in Maryland; and the original Ratification of the Constitution Document in Delaware. New York records preserved and restored include the lamination of the Baron von Steuben papers, preservation of Ulster County records from 1650, early will books of New York City and wills, inventories of estates and administration papers from various places in the State. In 1990, the Society voted a five thousand dollar contribution to the funding of a renewed excavation of Fort Raleigh on Roanoke Island, NC, conducted by the Virginia Foundation.
Printed volumes of proved lineages of the Society's members, included references, are placed in libraries throughout the United States. An index of all Founders and Patriots listed in the First 34 volumes was published in 1976. A Supplement to include Volumes 35-37 was printed in 1985. Volume 38 was published in 1990. Unpublished historical events and genealogical data from Bibles, family or community papers, and material from other local sources have been copied and filed at the Society's National Headquarters' Library each year.
