Thomas Jefferson Chapter Sons of the American Revolution

The Sons of the American Revolution is the leading male lineage society that perpetuates the ideals of the war for independence.  As a historical, educational, and patriotic, non-profit corporation, we seek to maintain and expand the meaning of patriotism, respect for our national symbols, the value of American citizenship, and the unifying force of "e pluribus unum" that was created from the people of many nations -- one nation and one people.

 

The Thomas Jefferson Chapter SAR supports the goals of the National Society Sons of the American Revolution which are presented below:

 

 1. Historical Goals:

  • We commemorate and provide memorials for the people and events of the American Revolution.
  • We help preserve records relating to the events leading up to and during the American Revolution.
    • The National SAR was a major force behind the construction of the National Archives in Washington DC and the collection of historic documents there.
  • We support research and presentations (books, articles, and talks) related to the history and people of the period 1750-1800.
    • The national SAR Magazine publishes authoritative descriptions of historical events in a quality magazine of archival value.
    • The SAR Revolutionary War Graves Committee published information on some 54,000 grave sites of patriots in the NSSAR Revolutionary War Graves Register, published in 1993.  More names have been collected and the entire 140,000 names and locations have now been published on CDROM.
    • The Patriot Index Committee is publishing a CDROM with information on 732,000 patriots and their descendants.

 

2. Patriotic Goals

  • We inspire the community with the principles on which our nation was founded.
    • Many chapters and states have color guards that wear Revolutionary War uniforms and participate in civic and patriotic events and observances such as Fourth of July, Veterans Day, Armed Forces Day, Flag Day, Patriots Day (April 19), Bill of Rights Day, Yorktown Day, Constitution Day, and important battles of the Revolutionary War.
    • Each year the SAR National Congress passes resolutions to stimulate personal and national action based on these principles.
  • We maintain and extend the institutions of American freedom. In 1994 the NSSAR formed a Task Force to Preserve U. S. History to help focus public attention on profound problems in some proposed national standards for teaching pre-college U. S. History.
  • We help carry out the promises expressed in the Preamble to the Constitution.
  • We provide recognition for public service. The state societies and chapters of the NSSAR present thousands of awards each year to law enforcement officers, public safety officers, and other citizens who exemplify the best civic traditions of our nation. This includes young men and women who are leaders in our communities: high-ranking high school students of history, Eagle Scouts, JROTC and ROTC cadets and midshipmen.
  • We honor, respect, and support veterans, especially those confined to residential and hospital facilities provided by the Department of Veterans Affairs.

 

3. Educational Goals

  • We sponsor contests -- essay and oration -- for high school students, based on historical and patriotic themes.
  • We distribute history curriculum at no cost to the recipient.  This curriculum was developed by the Houston Independent School System in cooperation with the Robert and Janice McNair Foundation and the American Heritage Education Foundation, Inc.
  • We inform the community about the events and philosophical bases of the American Revolution and the Constitution.  Color Guards in Revolutionary War uniforms participate in civic events and patriotic celebrations throughout the United States, providing pageantry, drama and a sense of the nation's history.  Important events and persons of the Revolutionary period are portrayed for students and the public at large.
  • The SAR Magazine provides a public record of the activities of the society and has numerous articles detailing the history of the initial and continuing struggle for independence.

We help people locate and evaluate genealogical records. Our state and chapter registrars have excellent resources, and the NSSAR library is a major national repository of genealogical information.