While attending the Daughters of the American Revolution’s 126th Continental Congress, Kaanapali resident Susan Adams Nealy received a Department of Defense Certificate of Appreciation for her work with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the State of Hawaii.

KAANAPALI – More than 3,500 members of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently convened in the nation’s capital for the 126th Continental Congress, the latest gathering of the longstanding service organization’s annual meeting.

The keynote speaker for the Opening Night Ceremony was retired NASA Flight Director Eugene Kranz, who was also awarded the DAR Medal of Honor.

Additionally, the ceremony recognized retired NASA Mathematician Katherine Johnson, also with the DAR Medal of Honor, and California State University Monterey Bay President Eduardo Ochoa with the DAR Americanism Medal.

In attendance was Susan Adams Nealy, Service to Veterans chair and Commemorative Events chair, of Kaanapali. Nealy is an organizing member of DAR’s Haleakala Chapter on Maui.

While at Congress, Nealy received a Department of Defense award for her work with the Vietnam War Commemoration for the State of Hawaii. The honor was presented by Major General J.T. Jackson (Ret.).

A special presentation during the Opening Night Ceremony put a spotlight on the upcoming 250th anniversary of the United States in 2026 and the leading role DAR will be playing in the preparations.

DAR Honorary President General Lynn Forney Young was recently appointed to the U.S. Semiquincentennial Commission. The DAR also announced the first major, patriotic investment in the commemoration: a donation to Independence National Historical Park of 76 trees planted in honor of the Spirit of ’76 that inspired the colonists to declare their independence.

The DAR Continental Congress is a time-honored annual gathering that has been held in Washington, D.C. since the organization’s founding. National, state and chapter leaders, as well as other members from across the country and around the world, meet at the DAR National Headquarters to report on the year’s work, honor outstanding award recipients, plan future initiatives and reconnect with friends. The weeklong convention consists of business sessions, committee meetings and social functions, and the event is topped off with formal evening ceremonies at which national DAR award winners are honored.

The national Daughters of the American Revolution was founded in 1890 to promote historic preservation, education and patriotism. Its members are descended from the patriots who won American independence during the Revolutionary War.

With more than 185,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters worldwide, DAR is one of the world’s largest and most active service organizations. To learn more, visit www.DAR.org.