Sen. Kruse has introduced SB 12 which would establish a Semiquincentennial Commission to commemorate the 250th anniversary of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. I’d never heard the word “semiquincentennial” before, so at least this bill has taught me that. It designates required members of the commission: the governor, lieutenant governor, the adjutant general of the Indiana National Guard, director of the Indiana Dept. of Veteran’s Affairs, four legislators, and representatives from: Revolutionary War reenactment organization, Civil War reenactment organization, the VFW, the American Legion, executive director of Indiana War Memorials, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, Sons of the American Revolution, Daughters of the American Revolution, Fraternal Order of Eagles, and the Indiana Historical Society.
It’s at least mildly interesting to me that the statute requires the representative from the Sons of the American Revolution to be the chair and the representative from the Daughters of the American Revolution to be the vice-chair. I have a vague notion that some of these type organizations have problematic pedigrees — though, it’s entirely possible I’m thinking of the Daughters of the Confederacy and their Lost Cause, Klan-loving b.s.
To become of a member of the Daughter and Sons of the American Revolution you have to prove you have a direct lineal descendants of soldiers or others of the Revolutionary period who aided the cause of independence; applicants must have reached 18 years of age and are reviewed at the chapter level for admission. My mother-inlaw was a member and they would place flags on the grave stones of every US servicmen. I know they donated money to various projects that had to mdo with the Revolutionary War.
Mostly it was a good time for the ladies to meet and they would have a presitation and then exchange reciepies eat and talk. Sort a Mayberry vibe. Grin