Eastern Shore DAR chapters welcome new citizens

Pictured: New citizens with certificates and flags and local DAR chapter members. Top row right to left: Jane Mannock, Sarah Bingman, Member and Regent Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter DAR, respectively. Center row right to left: Julie Badger, Regent, Northampton County Chapter DAR, India Meissel, ceremony speaker. Bottom row right to left: Speaker, Kathy Lehman, NCC Member, two new citizens from the Phillipines.

Both Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapters of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) hosted the Naturalization of New Citizens of the United States of America Ceremony at the United States District Court in Norfolk Virginia on July 22, 2025. The Northampton County Chapter and the Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter welcomed 87 new American citizens from 34 nations. Chapter members distributed United States flags and pins and civic literature.

Presiding over the ceremony was U.S. District Judge Douglas E. Miller, USMJ. The Introduction and Certification of Candidates was done by Assistant United States Attorney Sean Jansen. The Eastern Shore of Virginia Chapter’s Chapter Regent Sarah Bingman led the Pledge of Allegiance and member Jane Mannock led the recitation of the American’s Creed. Northampton County Chapter’s Regent Julie Badger gave the Welcoming Address and member Kathy Lehman introduced the guest speaker, India Meissel. Mrs. Meissel is a Visiting Scholar for the Department of Leadership and American Studies at Christopher Newport University. Her inspirational speech was entitled “What is an American?”

The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution is a non-political service organization that promotes historic preservation, education and patriotism. Membership is open to any woman 18 years or older who can prove lineal, bloodline descent from an ancestor who aided in securing American independence during the Revolutionary War. For more information about DAR visit www.dar.org.