The eighty-third annual ceremony commemorating the anniversary of Thomas Jefferson’s birth was held at the Jefferson Memorial on the Tidal Basin in Washington at 11 AM on April 13, 2026. Richard E. Patten, past president, DC Sons of the American Revolution served as the Master of Ceremonies. The event was presented by DCSAR in cooperation with the National Park Service, U.S. Department of the Interior, and the Military District of Washington, and as in the past eighteen years, was organized by DCSAR Secretary and Past President Paul Hays.

 Guests were welcomed by the Interior Department’s Superintendent of the National Mall and Memorial Parks, Kevin Greiss. The Presidential wreath was presented at 8:00 AM by Major General Antoinette R. Gant Commanding General, Military District of Washington. The wreath of the Secretary of the Interior, the Honorable Doug Burgum, was presented by Kevin Greiss, and that of the President of the University of Virginia, Scott Beardsley, by Sallie Cecil Stillwell.

 The wreath of DCSAR, host of the event, was presented by its President Geoffrey L. Newman and the NSSAR wreath was presented by President General Michael J. Elston Esq.

 Wreaths were then presented by a host of representatives of the Maryland and Virginia SARs, D.C. Society Daughters of the American Revolution, National and DC Societies US Daughters of 1812, Society of the Descendants of the Signers of the Declaration of Independence, National Society Daughters of the American Colonists, Society of the Descendents of the Signers of the Constitution, The Monticello Association, National Society Descendants of American Farmers and their Youth Branch, and the Thomas Jefferson Heritage Society.

 A patriotic musical prelude, the National Anthem, and postlude were rendered by “The President’s Own” U.S. Marine Corps Band Brass Quintet. Colors were presented by a Joint Armed Forces Color Guard. The invocation and benediction were delivered by the Rev. Dr. John DeWitt Stonesifer, DCSAR Chaplain. The D.C. Society has organized and hosted this commemoration each year since the dedication of the Jefferson Memorial on April 13, 1943, the 200th anniversary of Jefferson’s birth.

 After the conclusion of the ceremony, NSSAR President General Elston gave the oath to two new members of SAR. Larry James Calhoun and Jordon Hunter “Jay” Gaul IV. Compatriot Calhoun is the 6^th great grandson of Henry Rhodes, who served as a Captain in the Brothers Valley 3^rd Company of the Pennsylvania Militia. His sponsors were Tripp Demoss and Paul Hays. Compatriot Gaul is the 4^th great grandson of Private John Frederick Gaul of the Pennsylvania Militia. His sponsors were Geoff Newman and Paul Hays.