Contests & Awards
Last Revised: 4 January 2023

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Youth Activities & Contests

Adult Non-Member Awards

  • Emergency Medical Services - performing beyond the duties normally called for within the Emergency Medical Services profession.
  • Fire Service - for exceptional service by fire service, emergency response, and fire insurance personnel.
  • Flag Certificate - for citizens who regularly and properly display the Flag of the United States. (This award is presented on Flag Day)
  • Good Citizenship Awards -
    • Gold - for significant community services as a leader of a national organization.
    • Silver - for significant community leadership over a long period of time in several organizations.
    • Bronze - for a special effort serving the community or meeting the objectives of the SAR
  • Heroism Award - for outstanding bravery and self-sacrifice in the face of imminent danger.
  • Law Enforcement - for exceptional service by police, state troopers and officers of the courts.
  • Martha Washington Medal - may be given by the National Society, a state society or a chapter to a woman over 18 years of age in recognition of outstanding service to SAR.
  • SAR Medal of Appreciation - The SAR Medal of Appreciation may be presented by the National Society, district society, a state society or a chapter to a member of the DAR in good standing in recognition of and in appreciation for outstanding services rendered to the SAR. The award may recognize assistance in forming new SAR chapters, obtaining a specific number of new SAR members or otherwise significantly aiding the SAR programs.
  • SAR Daughters of Liberty Medal - may be presented by the National Society, a district, a state society or a chapter to a lady recommended by any officer of a chapter, state or National Society, SAR in appreciation for her unselfish devotion, tireless efforts and assistance to the SAR, and who has dedicated her time, energy, ability and/or finances to the organization in support for furtherance of the stated objectives of the National Society, SAR. This medal is considered second in importance only to the SAR Gold Good Citizenship Medal.
  • Specialty Certificates - recognition given for special events or activities.

SAR Member Awards

  • Color Guard Medal Award - The SAR Color Guard Medal may be awarded for service to the Society at the National, District, State Society and Chapter levels. Recipients may only receive the award once at each level.
  • Distinguished Service Medal -
    • National Society Medal of Distinguished Service may be presented once during the tenure of a President General to a Compatirot for conspicuous service to the National Society during his administration. It is presented at the discretion of the incumbent President General and does not require other approval.
    • State Society Medal of Distinguished Service is the highest award that can be awarded by a State Society President during each year of his term of office. It is presented to a Compatriot for distinguished service rendered to the State Society.
  • General William C. Westmoreland Award - This award is presented to the SAR member who has the most outstanding record of service as a VA Volunteer donating time to veterans in the VA hospital. This award is a certificated signed by the President General and a special gold version of the Service to Veterans Medal. It is presented to only one person per year selected by the Veterans committee. A Compatriot may receive this medal only once in a lifetime. Nominations for this award may be submitted by a state society or chapter utilizing thr entry form available from the SAR website. Submission deadline is January 1st.
  • Lafayette Volunteer Service Award - The Lafayette Volunteer Service Award is presented by the National Society to an individual for volunteer service performed at the NSSAR Headquarters in Louisville, KY or other significant volunteer work as determined by the President General. The award is presented when forty (40) hours of volunteer service have been accumulated. The Executive Director will provide a list of projects requiring volunteer assistance. Volunteers must meet acceptable experience criteria and will be supervised by department head. Department heads and volunteers must ensure that the volunteer service form is completed at the end of each day that service is performed. The Executive Director will be responsible for maintaining a volunteer service file.
  • Liberty Medal - The Liberty Medal, authorized in 1987, commemorates the restoration of the Statue of Liberty, reminds us of our liberty and is presented for recruiting ten new members to the SAR. The medal, along with a certificate, is awarded by the National Society. Presentation will take place at the Annual congress; however, if a recipient is not present, it will be mailed to him.
  • Meritorious Service Medal - This medal may be awarded to SAR members who have rendered long, faithful and meritorious service to their chapter, state society, district, or to the National Society. This medal may be awarded by the National Society, a district, a state society or a chapter. It may be awarded to an individual once by the National Society, a district, a state society or a chapter. The meritorious service rendered should be stated in the citation.
  • Minuteman Award - The National Society's highest award presented to a member for distinguished service rendered to the National SAR. Members are selected by the Minuteman Committee from submitted applications. The Committee is appointed by the President General from previous recipients of the award. Only National Activity of the nominee will be considered. State or Chapter Activities are not to be included in supporting documentation. It is presented during the Annual Congress to no more than six recipients per year.
  • Patriot Medal Award - The Patriot Medal is awarded only by a State Society. The highest award given for service at the State or Chapter Level. This award is presented only to individuals and may be received ONLY once..
  • Allene Wilson Groves (Americanism) Award and Liberty Bell Award - The Allene Wilson Groves Award and Liberty Bell contest has been broken down into 4 Chapter categories, by membership size:
    • 1 to 49
    • 50 to 99
    • 100 to 199
    • 200 or more members
    and four first place awards for State Societies:
    • 10 to 199
    • 200 to 499
    • 500 to 999
    • 1,000 or more members.
    We hope that this will encourage Chapters to consider entering. Submission deadline March 15th.
  • Robert B. Vance Website Award - One of our newest awards presented during the Annual Congress.  It includes artwork which can be displayed on the winning website.  This award has two levels Chapter and State Society.

  • USS Stark Award - The USS Stark Memorial Award recognizes outstanding chapters and state societies within the SAR for their support of Veterans by having exceptional overall Veterans programs. The Veterans Committee establishes the criteria for the Stark Report that are used in determining the winners of the award presented at the annual SAR Congress. Submission deadline February 1st.


  • Military Service Reporting Form - A form for reporting the Military Service of NSSAR Members.



For further information you may contact:

For further information you may contact a chapter near you at:

NSSAR's State Contacts.


Please direct your comments to our webmaster.

For further information you may contact a chapter near you at:
NSSAR's State Contacts.
Please direct your comments to our webmaster.