Good Citizenship Program

The Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) recognizes the importance of good citizenship in our communities. One such way is by recognizing individuals with the Sons of the American Revolution (SAR) Good Citizenship Medal is an award that recognizes people who have made notable achievements in their community. How does the SAR award work?

Peers, community leaders, and employers can nominate people for the award.
The medal is a multi-purpose award that recognizes achievements in schools, localities, or states. For example, pictured to the right is the bronze award awarded at the chapter level.

Examples of nominees would include educators, civic leaders, Scout leaders, non-profit leaders, long-time community volunteers, etc. The qualifications for non-Compatriots are determined by Chapter.
What does it mean to be a good citizen?

Being respectful of others and their property
Knowing and respecting the rights of others
Being informed about current issues
Learning about history, both good and bad
Having compassion and empathy for others
Takin
g responsibility for one's actions
Being honest, responsible, courageous, and compassionate
Being able to think critically
Being able to participate in civil deliberation
Being able to monitor the government

Good Citizenship Committee

The state-level Good Citizenship Committee is responsible for encouraging chapters to promote and recognize good citizenship that does not fall within the domain of another committee, such as the Youth Education Committee (Outstanding Student Program). The committee will:

Encourage chapters to recognize service to the nation, state and community by awarding Good Citizenship medals with approval from the proper authority. (The National Society requires state societies approve of the Silver Good Citizenship Medals, and that it approves award of Gold Good Citizenship Medal.)

The SAR Silver Good Citizenship Medal (pictured left) recognizes outstanding and unusual patriotic achievement and service at the state or district/regional level. The medal is presented to persons of prominence in the areas of government (including military service), religion, education, business, and other fields of endeavor. Since it recognizes extensive service, a biographical sketch of the candidate should accompany the nomination. There is no requirement that persons must have received a Bronze Good Citizenship Medal before being nominated for a Silver Good Citizenship Medal.
Promote and judge the Virginia Society Good Citizen of the Year competition.

Every chapter should recognize a Citizen of the Year who has distinguished himself or herself by demonstrating outstanding service to the community, present or past, recognize service to the nation, state and community. The Virginia Society recommends that emphasis be placed on outstanding volunteer service to the community that is generally considered to be citizenship in action.

The Committee will select the Virginia Society Good Citizen of the Year taking the following factors into account:

The scope of the candidate’s impact
The depth of the candidate’s impact
Obstacles which had to be overcome
Demonstration of initiative, leadership, responsibility, dependability, and creativity

The Good Citizen of the Year Award is aimed at recognizing that one special individual In Virginia each year that represents what the SAR would consider a Good Citizen based on their Individual Achievements and Contributions to Society. This program always concludes on December 31st of each calendar year. In the first of January all nominations are carefully reviewed and examined to determine which Chapters candidate is the winner. This is then sent in so the certificate can be created, and that is presented at the Annual in Richmond. In the past we have had some remarkable Individuals with even more remarkable achievements win this Award. If it were not for the hard work these Chapters put into this award, this would not be possible.