Cornerstone of Liberty Chapter, Inc., NSDAR

This history of the Cornerstone of Liberty Chapter, Inc., NSDAR, began in the fall of 2024 when it was realized that the growth in The Villages of Florida could accommodate the needs and expansion of The Villages community. The Organizing Regent, Lynn Maines-Jenkins, was approved to proceed with organizing the chapter in January of 2025 and by May 2025 with over 40 members, the National Board of Management voted to approve this chapter on June 5, 2025. The speed at which this chapter was formed proved the need to accommodate the growth of the community.

In the American Revolution, the Declaration of Independence is widely considered to be the cornerstone of liberty; it clearly outlines the fundamental principle of individual liberty as a core value of the new nation, stating that all people have unalienable rights including “Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.” As a result of the colonies winning the Revolution, the new country needed to establish a document that laid out the legal and political foundation of the United States; hence, the U.S. Constitution was adopted on September 17, 1787 — more than 235 years ago and quickly became the foundation or cornerstone for freedom in the United States and the rule of law.

The U.S. Constitution is the highest set of laws in the land and provides the foundation upon which all other laws are supposed to be made. It is the mission statement of the United States and it is what unites us and allows us the ideals to have a productive democracy. Much thought went into creating the Constitution. This formidable document allowed for revisions and left it open for amendments. Four years later, the first ten amendments were adopted as the Bill of Rights.

More than 100 years after the U.S. Constitution was adopted, U.S. Supreme Court Justice Louis Brandeis in the case of Whitney v. California (1927) wrote: “Those who won our independence believed that the final end of the State was to make men free to develop their faculties, and that, in its government, the deliberative forces should prevail over the arbitrary. They valued liberty both as an end, and as a means. They believed liberty to be the secret of happiness, and courage to be the secret of liberty.” In Brandeis’ statement, he was channeling the basic philosophy of ancient Plato and Aristotle.

The cornerstone, or foundation, of America dates back to the early philosophers and has evolved into what many refer to as the “Great American Experiment.” We are proud to be a part of this unique and improbable founding of a republic based on the principles of freedom, democracy, and self-government.

A cornerstone symbolizes strength, foundation, and unity. Cornerstone of Liberty is the foundation of our DAR chapter. Accordingly, our chapter will have four solid corners, or principles, that embody who we are, what we represent, and what we do. The first of four corners is that of honored fidelity to our Nation and all the men and women that contributed to the founding of this country. The second corner is that of respect for all peoples, principles, and the inalienable rights, as outlined in our U.S. Constitution. The third corner is loyalty to our nation, our flag, and to each other. The fourth and final corner is that of humble servitude to our chapter, our community, and to our great nation.

As Americans, we cherish the principles of liberty contained in our founding documents and ideals. As Daughters, we strive to perpetuate the foundation, or cornerstone, that this country was built upon.

The “Cornerstone of Liberty Chapter, Inc., NSDAR,” pays homage to the ideals of our founding fathers and carries that torch forward ensuring we never lose sight of their vision of freedom.