The Marquis de Lafayette Chapter in Fayetteville began with an organizational meeting at the Fayette County Library on January 22, 2002. Dr. Douglas Stansberry, who had recently moved into the community, saw the need for a chapter of the Sons of the American Revolution in the area. With Dr. Stanberry’s guidance, there were six organizational meetings held throughout early 2002, and the Board of Managers granted a petition for a charter on July 13, 2002, with the help of state SAR President Dr. Milton Johnson. The new chapter was named for the Marquis de Lafayette, for whom Fayette County is also named.  The Charter Banquet was held on August 10, this date being the same as when Lafayette joined the forces of George Washington.

The new chapter began life with some 16 charter members and membership has grown to some 90, with more than 50 supplementals also verified so far. The chapter has had regular monthly meetings since the organizational meeting in 2002, and has become very active in nearly all SAR programs. Among the awards won by the Marquis de Lafayette Chapter have been the 2002 NSSAR Liberty Bell Americanism Award & Streamer, and the 2002 NSSAR President General’s Activity Streamer Award, the 2003 USS Stark Memorial Award and the 2003 Americanism Poster Contest 1st Place (Nationally).

The chapter now includes members from Coweta and Henry Counties as well as Fayette, Clayton and South Fulton, and is a very active force for promoting patriotism in the “southern crescent.” Our chapter members actively participate in parades (usually with our float) and as part of the state and local color guards. We work very cooperatively with our fellow patriotic organizations, the DAR (five chapters in our area) and with the CAR. Our members have held and continue to hold a number of state and national offices within the SAR.