A remarkable woman, Sarah Josephine Meredith, as Mrs. John Langstaff, took a leading part in the missionary work of her Episcopal Church of Long Island, and organized charitable events in many philanthropic fields, Her heritage of, and empathy for, British people, resulted in her founding the Daughters of the British Empire in 1909. She and realized that a group of British-born women in a foreign country, united in a common cause, could be a power for good, both for themselves and for the country where they lived. So impressed by the aims and camaraderie of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE), a Canadian organization, that she organized the DBE as a Society along similar lines in the United States. Florida DBE started in 1910 and became one of many chapters throughout the US.

In 1920, Canada and the United States created a Garden of Peace on both sides of the border, a living memorial to the long-established friendship between the United States and Canada.

This became the International Peace Garden, Inc., symbolizing the peace and harmony existing along the longest unfortified boundary in the world. The DBE in the USA and the IODE in Canada became Charter Members of this great enterprise and their contributions over the years have helped in the development and maintenance of this unique and noble concept.

DBE Chapters all over the US celebrate this day in their open way. To join in, contact the chapter nearest you by clicking on the US map at dbenational.org.