How pass datetime parameter from query?

See more:

C#

ASP.NET

I am trying to get my datetime from database, into the variable datetime "dat", however, the current code throws a compiling error of ---> Use of unassigned local variable 'dat'

public static string content()
       {
           string xml = "";
           string title = "";
           string content = "";
           DateTime dat = new DateTime();

           SqlConnection con = new SqlConnection(ConfigurationManager.ConnectionStrings["#######"].ConnectionString);
           string commandtext = "###########";
           SqlCommand command = new SqlCommand(commandtext, con);
           con.Open();
           command.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("title", title));
           command.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("Body", content));
           command.Parameters.Add(new SqlParameter("ACTIVEDATE", dat));

           SqlDataReader reader = command.ExecuteReader();

           dat.ToString("dd-MM-yyyy");

           //XElement code

           while (reader.Read())
           {
               string top = reader.GetString(0);
               string dtt = reader.GetString(1);
               string body = reader.GetString(2);

               var result = top + "<br />" + dtt + "<br />" + body + "<br />";

               string data = result.ToString();

               xeSendTo1.Add(new XElement("value", (new XCData(data))));

           }
           con.Close();

           return xml = xDoc.ToString();
       }

I tried changing the assignment statement to the following, but they further resulted in more compiling errors.

DateTime dat = new DateTime();<br />
<br />
DateTime.TryParseExact(...)

is their a correct approach to declare the Datetime variable, for the sqlParameter.

Please advice.

Many thanks