Saturday will mark the 229th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution of the United States, which was adopted by the Congress of the Confederation Sept. 17, 1787.
Members of the Arkansas State Society Daughters of the American Revolution, including those in the River Valley and Ozark Edition’s coverage area, will join others across the country in celebrating Constitution Week Saturday through Sept. 23. The National Society Daughters of the American Revolution initiated the observance of Constitution Week in 1955, when the organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17-23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week. Congress adopted the resolution and on Aug. 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law No. 915.
Gov. Asa Hutchinson has signed a proclamation declaring Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week in Arkansas. In part of the proclamation, Hutchinson asks the citizens of Arkansas “to reaffirm the ideals of the framers of the Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.”
Local DAR chapters observing Constitution Week include Cadron Post Chapter in Conway, Dardanelle Rock chapter in Dardanelle, General William Lewis Chapter in Morrilton and Maria Van Buren chapter in Clinton. Members of these four chapters will attend the annual Quapaw District Meeting and Constitution Day Luncheon Saturday at the Bill Harmon Recreation Center in Sherwood. Other Quapaw District chapters that will send representatives to the annual meeting are Major Jacob Gray in Jacksonville, Gilbert Marshall chapter and Little Rock-Centennial chapter, both in Little Rock, and Prudence Hall Chapter in North Little Rock.
“The United States Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights,” said Judith Bake of Dardanelle, regent, Dardanelle Rock chapter. “This is a great time to learn more about this important document and celebrate the freedoms it gave to us.”
Baker said she encourages citizens “to take time out to read beyond the Preamble [to the Constitution] to
understand the structure of our three branches of representative government. Study the Amendments and the Bill of Rights. Know your Constitution. Get out and vote, exercising your right to a voice.”
Dardanelle Mayor Carolyn McGee has also issued a proclamation for Constitution Week. She presented the proclamation to the Dardanelle Rock chapter on Sept. 10.
Baker said one of the chapter’s members, Catherine Pittman, teaches a sixth-grade pre-Advanced Placement social studies class at Dover Middle School. She is using the book, We The People, to study the Preamble to the Constitution in detail.
“This book is excellent with interactive group work,” Baker said. “I am grateful for teachers like her.”
Baker said DAR also encourages churches, schools, courthouses, firehouses, veterans’ homes, city governments and individuals to ring bells on Saturday for Bells Across America.
“Ringing the bells at 4 p.m. EST [Eastern Standard Time] in all time zones is encouraged so that they are heard simultaneously from coast to coast as we kick off Constitution Week,” Baker said.
Octavia Baldridge of Little Rock, regent, Cadron Post chapter, said the Conway chapter is sponsoring a commercial that will air on area radio stations during Constitution Week.
Katheryne Spivey of Morrilton, regent, General William Lewis chapter, said Constitution Week displays would be on exhibit at school libraries in Morrilton. Members of the local chapter also presented a program on the Constitution Wednesday at the September Lunch and Learn Centennial Celebration event at the Conway County Library in Morrilton.
Alice George of Higden, vice regent, Maria Van Buren chapter, said the chapter is sponsoring an exhibit at the Van Buren County Fair this week as well as an exhibit at Simmons Bank in Clinton and at the Van Buren County Library, also in Clinton. The chapter also displayed an exhibit at the recent Cleburne County Fair.
“We support Constitution Week activities because we are afraid the kids of today’s
generation do not know much about the Constitution,” said George, who has been a DAR member since 2004. She said the exhibit at the county fair includes several brochures that may be of interest to the public as well as an “I Will Read the Constitution”
proclamation for students who pledge to read and study the Constitution.
DAR President General Ann Dillon said the goals of the national Constitution Week celebration “are threefold: to encourage the study of the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September
1787; to inform people that the Constitution is the basis of America’s great heritage and the foundation of our way of life; and to emphasize U.S. citizens’ responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the Constitution.”