DAR Promotes Constitution Week Awareness

This week, September 17, 2012, marked the two hundred and twenty-fifth anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of American by the Constitutional Convention. 

Each year, the anniversary is marked by the national celebration of Constitution Week. The weeklong commemoration of America’s most important document is one of our country’s least known official observances. Our constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties and freedom and to ensure those inalienable rights to every American.

The Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Constitution Week Committee planned for weeks to provide materials for local schools to observe Constitution Week, drafted resolutions to be signed by mayors in Roswell, Alpharetta, and Johns Creek, and worked with local business leaders to help get the word out to our communities.

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, the Daughters petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-23 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into Public Law #915 on August 2, 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower. The aims of the celebration are to (1) emphasize citizens’  responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity; (2) inform the people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and (3) encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787. 

"We must remember and teach that those who wrote the Constitution believed that no government can create freedom, but that government must guard freedom rather than encroach upon the freedoms of its people" stated Merry Ann T. Wright, President General of the DAR. "The Constitution by itself cannot guarantee liberty. A nation’s people can remain free only by being responsible citizens who are willing to learn about the rights of each arm of government and require that each is accountable for its own function. Therefore, Constitution Week is the perfect opportunity to read and study this great document which is the safeguard of our American liberties.  We encourage all citizens across the
country to take time this week to guard that which is committed to us by our
forefathers... our freedom."

DAR has served America for 122 years as its foremost cheerleader. In 1928, the Daughters began work on a building as a memorial to the Constitution. John Russell Pope, architect of the Jefferson Memorial, was commissioned to design the performing arts center, known as DAR Constitution Hall. Today, DAR Constitution Hall is the only structure erected in tribute to the Constitution of the United States of America.  

Known as the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world, DAR has over 165,000 members with approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and 11 foreign countries. The DAR has long promoted patriotism through commemorative celebrations, memorials, scholarships and activities for children, and programs for new immigrants. For more information about the Martha Stewart Bulloch Chapter, please visit our website marthastewartbulloch.georgiastatedar.org.