Celebrating the Foundation of the United States of America ~ DAR Promotes Constitution Week

The Ferro Monte Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution (NSDAR) is celebrating Constitution Week. Mayor Rilee read the Council’s proclamation at the September 6th Roxbury Town Council meeting. Ferro Monte chapter members gave out Preamble to the Constitution bookmarks and pocket Constitutions at Suckasunny Day. The First Presbyterian Church of Succasunna joined churches across the country ringing church bells at 4pm on Saturday the 17th to commemorate the signing of the Constitution. 

Ferro Monte Chapter Regent Kim Armstrong and Constitution Week Chair Sue Anderson will be attending the naturalization ceremony at Washington's Headquarters in the Morristown National Park on Thursday September 22nd. Sue Anderson and Melvina Annis created a Constitution Week and 225th Anniversary of the Ratification of the Bill of Rights display that can be viewed in the lobby of the Roxbury Township Public Library throughout the month of September.

Two Documents of Paramount Importance to American History

The Declaration of Independence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Constitution, which set forth the framework for the federal government that is still in use today. Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) has been the foremost advocate for the awareness, promotion and celebration of Constitution Week. This annual observance provides innumerable opportunities for educational initiatives and community outreach, two mission areas of crucial importance to the Society’s work.

Establishing Constitution Week

The DAR initiated the observance in 1955, when the organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate September 17-23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week. Congress adopted the resolution, and on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law #915. The celebration’s goals are threefold: to encourage the study to the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787; to inform people that the Constitution is the basis of American’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.

The NSDAR is a volunteer women’s service organization dedicated to promoting patriotism, historic preservation, and better education for children via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. Membership is open to any woman 18 year or older who can prove lineal descent from an ancestor who aided in achieving American Independence. For additional information or a DAR application email: FerroMonteDAR@gmail.com or visit our Facebook page.

Happy Constitution Week

AMERICA CELEBRATES U.S. CONSTITUTION

DAR Promotes Constitution Week Awareness

Constituition Week Display
@ Roxbury Library

Mayor Jim Rilee
with Sue Anderson

At the September 8^th Roxbury Town Council meeting, Mayor Rilee presented members, Linda Smith, Sue Anderson and Kim Armstrong, of the Ferro Monte Chapter, NSDAR with a Constitution Week proclamation. September 17, 2015, begins 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. Ferro Monte Chapter members Sue Anderson (Roxbury) and Melvina Annis (Rockaway) have created a Constitution exhibit in the lobby of the Roxbury Library. The Constitution exhibit including the Town Council proclamation will be on display throughout September. In addition, the Roxbury Township Public Library will be distributing Preamble to the Constitution bookmarks courteous of the Ferro Monte Chapter.

 

DAR Promotes Constitution Week Awareness

September 17, 2015, begins 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 tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started many years ago by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). 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. 

The United States of America functions as a Republic under the Constitution, which is the oldest document still in active use that outlines the self-government of a people. This landmark idea that men had the inalienable right as individuals to be free and live their lives under their own governance was the impetus of the American Revolution.  Today, the Constitution stands as an icon of freedom for people around the world. 

“Constitution Week is the perfect opportunity to read and study this great document which is the safeguard of our American liberties,” states DAR President General, Lynn Forney Young. “We encourage all citizens across the country to take time this week to reflect on our heritage of freedom and come together to Celebrate America!”

DAR has served America for 125 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 one of the only structures 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 180,000 members with approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and 13 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 DAR and its programs visit www.dar.org