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

Church and State

1st Presbyterian Church Succasunna

The Morris County Freeholders are debating tonight whether to restrict historic preservation grants to only those organizations that own and maintain historic buildings to those that do not have any religious affiliation.

Church buildings were among the first community buildings built in our towns and villages. They served as houses of worship, schools, and community gathering places. The 1st Presbyterian Church in Succasunna served as a hospital during the American Revolution serving soldiers regardless of their faith; those who didn’t survive are buried in their cemetery. Don’t ask the government who married who in the 1700s, or when a child was born in most of the 1800s; this information was only kept by churches. Whether the politically correct like it or not, church going Americans founded this country and their buildings and records are inter-woven in the fabric of our society.

The 1st Amendment to the Constitution states “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof…” The resolution being proposed in this motion clearly is prohibiting the free exercise of religion. A historic building that once was a church but is now used for another purpose would be eligible for county historical preservation grants; however, that same building if used for religious purposes today cannot. How is this not against the constitution? It is absurd to deny the historical status of these buildings and the accompanying need for upkeep just because they are run by thus and such religion. We are not asking you to establish a religion.

I ask Morris County Freeholders to NOT to prohibit the free exercise of religious organizations by denying them the necessary funds to maintain their historic buildings, solely on the basis of their religious beliefs. Tell your Freeholders what you think tonight 7:30pm at the Morristown Courthouse.

Suffrage Amendment Ratified, Women Have Vote

The above was the headline in the New York Times on August 25, 1920 announcing the cerfication of the 19th Amendment to the Constitution. The privilege of voting has always been important to me. I remember the distress of not being able to vote in the 1980 Presidential election along with the rest of my dorm because I didn't turn 18 until nine days later. Following in my Grandma Armstrong's footsteps, I have worked as a poll worker on Election Day for over 20 years. As a woman of the 21st century, it is hard to believe that less than 100 years ago, women in the United States did not have the right to vote. By 1920 when the country finally granted women the right to vote my Nana Burket had survived growing up with nine brothers, lived through a world war, married and given birth to her first child. Unfortunately Nana died in 1981 long before I had grown out of the “it's all about me” teen stage. I missed out what would have been a profound discussion of what it was like to have gained the fundamental right of a citizen... to participate in government by our vote.

Women’s Suffrage Timeline

1787: The Constitutional Convention places voting rules in the hands of the states. Only New Jersey granted women the right to vote

1807: Women lose the right to vote in New Jersey

1848: The Seneca Falls Convention proposes women’s suffrage by Elizabeth Cady Stanton

1861-1865: The American Civil War. The suffrage movement was largely on hold during the conflict

1867: Susan B Anthony forms the Equal Rights Association

1869: The 1^st US territory, Wyoming grants unrestricted suffrage to women

1870: The 15th amendment to the US Constitution is adopted granting voting rights to former male African-American slaves

1872: Susan B Anthony registers and votes in Rochester, New York, stating that the 14^th Amendment to the US Constitution gives her the right to vote

1874: The Supreme Court in the case of Minor vs. Happersett rules that the 14^th Amendment to the US

1875: Women begin winning the right to vote in school election starting with Minnesota and Michigan

1878: A federal amendment to the Constitution granting women the right to vote is introduced by Senator A.A. Sargeant of California

1882: The US House and Senate appoint committees on women's suffrage

1884: The House of Representatives debates women suffrage

1886: The suffrage amendment is defeated in the Senate

1887: The Supreme Court strikes down the law that gave women the right to vote in the Washington territory

1887: Women win the right to vote in Kansas municipal elections

1893: Colorado votes for women suffrage as western states and territories continue to lead the charge on women’s right to vote 

1912: Theodore Roosevelt's Progressive Party includes women suffrage as a part of its platform

1913: The Senate votes on a women suffrage amendment, but again it does not pass

1916: Woodrow Wilson and the Democratic Party Platform pledge to endorse women suffrage

1916: The first woman is elected to the US Congress. Montana sends Jeannette Rankin to the House of Representatives

November 14th, 1917: The "Night of Terror” suffragist prisoners are beaten and abused

1917: The New York becomes the 1^st Eastern state to grant women full suffrage

1918: The House of Representatives passes the women’s right to vote

1918 Women suffrage is once again struck down in the Senate

1918: President Wilson declares his support for women suffrage

1919: The National American Woman Suffrage Association becomes the League of Women Voters

June 4, 1919: The Senate finally passes the women suffrage

August 18, 1920 Tennessee ratifies the suffrage amendment

August 26, 1920: The 19^th Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, stating, "The right of citizens of the United States to vote shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex. Congress shall have the power to enforce this article by appropriate legislation," becomes law.

The suffrage fight took over 100 years to result in women gaining the right to go into the voting booth. The least we can do is get out and vote every first Tuesday of November.