Today's DAR
Today at 4:00 p.m., from sea to shining sea, bells will ring throughout America in celebration of the United States Constitution! I hope that you and your chapter are planning to participate.
On September 17, 1787, at the then-Pennsylvania State House, now better known as Independence Hall, the framing of the U.S. Constitution culminated at about 4:00 o’clock -- after 100 days of intense conversation and deliberation.
At 4,400 words long, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest and the shortest major written governance document in the world. Just think: 233 years old today, and this document, with a few amendments added here and there, is still essentially the same document that established the basis of our governing laws at the founding of our country!
This document was so important to the Daughters of the American Revolution that in 1955, the National Society petitioned the United States Congress to approve an official annual celebration of our Constitution. The following year, on August 2, 1956, President Eisenhower declared that every September 17th thereafter would mark the beginning of a week-long celebration of this unique and innate founding document. We should be proud of DAR’s involvement in the creation of this nationwide observance – and we should be sure to celebrate it publicly to remind all Americans of its significance.
Do you have a favorite amendment? The one that comes to mind first for me this year is the 19th amendment, which guaranteed the women’s right to vote. Ratified on August 18, 1920, this year marks a century of our participation in the ballot. As Daughters, we should understand all of the amendments and especially the Bill of Rights – it is so important as an engaged citizen to be informed and educated.
Have you ever wondered about your rights and liberties, and how they are protected? Study the Constitution any day and every day to become more familiar with what citizenship in this great country guarantees us.
Please: celebrate our Constitution this week, and then be sure to share your activities with this committee. We should all be proud of what the Daughters accomplish across the nation to raise awareness of our U.S. Constitution this week – and every week!
