DAR Celebrates the U.S. Constitution

FARMVILLE – The Judith Randolph-Longwood Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution is celebrating September 17-23 as Constitution Week. More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia and drafted the U.S. Constitution.  The document the Framers created promotes justice and preserves the liberty of all citizens in the United States of America. The U.S. Constitution established three separate branches of government, the Legislative, the Executive and the Judicial.  Today, the Constitution is the oldest document still in use that outlines self-government of a people.

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, (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.

In 1928, the Daughters of the American Revolution began work on a building that would be 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.

During Constitution Week, please take the time to read and study this document which is the safeguard of our American liberties.