James Waldrop Chapter DAR Promotes Constitution Week Awareness in Fayette County
Friday, September 17, 2010, 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 unalienable 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.
"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 120 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.
The James Waldrop Chapter DAR in Fayetteville, Georgia, has spoken to over 1300 students in the Fayette County Schools on the history of the Constitution over the last three years. For more information on the James Waldrop Chapter DAR, contact jameswaldrop.fayettevillega@yahoo.com.
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Showing posts with label constitution. Show all posts
Showing posts with label constitution. Show all posts
Tuesday, September 7, 2010
Thursday, September 2, 2010
The Bill of Rights Institute Celebrates Constitution Day, September 17, 2010 with Free Resources for Teachers
(Vocus) On September 17, 2010, the Bill of Rights Institute will celebrate Constitution Day with new educational materials for teachers across the country.
The Bill of Rights Institute’s newest resource, Life Without the Bill of Rights? is a click-and-explore activity that puts your students in control asking them to consider how life would change without some of our most cherished freedoms. Life Without the Bill of Rights? invites your students to understand the significance of their constitutionally-protected rights including freedom of religion, speech, and press; freedom from unreasonable search and seizure; and the rights of private property.
Other free resources include an Interactive Module that allows students to “travel through time” to converse with the Founders and report on the Constitutional Convention. Students will also match quotes to Founders who said them, and complete a constitutional crossword puzzle.
Available for download is a 12-page Celebrate the Constitution: Why Do We Have a Constitution? activity booklet. The free booklet features interactive games and content that informs readers about constitutional principles such as freedom of speech, federalism, how a bill becomes a law, and the history of the Constitution and Constitutional Convention.
“We are truly grateful to our supporters and the teachers we have worked with for helping us reconnect young Americans to our Founding principles,” said Dr. Jason Ross, Bill of Rights Institute Vice President of Education Programs.
All materials and more FREE resources can be found on our Constitution Day Resource Page.
Use #ConDay to follow the conversation about Constitution Day on Twitter.
The Bill of Rights Institute, founded in 1999, is a nonprofit educational organization. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.
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The Bill of Rights Institute’s newest resource, Life Without the Bill of Rights? is a click-and-explore activity that puts your students in control asking them to consider how life would change without some of our most cherished freedoms. Life Without the Bill of Rights? invites your students to understand the significance of their constitutionally-protected rights including freedom of religion, speech, and press; freedom from unreasonable search and seizure; and the rights of private property.
Other free resources include an Interactive Module that allows students to “travel through time” to converse with the Founders and report on the Constitutional Convention. Students will also match quotes to Founders who said them, and complete a constitutional crossword puzzle.
Available for download is a 12-page Celebrate the Constitution: Why Do We Have a Constitution? activity booklet. The free booklet features interactive games and content that informs readers about constitutional principles such as freedom of speech, federalism, how a bill becomes a law, and the history of the Constitution and Constitutional Convention.
“We are truly grateful to our supporters and the teachers we have worked with for helping us reconnect young Americans to our Founding principles,” said Dr. Jason Ross, Bill of Rights Institute Vice President of Education Programs.
All materials and more FREE resources can be found on our Constitution Day Resource Page.
Use #ConDay to follow the conversation about Constitution Day on Twitter.
The Bill of Rights Institute, founded in 1999, is a nonprofit educational organization. The mission of the Bill of Rights Institute is to educate young people about the words and ideas of America's Founders, the liberties guaranteed in our Founding documents, and how our Founding principles continue to affect and shape a free society.
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Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Privacy and the Constitution
American colonists fought, sacrificed, and died to establish and preserve the freedoms now guaranteed to us by the Constitution of the United States. The right to privacy has come to the public's attention through various controversial Supreme Court rulings. Privacy is not specifically mentioned in the Constitution, but over the years the Supreme Court has made decisions that have established that the right to privacy is a basic human right and as such is protected by virtue of the 9th Amendment.
The James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution reminds all Americans to study the Constitution, know your rights, and know what it says and does not say.
The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, Georgia.
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The James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution reminds all Americans to study the Constitution, know your rights, and know what it says and does not say.
The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, Georgia.
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Monday, February 23, 2009
The State of the Union in Troubled Times
/PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The following is a document alert -- part of a program sponsored by the National Archives to notify the media of documents in the National Archives holdings that are relevant to national holidays, anniversaries or current events. This program, which is based on original records from the National Archives, its 12 Presidential libraries and 13 regional archives, is designed to offer the media an historical perspective on events that occur periodically and to highlight historical antecedents to current political or diplomatic initiatives.
"For only with complete dedication by us all to the national interest can we bring our country through the troubled years that lie ahead. Our problems are critical. The tide is unfavorable. The news will be worse before it is better. And while hoping and working for the best, we should prepare ourselves now for the worst." -- President John F. Kennedy, State of the Union Address, January 30, 1961.
Forty-eight years ago a young, newly-elected and charismatic President stood before a joint session of Congress to give his first address to a nation ready for change. The young John F. Kennedy personified the transition of power to a new generation. He had returned triumphantly to his former colleagues on Capitol Hill. "It is a pleasure to return from whence I came," he began.
As President Barack Obama prepares for his first address before a joint session of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration features President Kennedy's 1961 State of the Union Address. Given in troubled times, passages of that speech parallel many of our present challenges.
President Kennedy's address was delivered, a journalist wrote, "in the most solemn terms." The President described a country in economic crisis within a dangerous world. He said "the American economy is in trouble." Bankruptcies were up, farm income was down, unemployment had sky-rocketed, inventories piled up, and the economy was "anemic."
But the dangers abroad, Kennedy warned, were dire. The President stressed that "each day the crises multiply. Each day their solution grows more difficult. Each day we draw nearer the hour of maximum danger, as weapons spread and hostile forces grow stronger." He observed, "the tide of events has been running out and time has not been our friend."
Yet, Kennedy stepped back from a completely bellicose stand. "On the Presidential Coat of Arms, the American eagle holds in his right talon the olive branch, while in his left he holds a bundle of arrows. We intend to give equal attention to both."
The solution to these troubles, in Kennedy's view, required tapping into "our reservoir of dedicated men and women -- not only on our college campuses but in every age group -- who have indicated their desire to contribute their skills, their efforts, and a part of their lives to the fight for world order."
Toward this end, the President announced "the formation of a National Peace Corps, enlisting the services of all those with the desire and capacity to help foreign lands meet their urgent needs for trained personnel."
He wanted to make clear to the country that action was being taken to fulfill his campaign promise "to get the country moving again...I have pledged myself and my colleagues in the cabinet to a continuous encouragement of initiative, responsibility and energy in serving the public interest."
The Constitution charges that the President "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient" (Article II, section 3).
Beginning with President George Washington, this report took the form of an annual address to a joint session of Congress. President Thomas Jefferson dismissed the practice of personally addressing Congress as too much like the British monarch's practice. Instead, he submitted identical written messages to both houses of Congress in 1801.
All subsequent Presidents followed Jefferson's lead until President Woodrow Wilson revived the personal address to Congress in 1913. With occasional exceptions, Presidents have personally addressed Congress in joint session on an annual basis since Wilson.
Today it represents one of the important resources available to Presidents as well as one of the few national pageants in our civic life. Members of Congress, justices of the Supreme Court, military heads of the armed services, and members of the diplomatic corps are all invited to attend the ceremony.
As communications technology has changed, these addresses have gained greater immediacy with the American people. Radio carried President Warren Harding's address live in 1922. President Harry Truman's 1947 address was broadcast live over television and was the first to be officially described as the State of the Union Address. In 1997 the Internet transmitted President Bill Clinton's address live.
This historic speech by President Kennedy can be found in the records of the U.S. House of Representatives, which are preserved by the Center for Legislative Archives. The Center holds the official records of the House, Senate, and legislative branch agencies, totaling over one-half billion pages of records documenting the history of representative government in America.
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"For only with complete dedication by us all to the national interest can we bring our country through the troubled years that lie ahead. Our problems are critical. The tide is unfavorable. The news will be worse before it is better. And while hoping and working for the best, we should prepare ourselves now for the worst." -- President John F. Kennedy, State of the Union Address, January 30, 1961.
Forty-eight years ago a young, newly-elected and charismatic President stood before a joint session of Congress to give his first address to a nation ready for change. The young John F. Kennedy personified the transition of power to a new generation. He had returned triumphantly to his former colleagues on Capitol Hill. "It is a pleasure to return from whence I came," he began.
As President Barack Obama prepares for his first address before a joint session of Congress, the National Archives and Records Administration features President Kennedy's 1961 State of the Union Address. Given in troubled times, passages of that speech parallel many of our present challenges.
President Kennedy's address was delivered, a journalist wrote, "in the most solemn terms." The President described a country in economic crisis within a dangerous world. He said "the American economy is in trouble." Bankruptcies were up, farm income was down, unemployment had sky-rocketed, inventories piled up, and the economy was "anemic."
But the dangers abroad, Kennedy warned, were dire. The President stressed that "each day the crises multiply. Each day their solution grows more difficult. Each day we draw nearer the hour of maximum danger, as weapons spread and hostile forces grow stronger." He observed, "the tide of events has been running out and time has not been our friend."
Yet, Kennedy stepped back from a completely bellicose stand. "On the Presidential Coat of Arms, the American eagle holds in his right talon the olive branch, while in his left he holds a bundle of arrows. We intend to give equal attention to both."
The solution to these troubles, in Kennedy's view, required tapping into "our reservoir of dedicated men and women -- not only on our college campuses but in every age group -- who have indicated their desire to contribute their skills, their efforts, and a part of their lives to the fight for world order."
Toward this end, the President announced "the formation of a National Peace Corps, enlisting the services of all those with the desire and capacity to help foreign lands meet their urgent needs for trained personnel."
He wanted to make clear to the country that action was being taken to fulfill his campaign promise "to get the country moving again...I have pledged myself and my colleagues in the cabinet to a continuous encouragement of initiative, responsibility and energy in serving the public interest."
The Constitution charges that the President "shall from time to time give to the Congress Information of the State of the Union, and recommend to their Consideration such Measures as he shall judge necessary and expedient" (Article II, section 3).
Beginning with President George Washington, this report took the form of an annual address to a joint session of Congress. President Thomas Jefferson dismissed the practice of personally addressing Congress as too much like the British monarch's practice. Instead, he submitted identical written messages to both houses of Congress in 1801.
All subsequent Presidents followed Jefferson's lead until President Woodrow Wilson revived the personal address to Congress in 1913. With occasional exceptions, Presidents have personally addressed Congress in joint session on an annual basis since Wilson.
Today it represents one of the important resources available to Presidents as well as one of the few national pageants in our civic life. Members of Congress, justices of the Supreme Court, military heads of the armed services, and members of the diplomatic corps are all invited to attend the ceremony.
As communications technology has changed, these addresses have gained greater immediacy with the American people. Radio carried President Warren Harding's address live in 1922. President Harry Truman's 1947 address was broadcast live over television and was the first to be officially described as the State of the Union Address. In 1997 the Internet transmitted President Bill Clinton's address live.
This historic speech by President Kennedy can be found in the records of the U.S. House of Representatives, which are preserved by the Center for Legislative Archives. The Center holds the official records of the House, Senate, and legislative branch agencies, totaling over one-half billion pages of records documenting the history of representative government in America.
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Wednesday, January 14, 2009
Religious Freedom Day, 2009
A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. On Religious Freedom Day, we recognize the importance of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We also celebrate the first liberties enshrined in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Americans and prohibit an establishment of religion.
Our Nation was founded by people seeking haven from religious persecution, and the religious liberty they found here remains one of this land's greatest blessings. As Americans, we believe that all people have inherent dignity and worth. Though we may profess different creeds and worship in different manners and places, we respect each other's humanity and expression of faith. People with diverse views can practice their faiths here while living together in peace and harmony, carrying on our Nation's noble tradition of religious freedom.
The United States also stands with religious dissidents and believers from around the globe who practice their faith peacefully. Freedom is not a grant of government or a right for Americans alone; it is the birthright of every man, woman, and child throughout the world. No human freedom is more fundamental than the right to worship in accordance with one's conscience.
Religious Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy of religious liberty, foster a culture of tolerance and peace, and renew commitments to ensure that every person on Earth can enjoy these basic human rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2009, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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Religious freedom is the foundation of a healthy and hopeful society. On Religious Freedom Day, we recognize the importance of the 1786 passage of the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom. We also celebrate the first liberties enshrined in our Constitution's Bill of Rights, which guarantee the free exercise of religion for all Americans and prohibit an establishment of religion.
Our Nation was founded by people seeking haven from religious persecution, and the religious liberty they found here remains one of this land's greatest blessings. As Americans, we believe that all people have inherent dignity and worth. Though we may profess different creeds and worship in different manners and places, we respect each other's humanity and expression of faith. People with diverse views can practice their faiths here while living together in peace and harmony, carrying on our Nation's noble tradition of religious freedom.
The United States also stands with religious dissidents and believers from around the globe who practice their faith peacefully. Freedom is not a grant of government or a right for Americans alone; it is the birthright of every man, woman, and child throughout the world. No human freedom is more fundamental than the right to worship in accordance with one's conscience.
Religious Freedom Day is an opportunity to celebrate our legacy of religious liberty, foster a culture of tolerance and peace, and renew commitments to ensure that every person on Earth can enjoy these basic human rights.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, by virtue of the authority vested in me by the Constitution and laws of the United States, do hereby proclaim January 16, 2009, as Religious Freedom Day. I call on all Americans to reflect on the great blessing of religious liberty, endeavor to preserve this freedom for future generations, and commemorate this day with appropriate events and activities.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this thirteenth day of January, in the year of our Lord two thousand nine, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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Wednesday, October 1, 2008
Fayetteville DAR Speaks to Inman Elementary about Constitution
James Waldrop Regent Betty Harrah pledges her support to U.S. Constitution with Inman Elementary School Principal Louis Robinson.
Over 200 4th and 5th grade students of Inman Elementary School in Fayetteville recently learned about the U.S. Constitution in a presentation by the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. After the presentation, the students added their signatures pledging their support of the Constitution to the over 1000 pledges already gathered by the chapter in visits to Fayette County Elementary Schools in September . The U.S. Constitution, the world's oldest document of its kind still in existence, just celebrated 221 years of its framing.
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Thursday, September 25, 2008
Senator Chance Reflects on Constitution and Georgia for Fayetteville DAR
Pictured (l-r) are Georgia Senator Ronnie Chance, Regent Betty Harrah and Linda Robinson."I am a servant of the people in your Senate," said Georgia Senator Ronnie Chance as he recently spoke to the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution on the US Constitution and Georgia government. Senator Chance was honored with a Certificate of Appreciation for his ongoing support of the Constitution in both his personal and government service roles.
On display at the dinner meeting was the 2007 National Award Winning Constitution Week Notebook as well as bells used in the Bells Across America Ceremony. The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, GA.
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Thursday, September 18, 2008
Bells Across America in Fayette County
Carolyn Balog and James Waldrop Chapter DAR Regent Betty HarrahThe James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution joined in the Bells Across America Celebration on September 17 as the country celebrated the 221st anniversary of the signing of the US Constitution. Over 2 dozen local citizens, DAR members and SAR members rang bells for two minutes in honor of the signing. A 6 foot long scroll with over 500 names of local citizens who have pledged support of the Constitution over the last month was on display. The Marquis de Lafayette Chapter Sons of the American Revolution provided a musket salute.
The James Waldrop Chapter DAR is chartered in Fayetteville, GA.
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Wednesday, September 17, 2008
Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, Constitution Week, 2008
Note: Today is the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U.S. Constitution.
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A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Americans are united by the ideals of equal justice, limited government, and the rule of law. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we remember the vision and determination of the Framers to build a free society, and we celebrate the historical document they created to achieve that goal.
More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia and produced a charter that would promote justice and preserve the liberty of all our citizens. The Founders established three separate branches of Government with a system of checks and balances among them. Ours is the oldest written constitution in the world, and the American experiment remains the world's best hope for freedom.
The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty and equality and has lifted the lives of countless individuals. Whether they are citizens by birth or by oath, Americans share a great tradition of enjoying liberty protected by a constitutional government of their choosing.
On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, Americans come together and recognize the blessings bestowed upon our great Nation. On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the Constitution's drafters and recommit ourselves to making the United States a more perfect union.
In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and of Americans who strive to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as amended), designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2008, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2008, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of this great Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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A Proclamation by the President of the United States of America
Americans are united by the ideals of equal justice, limited government, and the rule of law. On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day and during Constitution Week, we remember the vision and determination of the Framers to build a free society, and we celebrate the historical document they created to achieve that goal.
More than two centuries ago, our Founding Fathers gathered in Philadelphia and produced a charter that would promote justice and preserve the liberty of all our citizens. The Founders established three separate branches of Government with a system of checks and balances among them. Ours is the oldest written constitution in the world, and the American experiment remains the world's best hope for freedom.
The Constitution forged the American creed of liberty and equality and has lifted the lives of countless individuals. Whether they are citizens by birth or by oath, Americans share a great tradition of enjoying liberty protected by a constitutional government of their choosing.
On Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and during Constitution Week, Americans come together and recognize the blessings bestowed upon our great Nation. On this occasion we celebrate the courage of the Constitution's drafters and recommit ourselves to making the United States a more perfect union.
In recognition of the signing of the Constitution and of Americans who strive to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of citizenship, the Congress, by joint resolution of February 29, 1952 (36 U.S.C. 106, as amended), designated September 17 as "Constitution Day and Citizenship Day," and by joint resolution of August 2, 1956 (36 U.S.C. 108, as amended), requested that the President proclaim the week beginning September 17 and ending September 23 of each year as "Constitution Week."
NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim September 17, 2008, as Constitution Day and Citizenship Day, and September 17 through September 23, 2008, as Constitution Week. I encourage Federal, State, and local officials, as well as leaders of civic, social, and educational organizations, to conduct ceremonies and programs that celebrate our Constitution and reaffirm our rights and responsibilities as citizens of this great Nation.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this seventeenth day of September, in the year of our Lord two thousand eight, and of the Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and thirty-third.
GEORGE W. BUSH
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Monday, September 15, 2008
Fayetteville Intermediate School Learns About the Constitution from DAR
The fourth and fifth graders at Fayetteville Intermediate School learned about the Constitution from the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution in a special Constitution Week program. To conclude the presentation, the children read the Preamble to the Constitution and waited in line to pledge their support to the Constitution, which turns 221 years old on September 17.
Pictured (l-r) are Regent Betty Harrah and Carol Key of Fayetteville.
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Friday, September 12, 2008
Fayette County Commissioners Proclaim September 17-23 as Constitution Week
The Fayette County Commissioners recently proclaimed September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Fayette County. Commissioner Jack Smith presented the proclamation to the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution of Fayetteville and thanked the ladies for their commitment to education, promoting patriotism and preserving American history. Enthusiastic clapping of the audience showed citizen support to the Proclamation.
The James Waldrop Chapter reminds Fayette County of the "Bells Across America" ceremony to be held September 17th at the old Fayette County Courthouse lawn at noon. Pictured (l-r) are: Phyllis King, Jeffre Ray, Bonnie Bolin, Susan Sloan, Constitution Week Chairman Ann Eldredge, James Waldrop Chapter DAR Regent Betty Harrah, and Commissioner Jack Smith.
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Wednesday, September 10, 2008
Constitution Day Celebration at University of West Georgia Planned for September 17
The University of West Georgia and the Ingram Library will honor Constitution Day on Wednesday, Sept. 17, with a reception and intriguing dialogue about government, democracy and the Constitution.
The event is free and the community is invited to attend Dr. Robert M. Schaefer, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and Planning, will lecture on “The American Constitution: A Celebratory Address (with an Admonition)” at 11 a.m. on the main floor of the library.
The presentation will focus on the establishment of American republic and the difficulty of preserving a constitution. Schaefer said the admonition is serious yet not preachy.
“This will be a political oration on behalf of the Constitution,” said Schaefer. “And to talk about the Constitution you have to talk about Rome, Athens and the difficultly of founding a good regime. The Constitution is fundamental to every aspect of our lives and it is important for citizens to give thought about what the Constitution means to this country.”
Constitution Day commemorates Sept. 17, 1787, which is the day the Constitutional Convention delegates signed the document. A federal law passed in 2004 requires all educational institutions that receive federal funds to observe Constitution Day.
Each year, the president issues a proclamation encouraging government officials and educational organizations to celebrate the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
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The event is free and the community is invited to attend Dr. Robert M. Schaefer, professor and chair of the Department of Political Science and Planning, will lecture on “The American Constitution: A Celebratory Address (with an Admonition)” at 11 a.m. on the main floor of the library.
The presentation will focus on the establishment of American republic and the difficulty of preserving a constitution. Schaefer said the admonition is serious yet not preachy.
“This will be a political oration on behalf of the Constitution,” said Schaefer. “And to talk about the Constitution you have to talk about Rome, Athens and the difficultly of founding a good regime. The Constitution is fundamental to every aspect of our lives and it is important for citizens to give thought about what the Constitution means to this country.”
Constitution Day commemorates Sept. 17, 1787, which is the day the Constitutional Convention delegates signed the document. A federal law passed in 2004 requires all educational institutions that receive federal funds to observe Constitution Day.
Each year, the president issues a proclamation encouraging government officials and educational organizations to celebrate the ratification of the U.S. Constitution and reaffirm the rights and responsibilities of U.S. citizenship.
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Saturday, September 6, 2008
Fayette County Citizens Have Opportunity to Pledge Support to the Constitution
Pictured is Stephen McMinn who was one of the first Fayette County citizens to pledge his support.
Drop by the Fayette County Public Library in Fayetteville and pledge your support to the U. S. Constitution in honor of the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U. S. Constitution.
The exhibit runs through the end of September and is sponsored by the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. The James Waldrop Chapter,chartered in 2007 as the first Fayetteville chapter of the DAR, received a 2007 national award for their efforts in educating the public about the Constitution.
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Friday, September 5, 2008
Opinion: The U.S. Constitution and Georgia Men
"Hold on, my friends, to the Constitution and to the Republic for which it stands. Miracles do not cluster, and what has happened once in 6000 years, may not happen again. Hold on to the Constitution, for if the American Constitution should fail, there will be anarchy throughout the world."- Daniel Webster
As the United States of America gets ready to honor the 221st anniversary of the framing of the US Constitution, we, as Americans, should make it our goal to learn more about this legendary document. As children, our teachers taught us the basics of where the Constitution was written and who signed it from each state. We also learned about the Bill of Rights and the amendments.
Now, as adults, we start to realize the importance of this document in our lives. It provides the basis of the freedoms we enjoy. The freedom of speech, the freedom to worship, the right to bear arms, the right to vote are just a few of the many privileges we enjoy in America.
Who were the men who framed the Constitution? Who were the men who represented Georgia? How many men were elected to represent Georgia?
William Few (1748-1828) and Abraham Baldwin (1754-1807) are the two men of the state of Georgia who signed the Constitution in 1787. Did you know that a total of six Georgia men were appointed to attend the convention? Two of men did not attend and two others, William Leigh Pierce and William Houston, were not there for the majority of the debates.
Both Pierce and Houston were Georgia natives. Pierce made his home in Savannah and was a member of the Georgia House of Representatives. Pierce did participate in several debates on key points. He favored strengthening of the federal government as long as the states still retained some power. Pierce left the convention early as his business in Savannah suffered, and eventually went bankrupt. He died shortly after in 1789.
Born in Savannah, Houston enjoyed a childhood of privilege. His father was highly involved in the royal government of Georgia. He returned home to Georgia from his schooling in England when the Revolutionary War began. He is known for his belief in colonists' rights, and is one of the original trustees of the University of Georgia. Houston died in 1813.
The 55 men who attended the convention had much to say. These delegates, or deputies, were appointed by the legislatures of the 13 states. Some of the deputies left early as Pierce and Houston did. Others who were appointed to attend did not. Why? Was it not convenient? Was it a sense of not comprehending the importance of revising the Articles of Confederation? Was it a shirk of their duty? We don't know the answers. What we do know is the masterpiece document that these men framed.
The words of Benjamin Franklin, in a speech delivered to the convention in late June 1787, provide a glimpse for us: "....In these sentiments, Sir, I agree to this Constitution, with all its faults, — if they are such; because I think a general Government necessary for us, and there is no form of government but what may be a blessing to the people, if well administered; and I believe, farther, that this is likely to be well administered for a course of years, and can only end in despotism, as other forms have done before it, when the people shall become so corrupted as to need despotic government, being incapable of any other."
Could the framers have imagined the longevity of our Constitution?
Celebrate, American citizens. Read the Constitution. Honor the Constitution. Protect the Constitution.
Ann Eldredge
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Editor's Note: National Constitution Week is rapidly approaching. Kudos to the organizations who strive to increase our awareness of the Constitution, and a special kudos to the James Waldrop Chapter DAR of Fayetteville and Fayette County, whose endeavors with regards to educating the school children and adults has become well known and honored beyond our area. Take a few moments and view the videos released last year.
Part 1 Constitution Week Video
Part 2 Constitution Week Video
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Thursday, September 4, 2008
Fayetteville Proclaims September 17-23 as Constitution Week
Pictured (l-r) are Linda Robinson, Ann Eldredge and Mayor Ken Steele. The City of Fayetteville proclaimed September 17-23 as Constitution Week at a recent City Council Meeting. Ann Eldredge, Constitution Week Chairman of the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution, commented that this year Americans celebrate the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U. S. Constitution. The James Waldrop Chapter DAR and the City of Fayetteville urge all citizens to reaffirm the ideals of the Constitution and to vigilantly protect the freedoms guaranteed to us through this guardian of our liberties, remembering that lost rights may never be regained.
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"Celebrating the Constitution" at the National Archives in Morrow
Article III, Section 3 of the United States Constitution
In September, 1865 the United States Circuit Court of Western Tennessee in Memphis issued a writ of Habeas Corpus charging Confederate General Nathan Bedford Forrest with treason.
The National Archives-Southeast Region will celebrate the anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution on Wednesday, September 17, 2008, from 10:00-11:00 A.M. with an exciting program featuring readings, speeches, and a special document exhibit. "James Madison" (Former President and Founding Father as well as the Father of the Constitution) will join the National Archives staff in welcoming the public to this free event.
The National Archives, our nation's recordkeeper, is the official custodian of the original Constitution which is on permanent display in the Rotunda of the National Archives Building, located on Constitution Avenue between 7th and 9th Streets, NW, Washington, D.C.
The ceremony in the Southeast Region celebrates the world's oldest written national constitution still in effect. The completed document was accepted by the Constitutional Convention on September 15, 1787, and the final draft was signed on September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. This date marks a milestone in our history.
Dr. Jamil S. Zainaldin, President of the Georgia Humanities Council will be the special guest speaker for the ceremony at the National Archives-Southeast Region. Zainaldin holds the BA in history from the University of Virginia and the PhD in history from the University of Chicago. He is a frequent writer and speaker on the importance of history, literature, ethics, and civic values.
After the formal program, guests are invited to view a display of original documents reflecting specific sections of the Constitution. Documents related to the indictments of Aaron Burr and Nathan Bedford Forrest for treason, filings in Federal court cases related to freedom of speech and the press, and numerous documents from the modern Civil Rights Movement related to the 14th and 15th amendments to the Constitution will be on display.
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Tuesday, September 2, 2008
Fayetteville DAR Goes to Washington, Receives Awards
Pictured in DC (l-r) are: Pat Reeve and Regent Betty Harrah of Fayetteville. Several members of the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution recently journeyed to the National Society DAR 117th Continental Congress in Washington, DC. While in DC, the chapter was honored for "Constitution Week 2007- Outstanding Chapter Report." In addition, the chapter was also recognized among the highest level of the chapters nationwide for Chapter Achievement and in the 2nd tier for American Spirit DAR Magazine.
The DAR is the world's largest women's service organization with over 170,000 current members. Members of the James Waldrop Chapter DAR work tirelessly to promote education, preserve American history and to promote patriotism. For more information on the upcoming programs, visit http://jameswaldrop.georgiastatedar.org/
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Thursday, August 28, 2008
Resolution by Board of Education for Constitution Week
Pictured (l-r) are: James Waldrop Chapter DAR members Alice Mallory, Carol Key, Regent Betty Harrah and Constitution Week Chairman Ann Eldredge. Staff photo
The Fayette County Board of Education recently passed a resolution to proclaim September 17-23 Constitution Week for the schools in Fayette County, Georgia. All children of the Fayette County School System are encouraged to read and to study the U. S. Constitution.
The Board of Education presented the proclamation to the James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution. Each year, members of the James Waldrop Chapter DAR visit several of the elementary schools and present an educational program to the children.
2008 marks the 221st anniversary of the signing of the U. S. Constitution.
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Wednesday, August 27, 2008
Celebrate Constitution Day with Bells
Carolyn Balog and Regent Betty HarrahPhoto by Ann Eldredge
The James Waldrop Chapter Daughters of the American Revolution will kick off Constitution Week with bell ringing on September 17th at noon at the old Fayette County Courthouse in Fayetteville. 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 unalienable rights to every American. The public is invited to bring bells and join in as our country celebrates the day. In addition to the bells, all are invited to publicly sign their support of the U. S. Constitution. The Marquis de Lafayette Chapter Sons of the American Revolution will be providing a musket salute for the occasion.
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Monday, August 18, 2008
The US Constitution: Secret Meetings in 1787
"I consider the difference between a system founded on the legislatures only, and one founded on the people, to be the true difference between a league or treaty and a constitution."
-James Madison, at the Constitutional Convention, 1787
The Articles of Confederation was drafted in 1777 during the American Revolution. The Articles were, in effect, the first constitution of the United States. The men of the Continental Congress who passed the Declaration of Independence were the same who passed the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were quickly found to be inadequate.
While they provided for a Congress who could declare war or peace among other things, it was apparent the individual states retained the bulk of the power. The new government could ask the states for money but there was no means to collect from states who were either unwilling or unable to pay. The federal government quickly plunged into debt. The new government had no means to enforce treaties without the states' support. George Washington warned in 1786: "There are combustibles in every state which a spark might set fire to."
Several conventions were called at irregular periods. After the dismal failure of the Annapolis Convention in 1786, the delegates who had attended reported to their states that all states should be present to discuss the Articles and to see how the defects in the system could be addressed. It was also suggested the the second Monday in May 1787 be the start date of this convention in Philadelphia.
The official call from the Congress went out to the states in February 1787. On the appointed day, only a few states' delegates had shown up. The quorum of seven states would not be reached until later in May. For four months, the delegates discussed, debated and sometimes argued on how the Articles were to be revised.
The summer of 1787 was hot. The State House was comparatively cool when entering from the baking streets. The East chamber was large, forty-by-forty, with a twenty-foot ceiling Tall, wide windows were on two sides, covered by slatted blinds to keep out the summer sun. Gravel had been strewn on the streets outside to deaden the sound of wheels and horses passing. There was an air of secrecy about the meetings. There was even a discreet diner at the table of Benjamin Franklin who would move the dinner topic to another subject when Franklin would start to relay stories of the day to his guests.
After many heated debates over a six week period, a compromise would be reached on the subject of equal representation. One by one, the points would be debated, and one by one, the delegates began to compromise and come together. While the delegates would never completely agree on all points of the Constitution, 39 of them did agree to sign it in September 1787.
Ann Eldredge
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-James Madison, at the Constitutional Convention, 1787
The Articles of Confederation was drafted in 1777 during the American Revolution. The Articles were, in effect, the first constitution of the United States. The men of the Continental Congress who passed the Declaration of Independence were the same who passed the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were quickly found to be inadequate.
While they provided for a Congress who could declare war or peace among other things, it was apparent the individual states retained the bulk of the power. The new government could ask the states for money but there was no means to collect from states who were either unwilling or unable to pay. The federal government quickly plunged into debt. The new government had no means to enforce treaties without the states' support. George Washington warned in 1786: "There are combustibles in every state which a spark might set fire to."
Several conventions were called at irregular periods. After the dismal failure of the Annapolis Convention in 1786, the delegates who had attended reported to their states that all states should be present to discuss the Articles and to see how the defects in the system could be addressed. It was also suggested the the second Monday in May 1787 be the start date of this convention in Philadelphia.
The official call from the Congress went out to the states in February 1787. On the appointed day, only a few states' delegates had shown up. The quorum of seven states would not be reached until later in May. For four months, the delegates discussed, debated and sometimes argued on how the Articles were to be revised.
The summer of 1787 was hot. The State House was comparatively cool when entering from the baking streets. The East chamber was large, forty-by-forty, with a twenty-foot ceiling Tall, wide windows were on two sides, covered by slatted blinds to keep out the summer sun. Gravel had been strewn on the streets outside to deaden the sound of wheels and horses passing. There was an air of secrecy about the meetings. There was even a discreet diner at the table of Benjamin Franklin who would move the dinner topic to another subject when Franklin would start to relay stories of the day to his guests.
After many heated debates over a six week period, a compromise would be reached on the subject of equal representation. One by one, the points would be debated, and one by one, the delegates began to compromise and come together. While the delegates would never completely agree on all points of the Constitution, 39 of them did agree to sign it in September 1787.
Ann Eldredge
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