DAR Spreads the Word on Constitution Week

Constitution Week is an American observance commemorating the adoption of the United States Constitution, the framework of our country’s government. However, this might be the least-known of all the official observances honored in our country.

The Daughters of the American Revolution are looking to change that, through fun-filled facts, educational materials distributed to local schools, and proclamations signed by city and county officials.

"Several area schools have received our information packets - Loganville Elementary, Bay Creek Elementary, Bay Creek Middle School, Trip Elementary, Grayson High School, Couch Middle School and a home school program in Cumming," said Janet Perry, Constitution Week Committee Chairman.  "The Grayson library has 15 copies of the pocket Constitution to hand out and the Gwinnett County Board of Education met and they, too, had received a press release and 'Fascinating Facts About the Constitution.'"

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution began many years ago when the Daughters of the American Revolution 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. But it was President George W Bush who officially declared the inception of Constitution Week in September of 2002.

According to a press release from the DAR, the goals of the observation of Constitution Week are to “emphasize citizens' responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, preserving it for posterity; inform the people that the Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life; and encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.”