On July 4th, our thoughts turn most naturally to the Declaration of Independence. We need to stop as well to contemplate another of our founding documents, the Constitution of the United States.
Setting out the forms and functions of our republic, the Constitution stands as one of the hallmarks of liberty and just governance.
Constitution Week (September 17th – September 23rd) draws our attention to this and other issues, and is celebrated by the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR). This important commemoration was signed into law by President Dwight D. Eisenhower on August 2, 1956 to celebrate the creation of this significant document.
Member of the Augusta DAR chapter have installed a display in the Georgia Room to highlight this important week. It is part of a continuing mission to educate the public about the significance of the Constitution. We encourage you to pay a visit to the Georgia Room to view the display which will be up until the end of September.
The purpose of the display is to remind us of three important points.
- Emphasize citizen’s responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution.
- Inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life.
- Encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.
A visit to your local library can provide you with resources to encourage the study of associated historical events. You can look at all sides of the present debate. Miracle at Philadelphia: The Story of the Constitutional Convention, May to September 1787 and Six Amendments: How and Why We Should Change the Constitution are just two examples of the resources available for study through your local library branch of the Augusta-Richmond County Library System. Consult our library catalog to locate resources of interest to you at arcpls.org. or ask your library staff for assistance in locating relevant material.