Moultrie Mayor William McIntosh, seated left, and Chairman of Colquitt County Commission Denver Braswell, seated right, sign a proclamation in honor of Constitution Week, Sept. 17-23, 2021. Looking on are, from left, Jan Parker, John Benning Chapter DAR Constitution Week chair, and Jean Gay, John Benning Chapter regent.

MOULTRIE, Ga. — The John Benning Chapter of the National Society Daughters of the American Revolution will host a bell ringing event Friday, Sept. 17, to kick off Constitution Week.

The events, which will begin at 4 p.m. at the north entrance to the Colquitt County Courthouse, is part of the Bells Across America campaign.

Bells Across America takes place across the country as thousands of Daughters simultaneously ring bells to celebrate the signing of the U.S. Constitution in September 1787. 

The public is invited to join them and bring a small bell if you have one, chapter Regent Jean Gay said.

The National Society DAR urges Americans to reflect on the U.S. Constitution during the annual observance of Constitution Week.

“There are two documents of paramount importance to American history: the Declaration of Independence, which forged our national identity, and the United States Constitution, which set forth the framework for the federal government that functions to this day,” said DAR President General Denise Doring VanBuren. “While Independence Day is a well-recognized and beloved national holiday, fewer people know about Constitution Week, an annual commemoration of the living document that upholds and protects the freedoms central to our American way of life.” 

The DAR initiated the observance in 1955, when the service organization petitioned the U.S. Congress to dedicate Sept. 17-23 of each year to the commemoration of Constitution Week, the DAR said in a press release. Congress adopted the resolution, and on Aug. 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed it into Public Law #915. The celebration’s goals are threefold: to encourage the study of the historical events that led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787; to remind the public that the Constitution is the basis of America’s great heritage and the foundation for its way of life; and to emphasize U.S. citizens’ responsibility to protect, defend and preserve the U.S. Constitution. 

The press release said DAR has been the foremost advocate for the awareness, promotion and celebration of Constitution Week. The annual observance provides innumerable opportunities for educational initiatives and community outreach, two mission areas of crucial importance to the National Society. By fostering knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Constitution and the inalienable rights it affords to all Americans, DAR helps to keep alive the memory of the men and women who secured our nation’s foundational liberties.

“In communities across America, Daughters will erect hundreds of community displays, sponsor municipal proclamations, ring bells and stage programs to raise awareness of the Constitution’s tenets and importance. We invite everyone to join us in celebrating this powerful document, which has enabled our democracy within a republic for more than two centuries. We hope that all Americans will learn more about the Constitution and its immense impact on our nation,” VanBuren said. 

One of the largest patriotic women’s organizations in the world, DAR has more than 190,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education and patriotism via commemorative events, scholarships and educational initiatives, citizenship programs, service to veterans, meaningful community service and more. For additional information about DAR and its relevant mission, visit www.dar.org.