Madison mayor lauds Constitution
MADISON – Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler recently signed a Proclamation making the week of September 17 - 23 National Constitution Week to commemorate the day the Founding Fathers signed the United States Constitution.
"We must always treasure and honor one of the greatest documents that has ever been written," Hawkins-Butler said. "May God bless our country."
The Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Madison chapter, River of Pearls, presented the Proclamation to Hawkins-Butler on Aug. 23.
Hawkins-Butler signed the Proclamation, which announced National Constitution Week and proclaimed Saturday, Sept. 17, as National Constitution Day.
Donna Russell, a regent for the River of Pearls chapter, said she is proud of Hawkins-Butler for honoring the patriots who fought for America's freedom.
“Mayor Mary is known throughout the country as the mayor of one of the safest and most beautiful towns in America,” Russell said. “She is now also known for honoring the people who fought for our liberty and never forgetting them.”
The DAR is a non-profit membership service organization founded in 1890 for women who are direct descendants of those in America’s independence. They promote education and patriotism.
Russell said people are more than welcome to celebrate National Consitution Week along with her DAR chapter to learn the history of the United States and realize how hard patriots fought for the freedom we enjoy today.
“I was in Washington, D.C., recently and I saw a lot of history there,” Russell said. “We can thank so many people like our founding fathers for our freedoms and privileges. The constitution still lives today through us, which is very impressive.”
On September 17, 1787, in Philadelphia, PA, the founding fathers signed the U.S. Constitution, which is considered the most influential document in the history of the United States. Every September 17, the U.S. honors this document that guarantees Americans their essential rights, recognizing all who are born in the U.S. or by naturalization, have become U.S. citizens.
The Constitution is the basis for all U.S. laws and was written by the Founding Fathers to prevent abuses of power between the three branches of government. It outlines the government's power, the limitations of those powers, and the rights of citizens.
The first three words, "We the People", affirm that the government of the United States exists to serve its citizens, and for 235 years, the Constitution has protected the rights of every citizen. Today, fewer and fewer students in schools know much about the importance of the Constitution, and. Constitution Day is one way the DAR can bring the importance of this document and the importance of good citizenship to light, they said.
“We plan to have several different events and activities honoring Constitution Week, including a Constitution Day Luncheon on September 15 with special guests such as Mississippi Attorney General Lynn Fitch and Miss Mississippi Emmie Perkins to sing the National Anthem and a patriotic song,” Russell said.
“We plan to go to the Governor’s Mansion for tea, and on September 17 we will celebrate Bells Across America, where bells will ring across the country at 3 p.m. to commemorate the signing of the Constitution.”
For more information about the Daughters of the American Revolution, visit www.dar.org.