“The happy Union of these States is a wonder; their Constitution a miracle; their example the hope of Liberty throughout the world.” Those are words attributed to James Madison, known as the “Father of the U.S. Constitution,” and inscribed in James Madison Memorial Hall in the Library of Congress James Madison Memorial Building. Today, the Constitution remains a testament to the tenacity of Americans to maintain their liberties, freedoms and inalienable rights.
“The U.S. Constitution is an amazing document that has endured for over two centuries,” said Cullman Mayor Woody Jacobs. “Sadly, a lot of folks don’t understand the Constitution, how it came to be and how important it is.”
The history of the framing of the U.S. Constitution is remarkable, as well. On May 25, 1787, the Constitutional Convention opened in Philadelphia. Over the course of the next few months, and through much debate, delegates devised a document establishing our federal government with three equal branches of government and a system of checks and balances among those branches, dividing power between the federal government and the states, and protecting the individual liberties of its citizens. The Constitution was signed on Sept. 17, 1787.
To commemorate the 232nd anniversary of the signing of the Constitution, Jacobs officially proclaimed the week of Sept. 17-23, 2019 “Constitution Week” in the city of Cullman. Jacobs presented the proclamation to Pat Kahler of the Dripping Springs Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) Thursday, Sept. 12, 2019.
“We are grateful to the members of the DAR and other patriotic organizations for helping to preserve our history and educate Americans on the founding of our country,” said Jacobs. “I am proud to proclaim Constitution Week and urge all citizens to find out more about our Constitution and to reflect on how fortunate we are to be Americans.”
Constitution Week was started many years ago by the DAR. From dar.org: “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.”
To read the Constitution and other founding documents, or to find out more about the documents’ history, visit archives.gov/founding-docs.
To find out more about DAR, visit dar.org.
Jacobs’ proclamation reads as follows:
WHEREAS, the Constitution of the United States of America is the guardian of our liberties, embodying the principles of limited government in a Republic dedicated to rule by law; and,
WHEREAS, September 17, 2019, marks the 232nd anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention; and,
WHEREAS, each year, the President of the United States issues a proclamation designating September 17-23 as Constitution Week; and,
WHEREAS members of our local DAR, SAR, and Children of the American Revolution urge churches, schools, and individuals to commemorate this important anniversary by ringing bells and offering prayers for our country (as the people of Philadelphia did on the day the document was signed), flying flags, and reading and becoming acquainted with the Constitution’s true contents; and,
WHEREAS, it is fitting and proper for us to officially recognize this magnificent document and its memorable anniversary and the patriotic celebration which will commemorate the occasion.
NOW, THEREFORE, I, Woody Jacobs, as Mayor of the City of Cullman and on behalf of the Cullman City council and our citizens, do hereby proclaim September 17-23, 2019, as CONSTITUTION WEEK in the City of Cullman, encouraging everyone in our community to reaffirm the ideals of the Framers of the U.S. Constitution had in 1787 by vigilantly protecting the freedoms guaranteed to us through the guardian of our liberties.
FURTHER, I urge all citizens to study the Constitution and reflect upon the privilege of being an American with all the rights and responsibilities that privilege involves.
IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and caused the seal of the City of Cullman to be affixed on this, the 12th day of September, 2019. Woody Jacobs, Mayor.
