Local DAR chapters celebrate Constitution Week

ALBANY — With one of the organization’s most important observances set for later this month, members from three local chapters of the Daughters of the American Revolution recently joined Albany Mayor Dorothy Hubbard in proclaiming the week of September 17-23 as Constitution Week in Albany.

This year’s Constitution Week, during which citizens are encouraged to reflect on and celebrate the governing document of the United States, is the 60th such commemoration.

To celebrate the occasion Kay Ragan, regent of the Thronateeska DAR Chapter; Gena Moorhead, Constitution Week chair and Thronateeska DAR second vice regent; Sabrina Brown, Chehaw DAR chapter regent, Marie Manning, Chehaw DAR chapter vice regent, and Judith Walton, regent of the Commodore Richard Dale DAR chapter, were present when Hubbard read the proclamation.

“Constitution Week is a great time to reflect on this important document that gives us our freedoms and limits the power of the government,” said Ragan. “The Constitution has been amended since its original writing but still remains the law of the land. We greatly appreciate Mayor Hubbard meeting with us to sign this proclamation, thereby giving this special occasion official recognition.”

The tradition of celebrating the Constitution was started long ago but was not an officially recognized observance until President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed a resolution acknowledging the weeklong observance in August 1956.

In recognition of the start of the 60th anniversary celebration of Constitution Week, the local DAR chapters are asking churches, schools, courthouses, firehouses, veteran’s homes, city governments and individuals to ring bells at 4 p.m., the time of day when the Constitution was signed 229 years ago.

With more than 180,000 members in approximately 3,000 chapters in all 50 states and 13 foreign countries, DAR is known as the largest women’s patriotic organization in the world. It has long promoted patriotism through commemorative celebrations, memorials, scholarships, activities for children and programs for new immigrants.

For more information about DAR and its programs, visit www.dar.org or call (202) 628-1776.