To the editor:
2013 is the 58th anniversary of Constitution Week. Miss Gertrude S. Carraway, while President General of the National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution, was responsible for the annual designation of Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week.
The DAR made its own resolution for Constitution Week, which was adopted April 21, 1955. Members of the United States Congress received the DAR resolution, and on June 7, 1955, the resolution was discussed in the Senate.
The first resolution to observe Constitution Week was made June 14, 1955, by Sen. William F. Knowland of California. Following the passage of the resolution by both houses of Congress, President Dwight D. Eisenhower issued his proclamation on Aug. 19, 1955.
The first observance of Constitution Week was so successful, that on Jan. 5, 1956, Sen. Knowland introduced a Senate Joint Resolution to have the President designate Sept. 17-23 annually as Constitution Week. The resolution was adopted on July 23, 1956, and signed into Public Law 915 on Aug. 2, 1956.
For his patriotic aid and interest, Sen. Knowland received an Award of Commendation from the Continental Congress, NSDAR, in April 1956.
Please give a moment of your time to remember the sacrifices given for us 223 years ago. If not for them, we would be British subjects, or worse.
St. Stephen’s Episcopal Church will ring its bell at 4 p.m. Tuesday, Sept. 17, to commemorate when the Constitution was signed.
Suzanne Van Zandt
Proud DAR Member
Newton