Constitution Week was celebrated in Craig County, along with thousands of Americans across the country who recognized the 237th anniversary of the signing of the United States Constitution. Over sixty students and staff of Craig County Public Schools took part in a Bell Ringing Ceremony to emulate citizens of Philadelphia who were called together to hear the first reading of the Constitution in 1787. Sept. 17 is considered Constitution Day according to Public Law 915. Guidelines issued by the U.S. Department of Education direct all education institutions which receive federal dollars to offer students instruction on the U.S. Constitution each September.
On Sept. 17, McCleary Elementary fourth grade students of Mrs. Wolfe and Mrs. Klemovitch gathered in the school library. The program began with the Pledge of Allegiance and remarks about the significance of Sept. 17, 1787. Bells were distributed to each student and the class rang their bells in unison for one minute, followed by the recitation in unison of the Preamble to the Constitution.
Later in the day, Craig County Middle School seventh grade civics students of Mrs. Good and Mrs. Craighead gathered in the lobby of Craig County High School and participated in a similar program. They were joined by several school staff, including Superintendent Dwayne Huff and principal Susan Stimeling, as well as and Commander David Caldwell and Lt. Commander Billy Lee of VFW Post #4491.
Each student received a Constitution bag which included their bell, a pocket Constitution, a U.S. flag, a bookmark, Post-it notes, and pencil and pen. Each bell was decorated with a patriotic ribbon and a tag bearing the words of the Preamble and “I rang this bell to commemorate Bells Across America Constitution Week 2024”.
A proclamation designating Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week at Craig County High School was previously signed by Principal Stimeling and Jamie Beth Ratliff, Senior Class President. The proclamation was part of a display placed in the school lobby near the framed copies of the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution. Bookmarks, pocket Constitutions, and the Preamble were also part of the display.
The programs were planned and conducted by members of Craig Valley Chapter, Daughters of the American Revolution. DAR members also placed signs throughout the community and provided copies of the Preamble to area churches.
The National Society, Daughters of the American Revolution is one of the largest patriotic women’s organizations in the world, with approximately 190,000 members in over 3,000 chapters across the country and several foreign countries. DAR members promote historic preservation, education, and patriotism with the motto “God, Home and Country.” For additional information about DAR, visit www.dar.org.
Craig Valley Chapter, NSDAR, has thirty-one members including women in Ohio, California, West Virginia, South Carolina, New Jersey, North Carolina, and Washington. Their membership honors 28 patriots who fought in or supported the American Revolution effort. For information about the local DAR chapter and how to join, contact Chapter Regent Tina Crawford at craigvalleychapternsdar@gmail.com.
-Submitted by Craig Valley NSDAR