- April 26, 2024
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In 1955 a group of women from the Daughters of the American Revolution petitioned Congress to dedicate Sept. 17-23 as Constitution Week. The following year, on Aug. 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed the resolution into public law.
Now, 61 years later, Port Orange city officials and local DAR members have gathered together to observe this week and discuss what the Constitution means for the country on a local and national level. The Sugar Mill Chapter of the DAR met with officials at 9 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 18 at the Port Orange City Hall for the ceremony recognizing the start of Constitution Week.
Lindsey Swindel, legislative assistant for Sen. Dorothy Hukill, was also present to represent the Florida senator.
"This is the one document that, no matter what your background is, where you came from, if you're from this country or not, or your family was here for generations, that's the one document that holds us all together," Swindle said.
Sugar Mill DAR Regent Betty Stecker said that in addition to simply remembering the Constitution and what it stands for, the week was about giving back. Each year the DAR collects books to donate to a local school. This year, the chapter collected 17 books that were needed at Cypress Creek Elementary School.
As for the Constitution itself, Stecker is hoping locals will become more educated in regards to its contents.
"We enjoy patriotism so I think it's just wonderful that people will come out to celebrate the Constitution," Stecker said. "I wish more people would read it and read it again and remember what it means."
"If we don't celebrate it now, future generations have no hope for it." Sugar Mill DAR member Carol Lasky
Sue Bower, academy coordinator for Ron DeSantis' office, read a letter from the congressman, which indicated that the goal's of this week are to emphasize citizens’ responsibility to protect and defend the Constitution. The congressman had written that the week of observance also provides a way to inform people that the "Constitution is the basis for America's great heritage and the foundation for our way of life and to encourage the study of the historical events, which led to the framing of of the Constitution."
Additionally, Constitution Week proclamations from both Gov. Rick Scott's office and Port Orange Mayor Don Burnette were also read. Dylan Fischer, legislative aide to Rep. Tom Leek, also read a letter from the state representative relating to the observance and the importance of recognizing Constitution Week.
"If we don't celebrate it now, future generations have no hope for it," Sugar Mill DAR member Carol Lasky said.
