Poster of Constitution surrounded by Bill of Rights
Toni Bolling Lutter
Gila Butte DAR celebrated the anniversary of the signing of our U. S. Constitution with a variety of activities. Local schools were supplied with posters and published materials to educate students, and a display was provided at the Robson Branch of Maricopa County Library. Also, the chapter participated in the national celebration “Bells Across America” on Constitution Day, when the Arizona Governor‘s Constitution Day proclamation was read aloud.
The tradition of celebrating Constitution Week was initiated by Daughters of the American Revolution (DAR) in 1955, when DAR petitioned Congress to set aside the week of September 17-23 annually for observance of Constitution Week. In 1956, President Dwight David Eisenhower signed the Congressional resolution into law. The law requires any school receiving federal funds to provide Constitution Day activities.
Bells Across America is an annual event. In 1787, the Liberty Bell rang out when the Constitution was ratified. The tradition continues each September 17 at 4:00 p.m. EST, when American citizens ring bells in all time zones so they may be heard simultaneously from coast to coast.
Gila Butte Chapter is one of 41 Arizona DAR chapters. Gila Butte was organized in 2002 and today has members from around the Valley and the nation. DAR is a national women’s volunteer service organization and membership is open to any woman over 18 who can prove lineal descent from a Patriot of the American Revolution. Women with an interest in serving their community and their country in DAR are urged to call 480-883-3003 for membership information or go to the website at gilabutte.arizonadar.org.