Mayor Jeremy Dawson signed a proclamation from the City of Fayette signifying Constitution Week will be recognized here from September 17-23. The proclamation was signed during the city council’s most recent meeting on Tuesday, September 12.

Barbara Alexander, Constitution Week Co-Chair for the Howard County Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution, prepared the proclamation for the city. She explained that because the Constitution was signed at 4 p.m. Eastern time, Fayette would celebrate by ringing bells at 3 p.m. (Central time) on Sunday. She asked everyone who could to step outside and ring a bell in celebration. The bells in the Linn Memorial UMC clock tower rang out the Star Spangled Banner on Sunday as well.

Constitution Week is the commemoration of America’s most important document. It is celebrated annually in September.

The United States Constitution stands as a testament to the tenacity of Americans throughout history to maintain their liberties, freedoms, and inalienable rights.

This celebration of the Constitution was started by the Daughters of the American Revolution. In 1955, DAR petitioned Congress to set aside September 17-25 annually to be dedicated for the observance of Constitution Week. The resolution was later adopted by the U.S. Congress and signed into public law on August 2, 1956, by President Dwight D. Eisenhower.

The DAR has also erected a structure that is built in tribute to the Constitution of the United States. DAR Constitution Hall, which is a performing arts center, opened in 1929.

The intent of the Constitution Week celebration are to emphasize citizens’ responsibilities for protecting and defending the Constitution, inform people that the Constitution is the basis for America’s great heritage and the foundation for our way of life, and encourage the study of the historical events which led to the framing of the Constitution in September 1787.