FARMINGTON — Colonial Daughters chapter of Daughters of the American Revolution [DAR] celebrated Constitution Week with a gathering on Sunday afternoon, Sept. 17, in Meetinghouse Park.

On Sept. 17, 1787, at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, 39 delegates at the Constitutional Convention signed the Constitution of the United States of America, according to a release from the local DAR chapter. “Nearly 170 years later, in 1955, DAR spearheaded an effort to set aside one week annually when Americans could celebrate this iconic signing,” it noted. “After petitioning Congress to set aside the week of September 17 – 23, on August 2, 1956, President Dwight D. Eisenhower signed Constitution Week into law. Local chapters of DAR celebrate with many events to honor this founding document.”

“Today at 4 p.m., from sea to shining sea bells will ring throughout America in celebration of the United States Constitution,” local DAR member Amanda Beane of Farmington said. “On September 17, 1787, at the then-Pennsylvania State House, now better known as Independence Hall, the framing of the U.S. Constitution culminated at about 4 o’clock – after 100 days of intense conversation and deliberation.”

At 4,400 words long, the U.S. Constitution is the oldest and the shortest major written governance document in the world, Beane noted. “Just think: 236 years old today, and this document, with a few amendments added here and there, is still essentially the same document that established the basis of our governing laws at the founding of our country,” she stated.

“This document was so important to the Daughters of the American Revolution that in 1955, the National Society petitioned the United States Congress to approve an official annual celebration of our Constitution,” Beane said. “The following year, on August 2, 1956, President Eisenhower declared that every September 17th thereafter would mark the beginning of a week-long celebration of this unique and innate founding document.”

Beane invited all present to ring bells or cellphone chimes for up to a minute when the courthouse clock began to peal at 4 p.m.

“Let the bells be heard,” she exclaimed.

Colonial Daughters sent proclamations for Constitution Week to the towns of Farmington and Jay which were signed and returned. The group also provided free constitution booklets and pledge of allegiance bookmarks in celebration of Constitution Week at the New Sharon Library building/booth at the Farmington Fair.

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