Local DAR chapter celebrates Constitution Week
Published 12:00 am Thursday, October 10, 2024
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In celebration of Constitution Week, the Colonel Joseph Winston Chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution hosted 18 individuals who gathered at Clemmons United Methodist Church for a “Ringing of the Bells” ceremony.
Included in the group were Pastor John Fitzgerald & Kathy Giff from Clemmons United Methodist, members of the DAR Chapter, and their families, members of the Battle of Shallowford Chapter, members of Clemmons United Methodist, members of the Clemmons Community, members of Unity Moravian Church and their families, two young men (Joel Black and Eric Dozier) and Jeff Zenger, who is running for House District 74 in the North Carolina House of Representatives.
The National Society of the Daughters of the American Revolution presented a program, which Pastor Fitzgerald. At 4 p.m., as the church bells rang, everyone rang bells for one minute in honor of the Constitution. Then Pastor Fitzgerald led everyone as they joined in saying the Preamble to the Constitution of the United States:
“I believe in the United States of America as a Government of the people, by the people, for the people; whose just powers are derived from the consent of the governed; a democracy in a republic; a sovereign nation of many sovereign States; a perfect union, one and inseparable, established upon those principles of freedom, equality, justice, and humanity for which American patriots sacrificed their lives and fortunes.
“I therefore believe it is my duty to my Country to love it; to support its Constitution; to obey its laws; to respect its Flag; and to defend it against all enemies.”
The service was concluded with a prayer by Pastor Fitzgerald and with a petition offered, in part, by George Washington when he prayed:
“I now make it my Earnest Prayer, that God would have the United States in His Holy protection, that he would incline the hearts of the citizens to cultivate a spirit of subordination and obedience to government, to entertain a brotherly affection and love for one another, for their fellow citizens of the United States at large, and particularly for their brethren who have served in the field, and finally, that he would most graciously be pleased to dispose us all to do justice, to love mercy… Amen.”
Constitution Week is celebrated every year Sept. 17-23. This year marks the 237th anniversary of the signing of the Constitution.